A lucky fan purchased a piece rock and roll history from Eric Clapton, who sold his guitar on stage with Derek and the Dominos for $625K.
The 1968 Martin D-45 acoustic guitar was originally expected to fetch between $300K and $500K by Julien’s Auctions in the two-day Icons & Idols: Rock & Roll auction, held in Los Angeles last weekend.
Clapton’s guitar acoustic ended up being the most expensive item at the auction with total sales exceeding $5 million.
Eric’s guitar: One lucky fan picked up a piece of rock and roll history with Eric Clapton’s guitar from his stage debut with Derek and the Dominos selling for a whopping $625K
That very guitar was used by the rock icon during Derek and Dominos’ first performance at London Lyceum Theatre on June 14, 1970.
The guitarist would ultimately gift the acoustic guitar to singer-songwriter Dave Edmunds while he was visiting Clapton at his home in Surrey in 1976.
The guitar comes with a ‘signed letter of provenance from Edmunds who states that Clapton was originally planning to gift him a Gibson J-200 but chose the Martin instead when the J-200 couldn’t be located.’
Provenance: The guitar comes with a ‘signed letter of provenance from Edmunds who states that Clapton was originally planning to gift him a Gibson J-200 but chose the Martin instead when the J-200 couldn’t be located’
Another acoustic guitar that’s eerily similar to Clapton’s was sold at the two-day auction, Elvis Presley’s 1972 Martin D-28 acoustic guitar that Elvis played on stage.
Original estimate for the guitar was between $70,000-$90,000. However, it cost more than double that with $187,000.
Presley played the guitar from the middle-to-late 1970s, after director Norman Taurog gifted him the 6-string acoustic. Taurog directed many of Elvis’ movies.
Elvis’ guitar: Another acoustic guitar that’s eerily similar to Clapton’s was sold at the two-day auction, Elvis Presley’s 1972 Martin D-28 acoustic guitar that Elvis played on stage
The Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards bought a red jacket with gold embroidery, rhinestones and cropped sleeves for $38,400. This is far more than the $8,000-$12,000 estimate.
Richards wore the jacket on Get Yer Yas Yas Out and onstage during a notorious concert in which an audience member was fatally stabbed to death by the Hell’s Angels.
Eddie Van Halen Frankenstrat signed Eddie Van Halen guitar sold for $83,200. That’s a significant increase from its original price of $30,000 to $50,000.
Above estimate: A red with gold embroidery and rhinestone cropped jacket worn by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards sold for $38,400, far above the original estimate of $8,000 to $12,000
Two guitars played by U2’s The Edge and Bono also sold at the auction, a Gibson Les Paul Standard electric guitar and a and a 2005 Gretsch Irish Falcon model G61361 electric guitar.
Gibson’s Les Paul Standard electric guitar was sold at $96,000 above its original estimate of $50,000-$70,000.
Gretsch Irish Falcon was staged by Bono and sold for $115,000.
Bono: The Gretsch Irish Falcon, stage-played and signed by U2 frontman Bono on the neck of the guitar, sold for $115,200
The Edge: The Gibson Les Paul Standard electric guitar sold for $96,000, above the estimate of $50,000 to $70,000
Quiet Riot’s 1983 album Mental Health was also auctioned.
Stan Watts’ original mask, which he used to paint this iconic image, was sold at $50,000. This is five times more than the initial estimate of $8,000- $10,000.
Watts’ original painting sold for $44,800. This is just over the $20,000-$40,000,000.
Mask: The original mask that artist Stan Watts wore to paint the iconic image sold for $50,000, five times the original estimate of $8,000 to $10,000
Art: The original artwork itself that Watts painted sold for $44,800, just above the estimate of $20,000 to $40,000
More guitars were sold including a cream Fender Stratocaster Vintage ’57 reissue electric guitar, owned and stage played by Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour.
This axe sold for $200,000. That’s a lot more than what was originally estimated at $80,000 to $100,000.
A Gibson Mastertone banjo owned and played and signed by Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia while he was in Old & In the Way, sold for $22,400, above the $10,000-$20,000 estimate.
David’s ax: More guitars were sold including a cream Fender Stratocaster Vintage ’57 reissue electric guitar, owned and stage played by Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour
Banjo: A Gibson Mastertone banjo owned and played and signed by Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia while he was in Old & In the Way, sold for $22,400, above the $10,000-$20,000 estimate
Amy Winehouse’s Fender Stratocaster electric guitar finished in Daphne Blue sold for $153,600 at auction.
A pair of custom drumsticks owned by Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham sold for $28,125, fourteen times its original estimate of $2,000.
Frank Sinatra’s hand-painted version of a clown sold for $56,250
Amy Winehouse’s Fender Stratocaster electric guitarist finished in Daphne Blue was sold at auction for $153,600
Sold: A pair of custom drumsticks owned by Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham sold for $28,125, fourteen times its original estimate of $2,000
Clown: A hand-painted rendition of a clown by Frank Sinatra sold for $56,250
A 1962 Britain pressing 7” record single of The Beatles “P.S. I Love You” signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr sold for $22,400.
Sweet Child O Mine, Guns ‘n Roses 1989 MTV Video Music Awards”moonman’ award for best heavy metal video won by Sweet Child O Mine was $37,000.
Sold: A 1962 Britain pressing 7” record single of The Beatles “P.S. I Love You” signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr sold for $22,400
Sold: Guns ‘n’ Roses’ 1989 MTV Video Music Awards ‘moon man’ award for Best Heavy Metal Video won for Sweet Child O Mine sold for $37,500