Johnny Marr Recalls Paul McCartney’s Perfect Advice After The Smiths Split

Navigating the fallout of a beloved band breaking up is never easy, but getting perspective from a fellow guitar icon can help. Johnny Marr recently recalled the blunt and enduring advice he received from The Beatles legend Paul McCartney following the disbandment of The Smiths.

The Breakup and McCartney’s Quip

The Smiths were rapidly rising through the ranks during their active years, but the partnership fractured when Marr left the group in July 1987. At the time, his guitar duties were handed over to Easterhour member Ivor Perry. However, Perry failed to connect with Morrissey, and by the time the band’s fourth album, Strangeways, Here We Come, arrived in September 1987, the band was finished.

In a recent interview with MOJO, Marr shared that he found some solace during that difficult period by spending a long, incredible day with Paul and Linda McCartney. Marr recalled that Linda was generous and asked him all about his life, prompting him to open up to Paul about the fracture of The Smiths.

“I looked to him and waited and he just said, ‘That’s bands for you,’” Marr shared. Though simple, the response left a lasting impression on the guitarist, who called it “such a brilliant answer coming from him.” Marr noted that he has even adopted the phrase himself when asked for guidance over the years, stating, “There is just a time to say, ‘That’s bands for you.’”

An Intense Day of Jamming

That day with the McCartneys wasn’t just filled with conversation. It is a well-documented fact that Marr and Paul McCartney jammed together during that period. Marr reminisced that the two collaborated for a long, eight-or-nine-hour stretch, playing intensely, loudly, and continuously throughout the visit.

The reflection comes as both Marr and Morrissey have recently put their long-standing feud aside for an upcoming Rough Trade Records release. The former bandmates both contributed to a rare release featured in the label’s Volume 2 singles box set, which is scheduled to drop on October 30th, 2026.