HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -  For many Angelenos, Johnny Marr isn’t just a musician, he’s an icon. The guitarist, who rose to global fame as Morrissey's sideman in the Smiths, is currently playing front and center with a new album, single, and tour.

Die-hard fans like Robert Lucero have literally been following Marr's work for decades. Lucero has been a fan since the first time he heard the Smiths, the Manchester outfit Marr formed with Morrissey in 1982, that broke up in 1987.

Lucero was among those eagerly waiting outside early last week to get into the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, where Marr was closing out his recent U.S. tour. It was the fifth or sixth time Lucero had been to see Marr.

The last time had been in October of 2018 at the Ace Hotel Theatre in downtown. Unfortunately, he wasn't able catch Marr's entire set on that occasion.

“I got kicked out because I jumped on stage during 'Big Mouth Strikes Again,'” said Lucero. 

He actually did, in fact, jump on stage. We found video on YouTube clearly showing Lucero springing up onto the stage and trying to put his arm around Marr. Security promptly escorted him off stage and eventually, out of the venue. He had to listen to the rest of the concert from the sidewalk outside.

But Lucero didn’t really mind, as he got to be next to his idol, if only for a moment.

“I just wanted to give him a slight little hug and tell him I loved him,” said Lucero. 

Marr himself is fairly matter-of-fact about that kind of adulation.

“What’s there to not like when strangers come and give you loads of love?" he said in his trademark Mancunian accent.

Speaking before his sound check at the Ford, Marr was affable, easygoing, and refreshingly devoid of any sort of rock star egotism.

He spoke insightfully about why his music, and that of his former band, continues to resonate with SoCal music fans -- in particular, Mexican and Latino fans.

"I think there is a similarity between the Irish narrative and the Latin story," said Marr, whose own family immigrated from Ireland to the North of England. He also cites the strong romantic, classic 1950s feel of the Smiths' recorded output as a reason for the band's continual resonance with the L.A. Latino hipster crowd.

"There's passion in the music and I think people can recognize that there's real passion in what I do," said the guitarist.

At 55, Marr is still going strong, still appreciative of his fans, and still loves coming to play in Los Angeles. He's also inspired by how diverse his fan set is and the increasing number of younger fans he sees turning up at his shows.

Robert has been a fan from the first time he heard the smiths the group Johnny Marr formed with Morrissey in 1982 that broke up in 1987. I talked to him while he was waiting to enter the ford theatre in Hollywood to see Marr. Since then Robert has been to about 6-johnny Marr concerts including the last one at the Ace Hotel Theatre in October 2018. “And I got kicked out because I jumped on stage during big mouth strikes again,” says Robert.  He actually did in fact, jump on stage. We found video on Youtube showing Robert trying to put his arm around Johnny Marr and security taking him off stage and eventually out of the venue where he had to listen to the rest of the concert. But Robert didn’t mind, he got to be next to his idol. “I just wanted to give him a slight little hug and tell him I loved him,” says Robert. 

        As for Johnny Marr, he says “what’s there to not like when strangers come you and give you loads of love,” although I’m sure he’d rather fans wait until after the concert.

I got to interview Marr before this sound check at the Ford theatre, he was charming, easy to talk to, appreciative of his fans & he loves LA. For Robert there’s a lot to relate to when it comes to Johnny Marr and his former band the smiths. After all Marr comes from an immigrant family like Robert. “I think there is a similarity between the Irish narrative and the Latin story,” says Marr.

But Marr says it’s more than that, he believes it’s the strong Romantic classic 50’s feel of the music he played with the smiths that attracted Angelenos. He loves that his fans are diverse and he’s noticing younger fans at every show. “There’s passion in the music and I think people can recognize that there’s real passion in what I do,” says Marr.

For Angelenos, Johnny Marr isn’t just a musician, he’s an Icon and playing front and center with a new album and a new song. Diehard fans like Robert Lucero have been around for decades.

Robert has been a fan from the first time he heard the smiths the group Johnny Marr formed with Morrissey in 1982 that broke up in 1987. I talked to him while he was waiting to enter the ford theatre in Hollywood to see Marr. Since then Robert has been to about 6-johnny Marr concerts including the last one at the Ace Hotel Theatre in October 2018. “And I got kicked out because I jumped on stage during big mouth strikes again,” says Robert.  He actually did in fact, jump on stage. We found video on Youtube showing Robert trying to put his arm around Johnny Marr and security taking him off stage and eventually out of the venue where he had to listen to the rest of the concert. But Robert didn’t mind, he got to be next to his idol. “I just wanted to give him a slight little hug and tell him I loved him,” says Robert. 

