The special edition reissue of Johnny Marr + the Healers’ Boomslang is out today. First released in 2003, the album is now available in its entirety for the first time in 21 years. Listen here.
In addition to the album’s 11 original songs, Boomslang 2024 offers fans new and unheard material from the first and only album by Johnny Marr + the Healers. Seven previously unreleased recordings titled ‘The Way That It Was’, ‘Get Me Wrong’, ‘A Woman Like You’, a cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right’, plus an extended mix of original album track ‘You Are The Magic’ (Union Mix), ‘Get Me Wrong’ (Instrumental Version) and the expansive, swirling desert jam ‘All Out Attack’.
To celebrate today’s release a newly remastered version of the music video for ‘The Last Ride’ is now available to watch now. This follows the release of ‘All Out Attack’, ‘The Way That It Was’ and ‘You Are The Magic (Union Mix)’.
The songs on Boomslang present a unique trip into Johnny Marr’s creativity at the dawn of the 21st century. Leaning into new technology, experimenting with new ways to write, record and think. Following Johnny’s time as a member of The Pretenders, The The, and Electronic, and collaborations with artists such as Pet Shop Boys, Bryan Ferry, and Beck, Johnny Marr + the Healers emerged by chance, capturing a unique moment.
Marr first met drummer Zak Starkey following a Who concert at Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1999. Former Kula Shaker bassist Alonza Bevan joined the pair later, following a recommendation from Noel Gallagher. Percussionist Liz Bonney emerged from Byron Bay with Lee Spencer’s rainforest synth wizardry in tow. Adam Gray summoned his slide guitar for the ‘Electro-Cosmic-Blues’ and, united by chemistry and cosmic energy, the Healers came into existence.
Boomslang was recorded at a house in the trees called Forest Edge, where the Healers lived and worked together in a commune-like environment. Inspired by the far-reaching sounds of Faust, Boards Of Canada, Neu, Bert Jansch, and esoteric literature by Madame Blavatsky, Ouspensky and Gurdjieff, the Healers lived like early digital glitter hippies. The ethos was to create an interesting rock record to space out to. A six piece band seeking an alternative to the 1990s British indie zeitgeist.
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