Press Release

For Immediate release!


ICONS & IDOLS: ROCK 'N' ROLL ANNOUNCED

TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS OF KURT COBAIN'S CAREER - HIS CUSTOM BUILT 1993 "IN UTERO TOUR" FENDER MUSTANG GUITAR AND "MTV UNPLUGGED" CARDIGAN - ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SWEATERS IN ROCK HISTORY - TO HEADLINE TWO-DAY MUSIC AUCTION EVENT OF THE YEAR

ELVIS PRESLEY'S 1968 FENDER PROTOTYPE TELECASTER, 1974 MERCEDES-BENZ 450 SLC COUPE AND ONE OF HIS LAST MOTORCYCLES, A 1976 HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH SPORTSTER 1000, REV UP THE AUCTION BLOCK

MICHAEL JACKSON'S TRIUMPH TOUR GLOVE, DAVID BOWIE'S "HEROES" SELF-PORTRAIT ORIGINAL ARTWORK, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S "GLORY ROAD," BOB DYLAN'S "MR. TAMBOURINE MAN" AND ERIC CLAPTON'S "LAYLA" HANDWRITTEN LYRICS AMONG TOP HIGHLIGHTS

Janis Joplin and Big Brother & the Holding Company's Monterey Pop Festival Archive Opened for the First Time in Over Fifty Years

Friday, October 25 & Saturday, October 26, 2019



Los Angeles, California - (October 9, 2019) - Julien's Auctions, the world-record breaking auction house, has announced that ICONS & IDOLS: ROCK 'N' ROLL their two-day music extravaganza to take place on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 live in Hard Rock Cafe® New York and online at juliensauctions.com. The all-star lineup features over 700 historical artifacts and memorabilia owned and used by some of the world's most important and influential music artists including Kurt Cobain, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Queen, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and more; plus, a rare archive of Janis Joplin and Big Brother & the Holding Company is offered for the first time at auction.

At the center stage of this event will be two important items tied to the legacy and iconography of one of rock music's most signature artists: Kurt Cobain. The charismatic front man of the group Nirvana, who changed rock music forever with their raw and distinct sound and songs heralded by disaffected youth and ushered in a cultural revolution, owned and played a left-handed Fender Mustang guitar during Nirvana's In Utero tour that was custom built for him that same year in 1993. The guitar in turquoise with red mottled pickguard was built by Scott Zimmerman, who was contacted by Fender as the Fender Custom shop was not equipped to build left-handed Mustangs at the time. Built with FujiGen, a major Japanese instrument factory, ten guitars at a minimum had to be ordered with FujiGen, and this specific one was shipped on October 22, 1993. Only the two guitars shipped on that date have the "Offset Contour Body Patented" stamp. Accompanying the guitar is a handwritten letter signed by his wife Courtney Love Cobain stating that this was one of Cobain's favorite guitars as well as images of the guitar while on exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame from 2002-2011. During that exhibition, a fan jumped over the barrier and stole two of the knobs off the guitar. The museum replaced the two knobs that exist now with exact knobs. The Fender is one of the most important guitars from Cobain ever to come to auction and is estimated to sell between $300,000-$500,000.

On November 18, 1993, Cobain wore a vintage olive-green cardigan at what would become Nirvana's most defining performance and one of rock history's best live performances ever recorded, on MTV's Unplugged in New York. Considered one of the most famous sweaters in music history, the Manhattan brand acrylic and mohair sweater with a burn hole (photo top right) has become synonymous with Cobain's grunge style that represented the Gen X fashions and attitudes of its time (estimate: $200,000-$300,000).

Another legendary Fender guitar comes from The King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley. This 1968 solid rosewood Fender Telecaster electric guitar (estimate: $60,000-$80,000) is the very first prototype and was made for Presley by luthier Phil Kubicki at the Fender Custom Shop. It is believed that between six and nine of these prototypes were made and given to musicians, notably to George Harrison, who used his prototype to record Let It Be and Abbey Road, and played at The Beatles' 1969 rooftop concert, as well as another prototype rumored to have been given to Jimi Hendrix. When Presley wanted to be "incognito," fittingly The King of Rock 'N' Roll chose an Icon Gold Mercedes to drive around town. Mercedes-Benz manufactured this grand tourer from 1972 until 1980. Presley often parked his beloved 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450 SL Coupe in the back of Graceland available to him whenever he wanted to sneak out (photo left). The vehicle, estimated at $100,000-$200,000, was later registered and given to Presley's personal doctor, George Nichopoulos, aka Dr. Nick.