        As for Johnny Marr, he says “what’s there to not like when strangers come you and give you loads of love,” although I’m sure he’d rather fans wait until after the concert.

I got to interview Marr before this sound check at the Ford theatre, he was charming, easy to talk to, appreciative of his fans & he loves LA. For Robert there’s a lot to relate to when it comes to Johnny Marr and his former band the smiths. After all Marr comes from an immigrant family like Robert. “I think there is a similarity between the Irish narrative and the Latin story,” says Marr.

But Marr says it’s more than that, he believes it’s the strong Romantic classic 50’s feel of the music he played with the smiths that attracted Angelenos. He loves that his fans are diverse and he’s noticing younger fans at every show. “There’s passion in the music and I think people can recognize that there’s real passion in what I do,” says Marr.

For Angelenos, Johnny Marr isn’t just a musician, he’s an Icon and playing front and center with a new album and a new song. Diehard fans like Robert Lucero have been around for decades.

Robert has been a fan from the first time he heard the smiths the group Johnny Marr formed with Morrissey in 1982 that broke up in 1987. I talked to him while he was waiting to enter the ford theatre in Hollywood to see Marr. Since then Robert has been to about 6-johnny Marr concerts including the last one at the Ace Hotel Theatre in October 2018. “And I got kicked out because I jumped on stage during big mouth strikes again,” says Robert.  He actually did in fact, jump on stage. We found video on Youtube showing Robert trying to put his arm around Johnny Marr and security taking him off stage and eventually out of the venue where he had to listen to the rest of the concert. But Robert didn’t mind, he got to be next to his idol. “I just wanted to give him a slight little hug and tell him I loved him,” says Robert. 

        As for Johnny Marr, he says “what’s there to not like when strangers come you and give you loads of love,” although I’m sure he’d rather fans wait until after the concert.

I got to interview Marr before this sound check at the Ford theatre, he was charming, easy to talk to, appreciative of his fans & he loves LA. For Robert there’s a lot to relate to when it comes to Johnny Marr and his former band the smiths. After all Marr comes from an immigrant family like Robert. “I think there is a similarity between the Irish narrative and the Latin story,” says Marr.

But Marr says it’s more than that, he believes it’s the strong Romantic classic 50’s feel of the music he played with the smiths that attracted Angelenos. He loves that his fans are diverse and he’s noticing younger fans at every show. “There’s passion in the music and I think people can recognize that there’s real passion in what I do,” says Marr.

For Angelenos, Johnny Marr isn’t just a musician, he’s an Icon and playing front and center with a new album and a new song. Diehard fans like Robert Lucero have been around for decades.

Robert has been a fan from the first time he heard the smiths the group Johnny Marr formed with Morrissey in 1982 that broke up in 1987. I talked to him while he was waiting to enter the ford theatre in Hollywood to see Marr. Since then Robert has been to about 6-johnny Marr concerts including the last one at the Ace Hotel Theatre in October 2018. “And I got kicked out because I jumped on stage during big mouth strikes again,” says Robert.  He actually did in fact, jump on stage. We found video on Youtube showing Robert trying to put his arm around Johnny Marr and security taking him off stage and eventually out of the venue where he had to listen to the rest of the concert. But Robert didn’t mind, he got to be next to his idol. “I just wanted to give him a slight little hug and tell him I loved him,” says Robert. 

        As for Johnny Marr, he says “what’s there to not like when strangers come you and give you loads of love,” although I’m sure he’d rather fans wait until after the concert.

I got to interview Marr before this sound check at the Ford theatre, he was charming, easy to talk to, appreciative of his fans & he loves LA. For Robert there’s a lot to relate to when it comes to Johnny Marr and his former band the smiths. After all Marr comes from an immigrant family like Robert. “I think there is a similarity between the Irish narrative and the Latin story,” says Marr.

But Marr says it’s more than that, he believes it’s the strong Romantic classic 50’s feel of the music he played with the smiths that attracted Angelenos. He loves that his fans are diverse and he’s noticing younger fans at every show. “There’s passion in the music and I think people can recognize that there’s real passion in what I do,” says Marr.

For Angelenos, Johnny Marr isn’t just a musician, he’s an Icon and playing front and center with a new album and a new song. Diehard fans like Robert Lucero have been around for decades.

Robert has been a fan from the first time he heard the smiths the group Johnny Marr formed with Morrissey in 1982 that broke up in 1987. I talked to him while he was waiting to enter the ford theatre in Hollywood to see Marr. Since then Robert has been to about 6-johnny Marr concerts including the last one at the Ace Hotel Theatre in October 2018. “And I got kicked out because I jumped on stage during big mouth strikes again,” says Robert.  He actually did in fact, jump on stage. We found video on Youtube showing Robert trying to put his arm around Johnny Marr and security taking him off stage and eventually out of the venue where he had to listen to the rest of the concert. But Robert didn’t mind, he got to be next to his idol. “I just wanted to give him a slight little hug and tell him I loved him,” says Robert. 

