For artists, their origin story is everything. Where they came from, what inspired them, and what exactly drives them to pursue music is the thread that connects every artist’s earliest beginnings. Artists like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and countless others are part of music’s heritage, paving the way for rising artists to break through. But heritage isn’t just a legacy — it’s the heartbeat that makes the iconic music brand Marshall the true and unmistakable rhythm of rock ‘n’ roll history.
A name that is truly synonymous with the power of rock ‘n’ roll, Marshall’s heritage goes beyond just helping artists sound good — it’s a sonic saga that is etched into the fabric of music history. From the iconic Marshall ‘stack’ that everyone recognises to headphones that prove that sonic perfection is capable, the Marshall sound is more than an audio signature; it’s a cultural icon, an anthem that echoes through generations. Terry Marshall, the torchbearer of this musical legacy, not only inherited his father’s passion but also Marshall’s commitment to uncompromising quality. The meticulous craftsmanship that goes into every Marshall product is a testament to the brand’s dedication to delivering an authentic and unparalleled audio experience.
In conversation with Schön! Magazine, Terry Marshall and Christine Kennedy, Director of Integrated Marketing at Marshall, chat about the heritage and history of the brand, how it’s shaped the lives of rising and established artists, and more.
When you look back at where Marshall began and where it is today, how would you describe the way the brand has grown and evolved alongside today’s music and music lovers?
I believe the key to Marshall’s continued success is the ability to listen to our consumers and produce the equipment they want to use. In the early days, these customers included Pete Townshend, Ritchie Blackmore and Eric Clapton who inspired us to build an amp and a cabinet that fulfilled their needs and gave them the ability to create the sound they wanted – the JTM45. This continues right up to the present day with the recent launch of the new JTM which delivers the same unique sound for today’s users. 60 years of heritage rooted in the music community, we have been able to extend our brand beyond the needs of musicians to music fans around the world through our home speakers, portable speakers, and headphones. All of these products have been built just as they were 60 years ago—by listening to our consumers and providing them with what they need.
You and your father shaped the way alternative music grew in London. What does it mean to you that your family and your brand have shaped the way a specific genre was able to thrive at a specific time in music history?
As a professional sax player, still gigging today, I’ve always been closely involved in the live music scene and I’m immensely proud that my name has become part of popular music history. To us at Marshall, music is not defined by genres but by the relentless work ethic and determination of the musicians and community that underpin it. For 60 years, our brand has been closely associated with rock ‘n’ roll as a genre, but to us, rock ‘n’ roll is more than a genre—it is an attitude; it is a way of life. We speak about it in a broader sense to describe a lifestyle and mentality that we, and our passionate community, live by. I look forward to continuing as a major player for future generations of passionate musicians and music lovers.
Marshall has championed artists big and small, even creating Marshall Records in July 2016 and signing acts like Nova Twins. Why has it been so important for Marshall to uplift and support smaller acts?
Musicians are the heartbeat of our brand, and while we are often associated with legendary acts like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Ritchie Blackmore who brought our amps to the main stage, we recognize that it is the next generation of musicians who represent the future of the music community we hold so close to our hearts. It is imperative to use the platform and credibility we have in the industry to support the bedroom guitarists, the bands rehearsing in the late evenings after their day jobs, and the artists taking gigs with little pay just to get their names out there. These artists are the inspiration behind creating Marshall Records and the artists we sign to the label. As a brand that has been in this industry for 60+ years, we feel it is our responsibility to live up to the legacy Jim Marshall created of amplifying the voices of emerging talent. We are proud that our label represents a diverse group of talented artists from different music genres and backgrounds, all of whom embody the rock ‘n’ roll attitude.
How has the creation of the Marshall Group earlier this year shaped the brand’s ethos?
The creation of the Marshall Group has united one of the world’s most iconic music brands with one of the fastest-growing companies in consumer electronics—this synergy can only be described as 1+1=11. As one brand, we will bring to life the best products, experiences, and music platforms in a way only Marshall can: loud. With more people and passion, we are looking forward to creating the next 60 years of history for Marshall.
With that anniversary happening last year, what has Marshall done over the last year to further embody and celebrate the beauty of being ‘loud’?
This past year has been a great example of the power of Marshall Group coming together. On the product side, we launched the Studio JTM, recreating the legendary tones of the original JTM while making it more compact for travelling and gigging. Additionally, we introduced Middleton, the latest in our portable line, enabling people to take the Marshall signature sound they love on the road. Our most recent launch, Motif II ANC, not only offers the latest tech consumers have come to expect but also showcases the design and sound quality that only Marshall can deliver.
This past year focused on bringing the brand to life at key music moments, including SXSW and The Great Escape. At SXSW, we celebrated the passion of the Austin music community with a full-day Marshall event at the historic music venue, Mohawk. We also highlighted the passionate community that underpins the live music scene, including Women in Vinyl, Queer Vinyl Collective, and the women-owned vinyl pressing plant Gold Rush Vinyl. At The Great Escape in Brighton, UK, we hosted live acts at Chalk throughout the festival weekend, with a secret location across the street at East Street Tap, where our Marshall record label bands—Dream Nails, King Nun, Noah and The Loners—along with some friends of the brand, performed.
To honour Jim’s legacy and the brand’s heritage in amplifying voices, we also made financial commitments to support music communities. We extended our support to independent radio stations Oroko Radio and Echobox Radio. With this donation, Oroko Radio was able to establish its radio station in Accra, Ghana, while Echobox supported its talented artists in creating digital archives of its radio sets. Additionally, we partnered with the Queens Teens Institute for Art and Social Justice at the Queens Museum in New York. This funding facilitated a series of art-making workshops, leadership seminars, community service projects, and professional development training for young artists and leaders who participate in the yearly program. In Berlin, we collaborated with Roots Berlin to further their mission of creating a safe and inspiring space for BIPOC and marginalized communities through songwriting, DJ courses, and overall holistic well-being.
The past year is a true representation of the values and culture Jim Marshall established 60 years ago when he listened to local musicians in his shop and created a product that they needed. As a brand and a leader in the music industry, we continue to listen to musicians and music lovers and provide best-in-class products with our guitar amplifiers, Headphones and Speakers, our community-focused and emerging talent events as well as with our Music platforms such as our Marshall Record label and our state of the art recording studio.
photography. Marshall
