A raft of iconic fashion pieces—including Prince’s stage-worn tour outfit as well as a red racing jacket and gold-filled watch once belonging to Elvis Presley— are among pieces of music memorabilia going up for auction next month in Nashville.
The Julien’s Auctions’ event, Played, Worn, & Torn: Rock ‘n’ Roll Iconic Guitars and Memorabilia, will include rare relics from the likes of Guns ‘N’ Roses, Elton John, George Michael, Foo Fighters, and The Police, as well as newly revealed items from Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain, Eddie Van Halen, Frank Zappa, and others.
Rock fans around the world first took notice when the auction’s initial lineup was announced wo weeks ago, headlined by a couple of the most notable guitars ever to be offered at auction:Eric Clapton’s The Fool and Kurt Cobain’s Skystang I, as well as one of the most iconic rock and roll buses of all time, Paul McCartney’s original and restored 1972 Wings tour bus.
The red racing jacket Elvis wore in the 1968 musical film Speedway
Courtesy Julien’s Auctions
“In addition to two of the most famous and historic guitars of all time comes over 1,000 played, worn and torn relics from a pantheon of rock gods and their biggest and most exciting collaborations,” Martin Nolan, executive director and co-founder of Julien’s Auctions, told Penta in a statement.
The most significant additions to the auction once belonged to Presley: a red racing jacket, screen-worn in his role as Steve Grayson in the 1968 musical film Speedway— estimated to sell for between US$20,000 and US$40,000—and his 1950s 14k gold-filled Lord Elgin watch, which is estimated to be achieve betweenUS$20,000 and US$30,000. These items join the previously announced lot of a sensational, fully restored 1977 Lincoln Continental Mark V that was owned and driven by Presley, which carries an estimate between US$200,000 and US$300,000.
Also sure to draw interest is the highest-profile guitar to be added to the sale, a 2007 Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Eddie Van Halen Frankenstein replica electric guitar with a red, white and black stripe finish, which is estimated to sell for between US$20,000 and US$40,000. Fender produced a limited run of 300 replicas, each a faithful reproduction of the iconic guitar that Van Halen personally assembled in 1977. The instrument is housed in an Anvil flight case that bears the Van Halen band logo as well as an engraved metal plate with the brand that has been replicated to reflect the wear on Van Halen’s original case.
A 2007 Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Eddie Van Halen Frankenstein replica electric guitar with a red, white and black stripe finish.
Courtesy of Julien’s Auctions
Fashion lovers will take note of the most eye-catching of the additions: Prince’s “Jam of the Year” tour suit (estimated to achieve between US$15,000 to US$25,000). The late pop icon wore the black and gold reptilian outfit on-stage throughout most of his worldwide tour in 1997-98.
Prince’s “Jam of the Year” tour suit.
Courtesy Julien’s Auctions
“An incredible lot is a Guns ‘N’ Roses black PSE Custom 335 electric guitar [estimated to go for between US$20,000 to US$30,000], owned by GNR drummer Richard Fortus and played by Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl when he joined Guns ‘N’ Roses on stage to perform ‘Paradise City’ in 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma,” Nolan said.
Coinciding with the auctioneer’s 20th anniversary, the three-day sale, taking place from Nov. 16-18 at Hard Rock Cafe Nashville, will donate a portion of the proceeds to Kicking the Stigma, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay’s initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders.
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