        As for Johnny Marr, he says “what’s there to not like when strangers come you and give you loads of love,” although I’m sure he’d rather fans wait until after the concert.

I got to interview Marr before this sound check at the Ford theatre, he was charming, easy to talk to, appreciative of his fans & he loves LA. For Robert there’s a lot to relate to when it comes to Johnny Marr and his former band the smiths. After all Marr comes from an immigrant family like Robert. “I think there is a similarity between the Irish narrative and the Latin story,” says Marr.

But Marr says it’s more than that, he believes it’s the strong Romantic classic 50’s feel of the music he played with the smiths that attracted Angelenos. He loves that his fans are diverse and he’s noticing younger fans at every show. “There’s passion in the music and I think people can recognize that there’s real passion in what I do,” says Marr.

For Angelenos, Johnny Marr isn’t just a musician, he’s an Icon and playing front and center with a new album and a new song. Diehard fans like Robert Lucero have been around for decades.

Robert has been a fan from the first time he heard the smiths the group Johnny Marr formed with Morrissey in 1982 that broke up in 1987. I talked to him while he was waiting to enter the ford theatre in Hollywood to see Marr. Since then Robert has been to about 6-johnny Marr concerts including the last one at the Ace Hotel Theatre in October 2018. “And I got kicked out because I jumped on stage during big mouth strikes again,” says Robert.  He actually did in fact, jump on stage. We found video on Youtube showing Robert trying to put his arm around Johnny Marr and security taking him off stage and eventually out of the venue where he had to listen to the rest of the concert. But Robert didn’t mind, he got to be next to his idol. “I just wanted to give him a slight little hug and tell him I loved him,” says Robert. 

        As for Johnny Marr, he says “what’s there to not like when strangers come you and give you loads of love,” although I’m sure he’d rather fans wait until after the concert.

I got to interview Marr before this sound check at the Ford theatre, he was charming, easy to talk to, appreciative of his fans & he loves LA. For Robert there’s a lot to relate to when it comes to Johnny Marr and his former band the smiths. After all Marr comes from an immigrant family like Robert. “I think there is a similarity between the Irish narrative and the Latin story,” says Marr.

But Marr says it’s more than that, he believes it’s the strong Romantic classic 50’s feel of the music he played with the smiths that attracted Angelenos. He loves that his fans are diverse and he’s noticing younger fans at every show. “There’s passion in the music and I think people can recognize that there’s real passion in what I do,” says Marr.

For Angelenos, Johnny Marr isn’t just a musician, he’s an Icon and playing front and center with a new album and a new song. Diehard fans like Robert Lucero have been around for decades.

Robert has been a fan from the first time he heard the smiths the group Johnny Marr formed with Morrissey in 1982 that broke up in 1987. I talked to him while he was waiting to enter the ford theatre in Hollywood to see Marr. Since then Robert has been to about 6-johnny Marr concerts including the last one at the Ace Hotel Theatre in October 2018. “And I got kicked out because I jumped on stage during big mouth strikes again,” says Robert.  He actually did in fact, jump on stage. We found video on Youtube showing Robert trying to put his arm around Johnny Marr and security taking him off stage and eventually out of the venue where he had to listen to the rest of the concert. But Robert didn’t mind, he got to be next to his idol. “I just wanted to give him a slight little hug and tell him I loved him,” says Robert. 

        As for Johnny Marr, he says “what’s there to not like when strangers come you and give you loads of love,” although I’m sure he’d rather fans wait until after the concert.

I got to interview Marr before this sound check at the Ford theatre, he was charming, easy to talk to, appreciative of his fans & he loves LA. For Robert there’s a lot to relate to when it comes to Johnny Marr and his former band the smiths. After all Marr comes from an immigrant family like Robert. “I think there is a similarity between the Irish narrative and the Latin story,” says Marr.

But Marr says it’s more than that, he believes it’s the strong Romantic classic 50’s feel of the music he played with the smiths that attracted Angelenos. He loves that his fans are diverse and he’s noticing younger fans at every show. “There’s passion in the music and I think people can recognize that there’s real passion in what I do,” says Marr.

For Angelenos, Johnny Marr isn’t just a musician, he’s an Icon and playing front and center with a new album and a new song. Diehard fans like Robert Lucero have been around for decades.

