Johnny Marr invites fan on stage to play guitar on This Charming Man… and he only goes and nails it

(Image credit: Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage/Getty)

Johnny Marr had a surprise at a recent gig when he let a fan up onstage to play electric guitar on The Smiths classic This Charming Man - only for his guest to absolutely nail it.

Marr was gigging at Exeter’s Lemon Grove when he noticed a sign held by eager fan George, who requested he come up and play the iconic track.

“What’s that, you want to play This Charming Man?” asks Marr. “What if it’s terrible?”

“Let’s put it to the test. I’ve got a feeling this is going to end up very, very bad.”

“First off, have you got a guitar with you?” the indie titan joked, before giving up his signature Fender Jaguar.

“Second off, why can’t you play [Marr’s solo tracks] Easy Money or The Tracers, dude?”

From there on, George goes on to do an impressive job of tackling Marr’s intricate guitar parts - especially with the man himself watching over him.

Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

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