Johnny Marr gets his Gibson back

Written by archtop girl on Tuesday, 23 February 2010

A story with a happy ending. A 1964 Gibson SG, a fine example in cherry red, was stolen from former Smith Johnny Marr after a gig with the Healers at the Scala, Kings Cross, ten years ago, when a "fan" wandered backstage, saw it unattended and dodged out of the fire escape with it. Stephen White of Enfield admitted this week that he was "disgusted" by his behaviour, putting it down to a combination of alcohol and heavy-duty anti-depressants; he received 200 hours of community service at his trial for theft this week. 

White was rumbled when he took the guitar - which he'd had on display on his living room wall - for repairs at a shop in Denmark Street. His biggest crime, perhaps, is not so much the theft as the reason why he needed the repairs - he had accidentally trodden on it. On a '64 SG worth a good £6,000 even without the Marr credentials, and an estimated £30,000 with. Marr, currently on tour with the Cribs, is said to be delighted to have his guitar back, and charmingly, says he bears White no ill-will.

Marr's not short of guitars, anyway: there's a lovely gallery of his collection on his newly-redesigned official website.