Johnny Marr couldn't wait to tell his mum about Bond theme

Virgin Radio

31 Jan 2022, 13:23

It's nice to know even rock stars rush to tell their mum good news.

The Smiths star Johnny Marr said his mum was one of the first people he called with the news that he had recorded the guitar riff to a Bond theme.

He recorded the riffs for 'No Time To Do with Billie Eilish.

It featured an orchestral arrangement by the composer Hans Zimmer.

Understandably, he was incredibly proud to be asked, so much so he jumped on the phone to tell his mother.

He told Rolling Stone UK: "That really was a highlight [laughs].

"When I did it, I went and phoned my mum, 'Guess what I've just done, mum!'"

He went on to say how 'No Time To Die' and working on the soundtrack for Christopher Nolan's 2020 flick 'Inception' with Hans inspired him.

Marr said it revived his love for writing and recording his own solo music and got him playing the 12-string guitar again.

His new solo album, Fever Dreams Pts 1-4', is out in February.

He said: "Yeah, I'd say that working with Hans brought that in.

"It's made me double down on some things because I didn't realise until I was told that guitars in films were a no-no for a few decades because of some atrocities that were committed in the 80s.

"'Inception' changed that. It was such a big movie - after that, in so many television adverts you would hear riff and Hans' horns."

"Also, because I used a 12-string guitar on all the [scores], it's got me back to playing a 12-string."

He wanted to have a guitar on 'No Time To Die' in order to honour the late James Bond composer John Barry.

He said: "Growing up as a British boy in the late 60s, 70s, 80s, to me, the Bond theme should have guitar in it - especially the John Barry stuff.The sound of it to me, the guitar riff. It's a super thrill to do it."