Modest Mouse muso goes back toschool

Fri 19th Oct, 2007 in International News

Legendary musician Johnny Marr, of The Smiths and Modest Mouse fame, has been enlisted by the Salford University in the UK to teach composition and performance of popular music. So who’s up for a little bit of some study abroad?

Just announced as the university’s professor of music, his responsibilities will include hosting workshops on the composition and performance of popular music. And apparently, Marr is pretty chuffed with his new role. “Salford University is offering some fantastic opportunities to students in music. It is an honour to be appointed as a professor and I’m excited at the prospect of being able to make a contribution.”

And it seems Marr has a bit of a personal tie with the university. He;s got a long association with the area of Greater Manchester where the university is located, and he actually played a gig with The Smiths there in 1986 which he considers as one of their best ever. “The PA had to be tied down because the floor was bouncing up so high that the stage was practically falling to pieces,” he said.