Julien’s Auctions today announced the unveiling of 18 bass guitars from Adam Clayton’s extraordinary personal collection in a first-ever exhibition in Ireland titled “Played, Worn, & Torn Featuring The Adam Clayton Collection.”

The exclusive three-week exhibition celebrating the U2 bassist and this collection of 18 iconic bass guitars is open to the public at The Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Co Kildare, Ireland from today until November 9th.

Following the exclusive three-week exhibition run in Ireland, the collection will head to Nashville where it will be auctioned at the industry’s most anticipated music memorabilia event of the year “PLAYED, WORN, & TORN,” taking place over two days - Thursday, November 20th and Friday, November 21st 2025 - at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in the historic Municipal Auditorium and online.

Experience the legendary bass-playing journey of Adam Clayton asJulien’s, in partnership with the bass icon and co-founding member of one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time, U2, brings together 18 phenomenal axes from his personal collection at The Museum of Style Icons, home to the world’s finest collections of style, fashion and pop culture artifacts. For the first time ever, the largest curated collection of Clayton’s guitars will be exhibited in U2’s native Ireland.

This remarkable collection of Adam Clayton's illustrious basses, stage-played through the different eras and continents of U2's record-breaking globe-spanning tours, is set to make history once again in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to potentially own a piece of the 22-time Grammy Award-winning artist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s legacy. Over 20 items from Adam Clayton’s personal collection, including music instruments, gear, memorabilia and more, will be offered for the first time at auction, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting MusiCares, the leading music charity supporting the health and well-being of the music community.

From Rose Sparkle to Sherwood Green: The Highlights

The exhibition showcases a staggering array of instruments, painting a picture of Clayton's eclectic taste and his pivotal role in U2’s evolution.

A standout lot includes Clayton’s 2014 Sherwood Green Fender Adam Clayton Signature Jazz Bass, a veteran of the 2015 Innocence + Experience tour, played in major cities across the world from Dublin to Los Angeles ($40,000-$60,000 estimate).

Also featured is his 2004 Lakland Joe Osborn J sunburst bass, famously played during the Vertigo Tour, providing the unmistakable low-end for the classic hit “One” ($20,000-$40,000 estimate).

For the truly in-the-know collector, the collection includes a fascinating 2010 Gold Sparkle Fender Adam Clayton Precision Bass with a coveted "mistake"—a Jazz Bass decaled headstock—a testament to the customized, sometimes quirky, nature of a professional musician's gear ($40,000-$60,000 estimate).

The collection is rounded out with a stellar assortment of vintage Fender Jazz Basses—including 1960s and 1970s models in classic finishes like Ice Blue Metallic and Lake Placid Blue—as well as his Warwick Gold Reverso basses from the U2 360 Tour.

The Road to Nashville

This exclusive Irish exhibition at MOSI in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, is running now until November 9th. It’s an essential pilgrimage for any U2 fan or gear head to see these artifacts up close before they cross the Atlantic.

Following its run in Ireland, the entire collection will head to Nashville, Tennessee, where it will be the centerpiece of Julien's highly anticipated "PLAYED, WORN, & TORN" auction on November 20th and 21st, 2025, held live at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum and online.

With over 20 items from Clayton’s personal collection up for bid—with a portion of the proceeds benefiting MusiCares, the leading music charity supporting the health and well-being of the music community—this auction promises to be one of the most significant music memorabilia events of the year.

Stay tuned for more to come on October 29th. This is a rare opportunity to connect with the instruments that shaped the sound of an era.