THE SMITHS - JOHNNY MARR JOINS MODEST MOUSE

LATEST: Former THE SMITHS guitarist JOHNNY MARR has become a full-time member of US indie act MODEST MOUSE after frontman ISAAC BROCK listed him at the top of his wish list to replace departing bandmate DANN GALLUCCI. Following up on the comment he made in an interview, Brock got hold of Marr's contact details a year ago (06) and called the British guitarist. Marr, who has also performed with THE PRETENDERS and THE THE, stunned Brock by agreeing to join him and his Modest Mouse bandmates in the studio to record their new album WE WERE DEAD BEFORE THE SHIP EVEN SANK. He has since been made a full member of the cult group. Marr tells men's magazine Blender, "I'd heard some stuff of theirs that I really liked. I figured that, at the very least, it'd be a fascinating experiment."