Recommendations of the Editorial team
Guitars that are part of the history of Johnny Cash, Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett and others are changing hands at the end of the month. Auction house Julien’s is auctioning off 650 items on May 29th and 30th as part of its Music Icons series in New York City. The pieces can be viewed at New York’s Hard Rock Café from May 13th.
One of the most fascinating pieces is the Man in Black’s 1954 Martin D18, on which he made his Grand Ole Opry debut in July 1956, playing “Folsom City Blues” and “I Walk the Line.” According to Julien’s, he also recorded both songs on this guitar – as well as “Hey, Porter” and “There You Go”. The auction house estimates the proceeds at $100,000 to $200,000.
No less remarkable is Frehley’s 1975 Gibson Les Paul, his #1 “Budokan” instrument, which he played at every concert between 1976 and 1979 – roughly between the albums “Rock and Roll Over” and “Dynasty”. He also used them to record the Kiss album “Love Gun”; Recordings from the Tokyo Budokan, after which he named the instrument, were incorporated into “Alive II”. Julien’s is expecting bids from Kiss fans between $400,000 and $600,000.
Frehley, Hammett and Van Halen
Also on offer: the 1997 Gibson Signature Les Paul Custom that Frehley played at Super Bowl XXXIII ($40,000-$60,000) and a Light Show Sanchez Custom Gibson Les Paul Jr. that he used on Kiss’s 1996 reunion tour, including the legendary Brooklyn Bridge gig for MTV ($10,000-$15,000).
The auction also contains other high-quality instruments. Kirk Hammett’s 1993 ESP with a glowing Ouija board design is estimated at $250,000 to $350,000. He used them for the recordings of the “Black Album”, “Load”, “ReLoad”, “Garage Inc.” and “Death Magnetic” – and enclosed the following handwritten note: “This was one of my main touring + recording guitars throughout the ’90s.”
Eddie Van Halen’s striped Charvel Art Series guitar, which he played at the band’s last performance with Sammy Hagar in 2004, is estimated at $50,000 to $70,000. The 1966 Gibson Southern Jumbo Acoustic Guitar that Gary Busey played in “The Buddy Holly Story” (1978) is expected to fetch between $10,000 and $20,000. Guitars from Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, Mötley Crüe’s Mick Mars and Stevie Ray Vaughan are also going under the hammer.
Memorabilia and clothing
Memorabilia highlights include a copy of the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album signed by the Fab Four ($20,000-$40,000), Joni Mitchell’s handwritten “Woodstock” lyrics ($20,000-$30,000) and Jim Morrison’s signed bail papers following the alleged exhibitionism incident at a Florida concert 1969 ($20,000-$30,000). As for clothing, standouts include Sabrina Carpenter’s shorts from the “Manchild” music video ($1,000-$2,000), a velvet suit worn by Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham in 1976 ($15,000-$25,000), Blackpink’s Lisa gloves from a magazine cover shoot ($400-$600), and a sleeveless T-shirt that Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook wore on stage in 1977 ($10,000-$15,000).
