On 9 September, memorabilia from the music world’s top stars went under the hammer in Beverly Hills at Julien’s Auctions. Held as a charity relief auction, proceeds from designated lots in the sale are to benefit MusiCares, a charitable foundation which provides aid to artists and music community professionals in times of need.
Among the highlights of the sale is former One Directioner Harry Styles’ guitar. Signed ‘[heart] Treat people with kindness Harry Styles’ in silver marker, this cherry-red Gibson Memphis ES 335 sold for $28,125 (£21,600) – over nine times its original estimate. It was initially offered at only $3,000-5,000 (£2,300-3,800).
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Another incredible sale was Bono’s handwritten and signed lyrics to ‘Love is Bigger than Anything in its Way’, which achieved $22,400, eleven times its original estimate of $2,000-3,000 (£1,500-2,300).
Billie Eilish’s Fender California Coast ukulele in black finish with an abstract pattern, signed by Eilish herself in silver marker, was estimated at $2,000-4,000 (£1,500-3,090) and went on to achieve $7,680 (£5,900).
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This Reno Ambassador drumhead and Promark American Hickory drumstick were stage-used during Coldplay’s 2016-17 ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ tour. The drumhead is signed in gold marker by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Guy Berryman with hand-drawn flags and dates, and the drumstick signed by Martin, Buckland, Champion and Berrymen. Offered at $3,000-5,000 (£2,300-3,800), the lot closed in at $5,120 (£3,900).
Moving onto fashion, this metallic blue Gucci tracksuit with blue, white and red stripes was owned and worn by Elton John. The sweatpants have printed labels that read ‘Gucci MRTW/ Elton John/ Cruise 01’. The lot, accompanied by a Gucci garment bag and photograph of the star with the tracksuit, was estimated at $4,000-6,000 (£3,090-4,600) and achieved $5,120 (£3,900).
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Cher’s quilted black and silver jacket with crystal and stone designs and a custom-designed black microphone pouch was worn by the signer-actress at an event at the Taj II in New York City in 2017.
Cher also wore the jacket, which has a ‘Libertine Hand Made America’ label, during The Letterman Show in 2013 and at LAX that same year. Estimated at $4,000-6,000 (£3,090-4,600), and accompanied by a photograph of Cher at the NYC event, it sold for $5,760 (£4,425).
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Finally, some of these stars’ talents extend beyond music. Chrissie Hynde’s painting of Brian Eno playing an Omnichord, titled Brian Omnichord Sunday and dated January 12, 2020, was offered with an estimate of $6,000-8,000 (£4,600-6,100) and went on to achieve $7,680 (£5,900).
The popular and successful sale also included donated items from from Barbara Streisand, Blake Shelton, Brandon Flowers, Carole King, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Patty Smith, Sir Tom Jones, Willie Nelson and more.
