MESA BOOGIE, LAGUNITAS, CALIFORNIA, CIRCA 1978

Johnny Marr purchased this 1970s Mesa Boogie Mark I amplifier in 1985, followed soon after by a brand-new Mark III model, and used the two amps both live and in the studio with The Smiths from 1985 to 1987. Interviewed for a feature in The Guitar Magazine in 1991, Marr provided a list of his equipment as follows: By the mid ‘80s the armoury included… a tweed 4x10 Fender Bassman combo, a Pro 15 combo, Boogie Mk 1 and 3 combos, two JC120s, and a black face twin. Along with the Roland JC-120 and Fender Bassman (lots 6 and 36), this Mesa Boogie Mark I was seen behind Marr during the band’s performance of their new single ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’ and album track ‘Vicar in a Tutu’ on the BBC music television programme The Old Grey Whistle Test on 20 May 1986. In combination with the Mark III and Roland JC-120, Marr used this Mark I for live performances throughout The Smiths’ Queen Is Dead Tour from 31 January 1986 to 12 December 1986. Although nobody knew it at the time, the final date of the tour at London’s Brixton Academy would turn out to be the band’s last ever live show.