Johnny Marr and Jaguar during "Inception" premiere

[avj]

Finally saw Inception tonight with the missus, and I found it to be phenomenal.

I saw this video floating around but never bothered to watch it, and after a quick search I noticed it was only mentioned once in passing in the Pub -- so I thought it deserved its own thread.

Johnny Marr with Hans Zimmer and orchestra (sweet Jag stuff starts around 11:30 in the video)

It's a fucking chillingly terrific performance overall, but it was nice to hear a Jaguar front and center amidst an orchestra. It sort of evoked Adrian Utley on Portishead's Roseland NYC live video. (Seven Months and Sour Times, for reference.)

[MaMo]

neat jag, the switches are a bit interesting, aren't they? Just a switch in place of the vol / tone for the rhythm circuit, and then is that just a toggle on the lower horn?

[Viljami]

At first I was "oh, he's ripping of Morricone" than at about 19 mins in "now he's back to his old tricks"

Mostly I was just wondering that did someone forget to turn Marr's amp up? I could only hear it in the quietest sections.

I think that was the closest Zimmer has ever been to actually making music, instead of his usual "pirates of the caribbean" type deals where the choir just goes "oooh-ooh-aah-ooh-oooh-aah" rapidly. Something about his usual work is just so cheesy.

And the pretty(?) ladies in front playing violin +cello with the old geezers playing trombone etc in the back combo was fun.

[ultratwin]

Thoroughly enjoyed that, as it's so rare to get comtemporary film stuff performed live with such a cast.

And ain't that white-on-white Jag the sexiest thing ever?





<checks in-ear monitor signal> "What, love? I caint 'ear ya...You say I left the buzzstop in the little cubby box under the fascia?" <pauses> "No. No dear, I was fine really. 'Twas brilliant."

[ultratwin]

I think that was the closest Zimmer has ever been to actually making music, instead of his usual "pirates of the caribbean" type deals where the choir just goes "oooh-ooh-aah-ooh-oooh-aah" rapidly. Something about his usual work is just so cheesy.

I agree, although I strangely fancy his work on Gladiator, even with Ms. Dead Can Dance moaning about here and there. Then again, Han's best work may have been miming dual-keyboards for Trevor Horn on that Buggles video, coming across as a stiff-necked older brother of Rick Springfield:

[dezb1]

That were proper Bo! Cheers for posting it. Johnny’s the man...

[Fran]

Awesome. Buzzing for Marr, what a great player and probably the Jaguars biggest ambassodor. Its a great moment for the Fender Jaguar too. Nice to see it in the spotlight outside the 'alternative rock' world for once.

[jcyphe]

Maybe I need to watch this with the movie but I found this boooring.

Huge Johnny Marr fan but this was not good at any part.

Also he should put away the Jag and rock with any other guitar, because to be honest he sounds better on nearly every other type of guitar he plays.

[Nick]

I like the score but I don't feel Marr's work was really necessary on it. He's capable of so much more than those simple repetitive leads through delay, that watching this feels kind of cheap. Many guitarists might not be able to pull off looking so cool playing the same 2 notes for 2 full minutes, but just about any guitarist could do it.

I like the Jaguar. 5 way switch plate is cool, and would totally solve the problem I always have playing jaguars

[avj]

I like the score but I don't feel Marr's work was really necessary on it. He's capable of so much more than those simple repetitive leads through delay, that watching this feels kind of cheap. Many guitarists might not be able to pull off looking so cool playing the same 2 notes for 2 full minutes, but just about any guitarist could do it.

I like the Jaguar. 5 way switch plate is cool, and would totally solve the problem I always have playing jaguars

I agree with all of this. Using Marr for something like this seems a bit, well, strange somehow, but I like to pretend there was some cool backstory for how Zimmer wanted him to be involved. It seems fairly certain though that any guitarist chosen would somehow be shit upon. If it was another interesting famous guitarist, people would make the same argument as with Marr; if it was an unknown, the "Who the fuck is this clown?" question would be raised.

That switching is definitely awesome. If I have time at work this week I'm going to try and fab a test plate like that to accomodate a four-way switch for NECK, NECK/BRIDGE SERIES, NECK/BRIDGE PARALLEL, BRIDGE.

As far as Zimmer's worth as a composer is concerned, one can't really argue with his commercial success. (Plus, look at all this cool shit he gets to play with!) Beltrami, Faltermeyer, Silvestri, Williams, Elfman, Zimmer -- these guys sit in the commercial realm comfortably. I generally find guys like Mothersbaugh and Mansell more interesting, but there's just really something to commanding a giant crew of musicians.

[hotrodperlmutter]

Using Marr for something like this seems a bit, well, strange somehow, but I like to pretend there was some cool backstory for how Zimmer wanted him to be involved.

Hans Zimmer scored the film, marking his third collaboration with Nolan following Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. According to Zimmer, it's "a very electronic score". Nolan asked Zimmer to compose and finish the score as he was shooting the film. The composer said, "He wanted to unleash my imagination in the best possible way". At one point, while composing the score, Zimmer incorporated a guitar sound reminiscent of Ennio Morricone and was interested in having Johnny Marr, former guitarist in the influential 80s rock band, The Smiths, play these parts. He asked Nolan, who agreed and then Zimmer approached Marr who accepted his offer. Marr spent four 12-hour days working on the score, playing notes written by Zimmer with a 12-string guitar.

[Dave]

I think the lesson in this thread is that grolsch strap locks look awesome at Hollywood film premieres. Schaller Schmallers!

[deathofdreams]

Maybe I need to watch this with the movie but I found this boooring.

agreed. marr looked more bored than i was watching it.