Prince’s original “Cloud 3” electric guitar used in his iconic ’80s-’90s tours from Purple Rain to Diamonds & Pearls, set a new world record for the most expensive Prince guitar ever sold at auction when it made $910,000 at Julien’s Music Icons sale in New York. Bono’s iconic U2 signed 2005 Gretsch G6136i “Irish Falcon” sold for $260,000, Steve Jones’ custom 1974 Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, recently verified as the punk rock icon’s true original and iconic Sex Pistols axe, sold for $390,000, Adam Clayton’s Fender Rose Sparkle Precision bass guitar from the U2 Las Vegas residency sold for $260,000, ans Cliff Williams’ circa 1980s AC/DC teal double cutaway precision style bass guitar with eight mother of pearl inlaid “penis” motifs sold for $22,750.
A limited edition of Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev illustrated by Bono comes up at de Veres current online auction of Irish and international art and 20th century design now open for bidding. Lot 110, number 33 from an edition of 200, comprises a set of six lithograph sheets (one signed) and a CD performed by Gavin Friday. The estimate is €500-€700. The sale offers a selection of design furniture by makers like Willy Rizzo, Charles and Ray Eames, Fendi and Roche Bobois including armchairs, dining tables, chairs, cabinets, desks and lamps. There is a selection of affordable art from a variety of artists including Hughie O’Donoghue, Michael Coleman, Gwen O’Dowd, Ciaran Lennon, Patrick Collins, Tony O’Malley, William Crozier, Corban Walker, Tim Goulding and Charles Tyrrell among 168 lots in total. Bidding starts to close from 2 pm on July 18. UPDATE: THIS MADE 500 AT HAMMER
Fender Stratocaster electric guitar smashed by Kurt Cobain
A lefty black Fender Stratocaster electric guitar smashed by Kurt Cobain, during Nirvana’s seminal Nevermind era made an astounding $595,000 – nearly ten times its original estimate of $60,000 – at Julien’s Music Icons sale at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York. The reassembled but unplayable guitar signed by all three members of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl, with additional inscriptions to Mark Lanegan (of Screaming Trees) by Cobain that read: “Hell-o Mark! Love, Your Pal, Kurdt Kobain / Washed up rockstar” as well as the inscription Boddah Lives engraved to the neck plate (referring to Cobain’s childhood imaginary friend) is housed in a black hard case with “Abort Christ” written on the top in white block letters and includes a white Ernie Ball guitar strap.
Bono’s 2002 Gretsch Irish Falcon electric guitar made $238,125. The guitar signed by all four members of U2 was donated by Bono when he was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year in 2003. A devotee of the Gretsch 6196 Country Club, Bono commissioned ten Irish Falcon electric guitars from Gretsch in 2000. Over 1,200 pieces of music history from rock royalty owned and used by stars like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Lifeson, Freddie Mercury, Led Zeppelin, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, KISS, Mötley Crüe, Tom Petty, Lenny Kravitz, and more with special collections from Amy Winehouse, Bill Wyman, Bette Midler and Julian Lennon, sold in front of a live audience and online with thousands of bidders, fans and collectors from around the world participating at julienslive.com The three-day sale will close on today (May 21) with property from Janet Jackson.
Anyone for a prototype of Bono’s Gretsch Irish Falcon model 6136 electric guitar? The Gretsch family, one of the most celebrated names in the music industry, is opening up their archive for the first time to benefit their music foundation. On offer live and online at Juliens Auctions, Beverly Hills, on March 26 and 27, is part of their collection of guitars. These were used as early generation prototypes of signature instruments by music legends like Bono, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Chet Atkins, Brian Setzer and many more. Gretsch has been the premier manufacturers of the worlds finest guitars and drums since 1883. Among the highlights of the sale is Bono’s prototype, which comes complete with green finish, two pickups with The Goal is Soul on the pickguard and gold hardware. The estimate is $8,000-$10,000.
A Bono self portrait sketch comes up at Hegarty’s sale in Bandon next Sunday. The sketch by the globally known lead singer with U2, songwriter, venture capitalist and philanthropist is situated in a most un rockstar like position on the catalogue between a tall glass cabinet with gilt wood decoration and a large chesterfield leather sofa.
Lot 29 in a sale due to start at 4 p.m. is a pen sketch signed in the centre by Paul “Bono” Hewson. It measures 17″ x 13.75″ approximately.
Dated 2007, it comes complete with a certificate of authenticity. More than 300 lots will come under the hammer.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for April 2, 2017)
THE GRETSCH “IRISH FALCON” ELECTRIC GUITAR SIGNED BY U2
A Gretsch “Irish Falcon” electric guitar signed by U2 from Bono’s personal collection comes up at Bonham’s in New York on March 27.
At Bono’s request, Gretsch built only ten “Irish Falcon” guitars to be used in U2’s Elevation Tour in 2001. This is one of the earliest such prototypes. The Irish Falcon has become Bono’s signature instrument for performing.
In 2003, MusiCares charity recognized Bono as their Person of the Year and held a tribute in his honor in New York. This guitar, signed by all four members of U2, was auctioned to benefit MusiCares that night.
The electric guitar, with laminated maple hollow single cutaway body and evergreen finish, comes with gold sparkle binding, maple neck and fretboard with mother-of-pearl humpback inlays.
It is signed “Bono 2007,” “Edge,” “Adam Clayton,” “Larry Mullen, Jr.” in silver permanent marker and estimated at US$180,000-220,000.
