You love music. We love music. So how about owning a piece of iconic music history? One of the world’s leading entertainment memorabilia auction houses, Prop Store, has announced its next major Music Live Auction. Taking place on 30 April, this auction features over 400 lots of rare and sought-after music memorabilia. And all from some of the world’s most celebrated artists, with a combined estimated value of £1.5 million.
Leading the sale is Slash’s photo-matched, stage-used and autographed Gibson Les Paul ‘59 Custom Shop guitar, played during their Not In This Lifetime tour. That’s the first reunion tour since 1993 featuring Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan. Stage-played guitars from Slash rarely appear at auction, particularly examples used on tour, so this is one to watch.
Also featured is George Michael’s photo-matched jacket, then worn in the music video for his 1987 hit Faith and also during live performances on the accompanying tour. Distinctive details align with well-known photographs taken during the era. Then there’s also an image captured backstage during the Japanese and Australasian leg of his 1988 tour.
Among the most significant is an autographed large-format promotional poster for John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy. This was signed on the morning of 8 December 1980, only hours before Lennon’s death. Thought to be the last item he ever autographed, this is the first time the poster has been offered at auction. An accompanying audio recording also captures Lennon discussing the signing and retracing his signature in black felt-tip pen after the ballpoint ink failed to set.
The auction also includes a Shure 565 SD award gold microphone presented to Queen and used by Freddie Mercury. The microphone comes directly from the collection of Peter Hince, Queen’s head roadie and Mercury’s personal assistant on tour, to whom it was gifted by Mercury. This is the first example with direct provenance from Hince to be offered at auction.
So, do you want to know more? Here’s what you can bid on – and also how much the auction house expects the lots to go for:
Guns N’ Roses
Slash’s Guns N’ Roses photo-matched tour stage-used and autographed Gibson Les Paul ‘59 Custom Shop Guitar
Estimated at £150,000 – £300,00
George Michael
George Michael’s photo-matched Faith music video and tour custom La Rocka leather jacket
Estimated at £60,000 – £120,000
John Lennon and Yoko Ono
John Lennon autographed and annotated Double Fantasy promotional poster
Estimated at £60,000 – £120,000
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney’s handwritten Goodbye first draft lyrics, 1969
Estimated at £55,000 – £110,000
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell autographed 51st anniversary handwritten lyrics, 1967
Estimated at £35,000 – £70,000
Queen
Freddie Mercury’s gold Shure 565 SD Microphone Award used for Top of the Pops performance, 1982
Estimated at £30,000 – £60,000
David Bowie
Aladdin Sane concept cover vintage proof print
Estimated at £25,000 – £50,000
Motley Crue
Nikki Sixx’s photo-matched autographed and inscribed stage-used Schecter J-4 Bass Guitar
Estimated at £10,000 – £20,000
Live Aid
Queen, Paul McCartney, George Michael, David Bowie, Elton John and others autographed Live Aid concert programme and assorted production paperwork, 1985
Estimated at £10,000 – £20,000
Oasis
Noel Gallagher’s Les Paul Custom 20th anniversary guitar played during the recording of Standing on the Shoulder of Giants and Heathen Chemistry
Estimated at £10,000 – £20,000
Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest composer’s award trophy presented to Benjamin Alasu for The Code by Nemo
Estimated at £10,000 – £20,000
Notorious B.I.G
The Notorious B.I.G.’s custom leather jacket worn in the Rhyme & Reason documentary
Estimated at £10,000 – £20,000
Guns N’ Roses
Matt Sorum’s played and autographed Guns N’ Roses Partial Mapex Orion Series Drum Kit
Estimated at £8,000 – £16,000
Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse’s photo-matched Fred Perry cropped trench coat
Estimated at £4,000 – £8,000
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran’s screen-matched and autographed jacket and worn ensemble pieces from the Shape of You music video `
Estimated at £3,500 – £7,000
How To Bid
The auction will take place live on 30 April, with bidding available online, by telephone, and via absentee bids for collectors worldwide. Auction registration is now open, and the full catalogue is available here.
Prop Store will also be hosting a special public free exhibition at London’s The Cumberland Hotel from 22-25 April, where fans and collectors will have the chance to see the highlight lots up close, before they go under the hammer. Find out more about The Cumberland Hotel event here.
