For over 130 years, Gibson the iconic and leading instrument brand, has shaped sound across generations and genres of music, becoming one of the most relevant, played, and loved guitar brands around the world.
In celebration of Gibson Garage Fest –a series of events celebrating the one year anniversary of the Gibson Garage London (61-62 Eastcastle St, London, UK)–Gibson has partnered with the world-renowned musician, songwriter and guitarist, Johnny Marr to release only 20 hand-signed Gibson ’84 Les Paul Standard with Bigsby, signed by Johnny Marr. Each of the 20 Gibson Johnny Marr ‘84 Les Paul Standard guitars will be available exclusively at the Gibson Garage London starting at 11am on Friday, February 21, until they are sold out. All profits from the sale of the Gibson Johnny Marr guitars will be donated by Johnny Marr and Gibson to support the charity Teenage Cancer Trust.
The Gibson Johnny Marr ’84 Les Paul Standard with Bigsby guitars are inspired by Johnny Marr’s Cherry Red Gibson Les Paul Standard with Bigsby from 1984, first played by Johnny Marr during the recording of The Smiths’ iconic second album, Meat is Murder. The model became Johnny’s go-to guitar and was used extensively in both live performances and recording sessions with The Smiths, as well as during his time as a member of The The, The Pretenders, The Cribs, as well as his work with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Each of these 20 Gibson Johnny Marr ’84 Les Paul Standard with Bigsby guitars have been created through Gibson’s Made-to-Measure program, and are designed to match up with his original as closely as possible, made from mahogany and in a vibrant Cherry Red finish, each guitar is hand-signed by Johnny Marr.
The 20 exclusive Gibson Johnny Marr guitars are available for the public to buy immediately upon the opening of the Gibson Garage London at 11am Friday 21st February, until stocks last.
“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 organisation 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.” –JOHNNY MARR
Above: Johnny Marr hand-signs the Gibson Johnny Marr ’84 Les Paul Standard with Bigsby guitars at the Gibson Garage London.
Alongside the 20 hand-signed Johnny Marr guitars, an exclusive collaborative range of Teenage Cancer Trust and Gibson merchandise will also be available. Limited edition t-shirts, hoodies and caps, featuring a newly created design by Jamie Hewlett, to celebrate the 25th year of Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall, and featuring Johnny Marr’s ‘84 Gibson Les Paul Standard with Bigsby, will be available at the Gibson Garage London, Gibson.com, and shop.teenagecancertrust.org – with proceeds from each item sold donated directly to Teenage Cancer Trust.
“The influence of Johnny Marr can be seen and heard across generations of musicians,” says Jamie Johnson, Head of Music and Entertainment at Teenage Cancer Trust. “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 be benefitting 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 to young people with cancer. Thank you to Johnny and the team at Gibson for their kindness and generosity.”
“To correspond with the Gibson Garage London’s one year anniversary, it’s a great honour 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,” adds Lee Bartram, Head of Commercial, Marketing and Cultural Influence – EMEA. “These guitars Johnny has signed take inspiration from his 1984 Gibson Les Paul Standard with Bigsby which has been featured on many British classic records over the years, and are a fitting tribute to the amazing work the TCT continue 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.”
Above: the Gibson X Teenage Cancer Trust apparel collection is now available at the Gibson Garage London.
The Gibson Garage London marks the first-ever Gibson flagship store outside of the U.S. and follows the successful opening of the Gibson Garage Nashville. Opened one year ago by rock royalty Jimmy Page, Sir Brian May, and Tony Iommi, the Gibson Garage London is the ultimate guitar experience and destination for music lovers across the globe and the place to explore Gibson’s music history which spans over 130 years.
Located in historic London just off Oxford Street, and featuring 4,000 square feet of retail space, visitors can plug in and play more than 300 electric and acoustic guitars across Gibson, Gibson Custom, Gibson Acoustic, Epiphone, and Kramer, explore the entire collection of Maestro pedals, MESA/Boogie and Gibson amplifiers, and more. Whether you are a seasoned professional musician, a casual guitar player, a beginner, or simply a music fan, the Gibson Garage London is the must-see music destination in London.
With a rich history of craftsmanship and innovation, Gibson has become synonymous with music culture. At the Gibson Garage London, music lovers can design their own Made-to-Measure guitar inside the Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab by selecting a one-of-a-kind guitar top off the wall and choosing the specs inside and out. The Gibson Garage London features a special, dedicated Acoustic guitar room with one of the largest displays of Gibson Acoustic guitars in the entire UK, as well as areas for Epiphone electric, acoustic and bass guitars, and the biggest display of Kramer guitars in the UK. At the Garage, fans are welcome to pick up and play all things Gibson, Epiphone, Kramer, MESA/Boogie, Gibson Amplifiers, Maestro pedals, and enjoy a massive display of exclusive Gibson apparel, gifts, and lifestyle items, as well as gear and accessories.
The Gibson Garage London is located at 61-62 Eastcastle St, London, UK (one block from Oxford Street) and is open daily Monday – Friday from 11:00-7:00 pm, Saturday 10:00-7.00 pm and from 12:00-6:00 pm on Sunday. For the latest news and updates on the Gibson Garage London, follow @GibsonGuitarUK on Instagram.
