In honor of the one-year anniversary of the Gibson Garage London, Gibson has teamed up with legendary musician Johnny Marr to release 20 hand-signed Gibson Les Paul guitars for charity. These exclusive guitars are modeled after the iconic Gibson ’84 Les Paul Standard that Marr famously played during his time with The Smiths.
The limited-edition Gibson ’84 Les Paul Standard with Bigsby, signed by Johnny Marr, will be available for purchase starting at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 21, at the Gibson Garage London, and will remain on sale until they sell out. All proceeds from the sale will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust, with both Johnny Marr and Gibson contributing to this important cause.
These “Made to Measure” guitars are inspired by Marr’s own 1984 Les Paul Standard, which he first used during the recording of Meat is Murder, The Smiths’ influential second album. This model became Marr’s signature instrument, playing a pivotal role in his performances and recordings with The Smiths and later, his work with bands like The The, The Pretenders, The Cribs, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Marr expressed his excitement about the collaboration: “These guitars are a faithful reproduction of my beloved 1984 Gibson Les Paul, bought in Manchester back in the day. It’s the guitar I’ve kept and used since that time on loads of different records, so I was beyond delighted to see it recreated in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. It’s an amazing organization that I’ve had an association with for about ten years. It’s a privilege to be involved in this good cause, and I’m very glad to be affiliated with it, especially when it involves making a fantastic Les Paul.”
Alongside the signed guitars, an exclusive range of Teenage Cancer Trust and Gibson merchandise will also be available. These items include limited-edition t-shirts, hoodies, and caps featuring a new design by Jamie Hewlett, commemorating the 25th anniversary of Teenage Cancer Trust’s performances at the Royal Albert Hall.
Jamie Johnson, Head of Music and Entertainment at Teenage Cancer Trust, praised the collaboration: “The influence of Johnny Marr can be seen and heard across generations of musicians. Not only is he an incredible writer and player, but he has a huge depth of knowledge in his craft. Combined with Gibson’s generosity and mastery, we are thrilled to benefit from this unique opportunity. The support we receive from Johnny and Gibson can be seen across the UK, where we are able to make very real and meaningful differences for young people with cancer. Thank you to Johnny and the team at Gibson for their kindness and generosity.”
Lee Bartram, Gibson Head of Commercial, Marketing, and Cultural Influence – EMEA, added: “To correspond with the Gibson Garage London’s one-year anniversary, it’s a great honor to continue our partnership with the Teenage Cancer Trust for another year and, for 2025, we have the legend that is Johnny Marr adding his support. These guitars Johnny has signed take inspiration from his 1984 Gibson Les Paul Standard with Bigsby, which has been featured on many classic British records over the years and are a fitting tribute to the amazing work the TCT continues to do. Gibson is also thrilled to bring a range of apparel with the TCT to the Gibson Garage London, expanding its longtime partnership with the distinguished charity.”
The Gibson Garage London is located at 61-62 Eastcastle St, London, UK (one block from Oxford Street) and is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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