Johnny Marr announces illustrated anniversary edition of ‘Set the Boy Free’

The Smiths guitarist revisits his acclaimed autobiography ten years after its original publication, with previously unseen photographs, a foreword from Noel Gallagher and a deeply personal tribute to his late friend and bandmate.

Johnny Marr is celebrating ten years of his acclaimed autobiography, ‘Set the Boy Free’, with a newly illustrated anniversary edition featuring previously unseen photographs, additional material, a foreword from Noel Gallagher and a moving tribute to his late friend and Smiths bandmate Andy Rourke.

Originally published in November 2016, ‘Set the Boy Free’ traced Marr's journey from growing up in Manchester to becoming one of the most influential guitarists in British music. The new edition, published by Thames & Hudson on 22 October 2026, revisits that story with an expanded photographic archive, a redesigned format and exclusive updates written by Marr himself.

One of the notable additions is a foreword from Noel Gallagher, whose friendship with Marr stretches back to the earliest days of Oasis. The former Smiths guitarist played an important role in helping Gallagher during the band's formative years, famously lending him several instruments when Oasis were still finding their feet. Among them was a Gibson Les Paul previously owned by Pete Townshend, which Gallagher used during the recording of 'Definitely Maybe'. Marr also lent Oasis his famous Rickenbacker 330, which appeared on the sleeve of their debut single, 'Supersonic'.

Their friendship has continued across the decades, with Marr contributing guitar to Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and the pair remaining close figures within Manchester's musical history. Gallagher's involvement in the anniversary edition brings together two musicians whose influence extends across different generations of British guitar music.

Perhaps the most personal addition is Marr's previously unpublished eulogy for Andy Rourke, the extraordinary bassist whose playing became such an important part of The Smiths' sound. Rourke died in May 2023, aged 59, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. His friendship with Marr stretched back to 1975, when the pair met as schoolboys in Manchester, long before either became involved in one of the country's most celebrated bands.

Their musical partnership would eventually help define The Smiths, with Rourke's inventive basslines complementing Marr's distinctive guitar arrangements on songs including 'This Charming Man', 'Barbarism Begins at Home' and 'The Headmaster Ritual'. Their friendship existed long before the group came together, making the inclusion of Marr's personal eulogy one of the most significant additions to the book.

The anniversary edition also arrives during another important milestone for The Smiths. Released in June 1986, 'The Queen Is Dead' celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year, remaining one of the defining British albums of its generation. The record demonstrated the extraordinary chemistry between Marr, Rourke, drummer Mike Joyce and Morrissey, combining intricate arrangements with some of the most memorable songwriting of the decade.

To mark the occasion, the illustrated edition includes an extensive selection of previously unpublished photographs from this period, drawn from the archives of Marr's wife, Angie. Alongside the original text, the expanded imagery offers another perspective on the band's extraordinary rise, documenting an era when four musicians from Manchester were transforming the possibilities of independent guitar music.

Of course, Marr's story extends far beyond The Smiths. After departing the group in 1987, he continued exploring different musical directions, working with The The and The Pretenders, forming Electronic with New Order's Bernard Sumner and later becoming a member of Modest Mouse and The Cribs. His collaborations have also taken him into film soundtracks, including his work alongside Hans Zimmer, while his solo career has established an increasingly substantial catalogue of its own.

It has been a particularly reflective period for Marr. Earlier this year, 111 lots from his remarkable guitar collection went under the hammer at Christie's, raising more than £3.6 million. The instruments represented decades of British musical history, with connections to The Smiths, Electronic, Noel Gallagher and numerous other musicians who have crossed Marr's path.

Yet he has hardly spent 2026 living in the past. His fifth solo album, ‘The Age of Everything’, arrived earlier this month, demonstrating that the guitarist remains just as interested in creating new music as revisiting his extraordinary history.

'Set the Boy Free' was never simply a book about The Smiths. It followed Marr through a succession of bands, collaborations and musical reinventions, from his childhood fascination with guitars to the extraordinary career that followed. Ten years later, the addition of Gallagher's foreword, Rourke's eulogy and previously unseen photographs adds another layer to a story that continues to develop.

‘Johnny Marr: Set the Boy Free – Illustrated Anniversary Edition’ is published by Thames & Hudson on 22 October 2026, with a recommended retail price of £30.

The book is available to pre-order through several retailers, including Rough Trade, Foyles, HMV, The Guardian Bookshop and Bookshop.org.

For collectors, signed copies are also listed for pre-order through Rough Trade, Foyles and Hatchards, subject to availability