10 Best Classic Rock Guitarists Of The '80s

While most of the decade was dominated by glam rock and bright pop music, there was a more interesting musical genre emerging from the underground known as alternative.

Whereas the leading names may have been Motley Crue and Poison, bands like the Pixies and R.E.M. were putting their unique twist on the rock formula. It may have been a change of pace for the American market, but the Smiths held their own on the other side of the ocean.

For as much as someone like Morrissey seems like a horrible person nowadays, much of the goodwill of the Smiths was based around the power of Johnny Marr’s guitar. Across every Smiths album, Marr never really did any flashy solos but always put the right arrangement together.

Most rock fans might consider little solo work to be a downside, but Marr’s parts on songs like “How Soon is Now?” and “Never Had No One Ever” had the ability to stick with you for decades.

Even if there wasn’t anything too fancy, something like “This Charming Man” was strangely difficult once you actually attempted to sit down and play it. The Smiths may get namechecked as the kings of teenage melodrama, but Johnny Marr moved the band forward and became an inspiration to everyone from Noel Gallagher to Jonny Greenwood.