Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr Reconnect at London Exhibition of Famous Smiths Guitars

Two Manchester rock legends recently reunited in London to look back on decades of musical history. Oasis leader Noel Gallagher teamed up with iconic guitar god Johnny Marr at Christie’s auction house to inspect an impressive showcase of 80 instruments straight from Marr’s personal archive. The extensive collection is set to hit the auction block on September 17, giving wealthy fans and serious collectors a shot at owning defining artifacts from Marr’s time with The Smiths, as well as gear he used during more recent studio sessions with pop titan Billie Eilish. ## What guitars is Johnny Marr auctioning at Christie's? Among the high-profile items on display is a classic 1982 black Rickenbacker 330 semi-hollow electric guitar. Music historians know the instrument well: Marr famously relied on it to write foundational indie anthems such as "This Charming Man" and "What Difference Does It Make?" during the peak of The Smiths' 1980s reign. Standing beside the displays, Gallagher took a trip down memory lane, pointing out how surprisingly trusting Marr had always been with his gear. He reminded Marr of the era when Oasis was putting together their ground-breaking 1994 debut album, *Definitely Maybe*. At the time, the rising band possessed only one guitar each, prompting Marr to step in and lend them several of his own top-tier instruments. ## Did Johnny Marr lend guitars to Oasis for Supersonic? Gallagher fondly recounted a specific memory from the photo session for Oasis’s debut single, "Supersonic." Someone in the studio placed one of Marr’s famous axes directly on the floor to make the setup look like a real working rock band. That moment was captured forever on the single’s official cover art. Gallagher admitted he was completely stunned at the time, unable to process that Marr had casually loaned out an instrument with so much legendary history behind it. He poked fun at Marr’s relaxed attitude toward his prized possessions, noting that few guitar heroes would ever hand off such historic gear so easily. With the September 17 sale fast approaching, the exhibition highlights not just Marr's unbelievable legacy, but also the tight-knit brotherhood between two of Manchester’s most influential musical exports.