Robert has been a fan from the first time he heard the smiths the group Johnny Marr formed with Morrissey in 1982 that broke up in 1987. I talked to him while he was waiting to enter the ford theatre in Hollywood to see Marr. Since then Robert has been to about 6-johnny Marr concerts including the last one at the Ace Hotel Theatre in October 2018. “And I got kicked out because I jumped on stage during big mouth strikes again,” says Robert.  He actually did in fact, jump on stage. We found video on Youtube showing Robert trying to put his arm around Johnny Marr and security taking him off stage and eventually out of the venue where he had to listen to the rest of the concert. But Robert didn’t mind, he got to be next to his idol. “I just wanted to give him a slight little hug and tell him I loved him,” says Robert. 

        As for Johnny Marr, he says “what’s there to not like when strangers come you and give you loads of love,” although I’m sure he’d rather fans wait until after the concert.

I got to interview Marr before this sound check at the Ford theatre, he was charming, easy to talk to, appreciative of his fans & he loves LA. For Robert there’s a lot to relate to when it comes to Johnny Marr and his former band the smiths. After all Marr comes from an immigrant family like Robert. “I think there is a similarity between the Irish narrative and the Latin story,” says Marr.

But Marr says it’s more than that, he believes it’s the strong Romantic classic 50’s feel of the music he played with the smiths that attracted Angelenos. He loves that his fans are diverse and he’s noticing younger fans at every show. “There’s passion in the music and I think people can recognize that there’s real passion in what I do,” says Marr.

For Angelenos, Johnny Marr isn’t just a musician, he’s an Icon and playing front and center with a new album and a new song. Diehard fans like Robert Lucero have been around for decades.

Robert has been a fan from the first time he heard the smiths the group Johnny Marr formed with Morrissey in 1982 that broke up in 1987. I talked to him while he was waiting to enter the ford theatre in Hollywood to see Marr. Since then Robert has been to about 6-johnny Marr concerts including the last one at the Ace Hotel Theatre in October 2018. “And I got kicked out because I jumped on stage during big mouth strikes again,” says Robert.  He actually did in fact, jump on stage. We found video on Youtube showing Robert trying to put his arm around Johnny Marr and security taking him off stage and eventually out of the venue where he had to listen to the rest of the concert. But Robert didn’t mind, he got to be next to his idol. “I just wanted to give him a slight little hug and tell him I loved him,” says Robert. 

        As for Johnny Marr, he says “what’s there to not like when strangers come you and give you loads of love,” although I’m sure he’d rather fans wait until after the concert.

I got to interview Marr before this sound check at the Ford theatre, he was charming, easy to talk to, appreciative of his fans & he loves LA. For Robert there’s a lot to relate to when it comes to Johnny Marr and his former band the smiths. After all Marr comes from an immigrant family like Robert. “I think there is a similarity between the Irish narrative and the Latin story,” says Marr.

But Marr says it’s more than that, he believes it’s the strong Romantic classic 50’s feel of the music he played with the smiths that attracted Angelenos. He loves that his fans are diverse and he’s noticing younger fans at every show. “There’s passion in the music and I think people can recognize that there’s real passion in what I do,” says Marr.

For Angelenos, Johnny Marr isn’t just a musician, he’s an Icon and playing front and center with a new album and a new song. Diehard fans like Robert Lucero have been around for decades.

Robert has been a fan from the first time he heard the smiths the group Johnny Marr formed with Morrissey in 1982 that broke up in 1987. I talked to him while he was waiting to enter the ford theatre in Hollywood to see Marr. Since then Robert has been to about 6-johnny Marr concerts including the last one at the Ace Hotel Theatre in October 2018. “And I got kicked out because I jumped on stage during big mouth strikes again,” says Robert.  He actually did in fact, jump on stage. We found video on Youtube showing Robert trying to put his arm around Johnny Marr and security taking him off stage and eventually out of the venue where he had to listen to the rest of the concert. But Robert didn’t mind, he got to be next to his idol. “I just wanted to give him a slight little hug and tell him I loved him,” says Robert. 

        As for Johnny Marr, he says “what’s there to not like when strangers come you and give you loads of love,” although I’m sure he’d rather fans wait until after the concert.

I got to interview Marr before this sound check at the Ford theatre, he was charming, easy to talk to, appreciative of his fans & he loves LA. For Robert there’s a lot to relate to when it comes to Johnny Marr and his former band the smiths. After all Marr comes from an immigrant family like Robert. “I think there is a similarity between the Irish narrative and the Latin story,” says Marr.

But Marr says it’s more than that, he believes it’s the strong Romantic classic 50’s feel of the music he played with the smiths that attracted Angelenos. He loves that his fans are diverse and he’s noticing younger fans at every show. “There’s passion in the music and I think people can recognize that there’s real passion in what I do,” says Marr.