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Lot #65 THE BEATLES | "SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND" HMV STORE PROMO DISPLAY
A top selection of artifacts you never expected, up for auction in Music Icons.
13007 S. Western Avenue, Gardena, California 90249
Phone 310-836-1818 | Fax 310-742-0155
May 24, 2024
A red nylon/elastic blend wrestling-style singlet with a white felt Puma logo on the front and back, labeled, "Puma," owned and stage-worn by Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury in 1984.
Mercury can be seen wearing the singlet in San Remo, Italy during a photo shoot at an Italian villa, prior to a performance by Queen at the San Remo Festival in February of 1984, as well as on stage at this festival. The singlet was also worn by Mercury on stage at the Pavilion, Montreux, Switzerland on May 12, 1984 during the Golden Rose Festival.
Accompanied by the original auction tag.
Size 5
PROVENANCE Lot 223, "Freddie Mercury: A World Of His Own | On Stage," Sotheby's, London, UK, September 13, 2023
Sounding off with guest contributor: Alan Light
British Vogue described Queen frontman Freddie Mercury as a “style icon,” focusing on such “flamboyant fashion” moments as capes, military jackets, and even (in the “I Want to Break Free” video) dressing up as a housewife. But Mercury also incorporated everyday sports attire like gym shorts, sneakers, and this nylon/elastic wrestling-style Puma singlet. Attuned to the camp possibilities of these workout clothes, the beloved singer wore this piece on stage with Queen in 1984 at Italy’s San Remo Festival and in Montreux, Switzerland for a performance at the Golden Rose Festival.
The Beatles
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" HMV Store Promo Display
Estimate:
$1,000 - $2,000
A life-size Sgt. Pepper’s promotional display that was displayed in the window of HMV’s Oxford Street, London, store when The Beatles' CD was first released in 1987. The printed images of the Beatles cut-out figures are mounted on foam core board, constructed in two sections.
Approximately, 6.5 x 6.5 feet when complete.
A tie-dye Levi's jacket, dyed by The Lovin' Spoonful founder, John Sebastian, and worn on stage on multiple occasions including at the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair in Bethel, New York held on August 16, 1969.
The custom tie-dye, non-stretch relaxed fit cotton denim jacket, with the cotton fabric originally being a cream/off-white shade, features design elements including a fold-over collar, riveted Levi Strauss & Co. metal buttons, two chest pockets, single button cuffs, and two adjuster tabs at the back hem. There is an embroidered radish on the left shoulder. No manufacturer or size tags present.
When Sebastian hitched a ride to the Woodstock Festival via helicopter called for The Incredible String Band, he had no intention of performing, but came as a guest to enjoy the music of his friends and colleagues. After Santana's set on Day 2 of the festival, Woodstock lighting coordinator and friend of Sebastian, Chip Monck, ushered the former Lovin' Spoonful member, clad in his hand tie-dyed ensemble (including this jacket), on stage to hold the crowd over. Sebastian performed a set of five songs (How Have You Been, Rainbows All Over Your Blues, I Had a Dream, Darlin’ Be Home Soon, Younger Generation) on Saturday afternoon, August 16, from 3:30–4:00 pm.
While on stage, Sebastian prefaced each number with stories and words of wisdom including: "Just love everybody all around you and clean up a little garbage on your way out and everything gonna be alright."
Sebastian also wore the jacket on many other occasions, on stage and in his personal life, including on stage at the Big Sur Folk Festival primarily alongside Crosby, Stills, & Nash, as well as Joni Mitchell held on September 8-9, 1968 in Big Sur, California; on stage at the Concert at Anaheim held on June 14, 1970; on stage at the Isle Of Wight Festival held on August 31, 1970; and at home on "The Farm." Photos of Sebastian wearing the jacket are also featured on the interior of his debut solo album, John B. Sebastian.
A photo of Sebastian on stage at Woodstock wearing the jacket is featured on the back cover of his debut solo album, John B. Sebastian, which is included with this lot.
PROVENANCE From the Collection of John Sebastian
Montagnes Marines portfolio of 11 plate signed Jean Cocteau lithographs with additional double sheet sized lithograph both plate and pencil signed by Cocteau. The porfolio feaures prologue written by Andre Verdet, presented in a slipcover case. Published by Messagers du Livre, printed in Paris, October 31, 1961 by R. Gastaud Gieres, on BFK Rives wove paper. This is number 157 of 200 impressions signed on the justification by Cocteau and Verdet.
Sheets are 15 x 11 inches - Double Sheet lithograph is 15 x 22 inches
PROVENANCE Property From Bill Wyman and his Rolling Stones Archive
A collection of material relating to Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham’s last ever television interview, which took place in March 1980 on the Tyne Tees music television show Alright Now in Newcastle, England. Bonham was interviewed by the host, Scottish comedian Billy Connelly. The recording took place just five months before Bonham’s untimely passing.
This lot includes a Led Zeppelin Knebworth 1979 Swansong Sweatshirt, personally owned and worn by Bonham backstage before his appearance on the show, no size or label present. Together with two modern photographic prints of Bonham wearing the shirt backstage and a letter from the original recipient that reads, "Just a quick letter to explain how I got John Bonham to part with his Knebworth sweat top, I went to see him on the Alright Now program being a Led Zeppelin fan and got to meet him personally we talked and had photos taken and when I saw the sweat top I asked for it and he gave it to me I was just so shocked to have met him in person I was only 19 at the time."
A small clipped piece of paper, signed by Bonham in blue ballpoint pen backstage before the appearance and inscribed, "Best Wishes" above his name. The reverse has a cigarette attached to it which Bonham gave to the recipient on the day.
And a vintage denim jacket, customized with Led Zeppelin sew-on patches, pin badges, and detailed embroidered Led Zeppelin artwork, signed on the right sleeve by Bonham backstage before the appearance. The recipient of the autograph has subsequently sewn over it, and the signature has since been erased due to washing. Together with a photograph of Bonham signing the sleeve and a letter from the original recipient that reads, "Just a quick letter to explain how I ended up with John Bonham signature on my jacket, I went to see him on the Alright Now program being a Led Zeppelin fan and got to meet him personally we talked and had photos taken by some photographer, I was so shocked to have met him in person I was only 19 at the time the photo ended up being used on the inside sleeve of the Coda album you can see my shoulder the one he signed." The photograph would go on to be used as one of the images on the gatefold of the 1982 Led Zeppelin album CODA.
Sounding off with guest contributor: Alan Light
Led Zeppelin John Bonham, one of rock’s greatest and most influential drummers, died in September 1980. Just five months earlier, he gave his last ever television interview to Alright Now in Newcastle, England, a music program hosted by Scottish comedian Billy Connelly. Prior to the taping, Bonham was wearing a sweatshirt from Zeppelin’s historic 1979 Knebworth concerts—the group’s first UK appearance in four years, and their final performance in their home country. The drummer gave the sweatshirt to a fan who talked his way backstage, and also signed that same visitor’s custom denim jacket; a photograph of Bonham autographing the sleeve was one of the images on the gatefold of Led Zeppelin’s 1982 album Coda.
