# The Headmaster Ritual guitar solo

> Johnny Marr's guitar solo on The Headmaster Ritual by The Smiths (1985). From the album Meat Is Murder. Watch from the solo, plus the story and gear.

Canonical URL: <https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-the-headmaster-ritual/>

The Smiths, 1985, from *Meat Is Murder*. Solo by *Johnny Marr*.

Built on a complex open-tuned riff, it showcases Marr's knack for guitar parts that sound like multiple instruments at once.

The Headmaster Ritual by The Smiths is #9 in our ranking of the best The Smiths guitar solos. The solo is played by Johnny Marr and the song was released in 1985.

## In our lists

- [The Best The Smiths Guitar Solos](https://greatestsolos.com/list/the-smiths-guitar-solos/) — #9
- [The Best Johnny Marr Guitar Solos](https://greatestsolos.com/list/johnny-marr-guitar-solos/) — #9

## Sources

### Who played the guitar solo on The Headmaster Ritual?

Johnny Marr played the solo on The Smiths's The Headmaster Ritual (1985).

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