Presley also had a love affair with motorcycles as he rode them in many of his iconic films and throughout his personal life. One of his last beloved two wheelers - a 1976 Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster 1000 purchased before his death in 1977 - will ride again on the auction block with an estimate of $80,000-$100,000. Other sensational items connected to Presley's personal life and signature style include a custom gold filled watch with baton chapters and an Arabic "12" with a Star of David and cross symbol on the dial designed by Presley and Marty Lacker that would "reflect his love of God" (estimated: $3,000-$5,000); a saddle made for Colonel Midnight, the horse Presley gifted to his father and items from his home including a vintage Magnavox television in a cream colored Louis XV style cabinet (estimate: $1,000-$2,000), a vintage RCA G200 Trans Vista Color television that Presley watched in his bedroom (estimate: $1,000-$2,000), as well as a globe shaped vista radio, decanters, a macramé plant hanger from the Jungle Room, RCA victor record player and more used at Graceland, one of the most famous mansions in the world.



Handwritten lyrics to some of rock's most classic anthems penned by three of the most influential music legends of all time - Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Bruce Springsteen - will make their mark at this year's event. A handwritten sheet of lyrics (estimate: $40,000-$80,000) by Bob Dylan to his 1965 single "Mr. Tambourine Man," titled and signed "Bob Dylan 2009" on The Ritz Carlton New York, Central Park, stationery is one of only five manuscripts written in Dylan's own hand known to exist, according to Jeff Rosen, president of Bob Dylan Music Company. Eric Clapton's 1970 masterpiece "Layla" is one of rock's most recognizable songs. A sheet of partial handwritten lyrics in Clapton's hand and inspired by the only three-time inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's unrequited love with Pattie Boyd, wife of his best friend and Beatles legend, George Harrison is estimated at $50,000-$70,000. Bruce Springsteen's handwritten lyrics to "Glory Road" was a candidate track for The Boss' third album as seen on his lists of proposed tracks for the album (photo right). The song was later renamed to "Born to Run," sharing some of the same lyrics, such as "Tramps like us, Baby we were born to run" (estimate: $80,000-$100,000).

Many of Michael Jackson's artfully created and one of a kind custom-made jackets, gloves, hats, and stage costumes that demonstrated why he was not only The King of Pop but also The King of Style will take the Julien's Auctions stage once again at this year's event. One of the highlights is his single right-hand leather glove worn during The Jacksons' Triumph Tour in 1981. The cabretta leather glove is a counterpart in construction to the left-hand glove worn by Jackson on stage at his iconic performance on the Motown 25 television special in 1983 and is estimated at $100,000-$200,000 (photo left).

Elaborate pieces designed by his longtime fashion collaborators Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush include a custom velvet jacket with a vine motif, white stones, pearls and rhinestone tassels (photo right) worn by Jackson at Elizabeth Taylor's 65th birthday party in Los Angeles on February 16, 1997, and again at the 50th Cannes Film Festival screening of Jackson's film Ghosts (Heliopolis, 1997) (estimate: $10,000-$20,000) as well as a custom made white space suit (estimate: $8,000-$10,000) and white long sleeve shirt (estimate: $6,000-$8,000) with "CTE" printed on the red epaulets, both worn by Jackson on his 1992 Dangerous Tour. Other items on offer include Jackson's black blazer worn in his role as Agent M in the film Men in Black II (Columbia, 2002), his VH1 award for "VH1 New Year's Honours List 1998/ Greatest Video of All Time/ 'Thriller' Michael Jackson," his "Remember the Time" video worn ensemble and more.

A rare archive of Janis Joplin and Big Brother & the Holding Company that has not been opened in over fifty years and an exceptional collection of vintage posters advertising their legendary concerts comes to auction. Over 25 posters headlining the group's historic shows at iconic venues including the Rock Garden, the Fillmore, California Hall and Avalon Ballroom, billed alongside other 1960s counterculture superstars, such as the Steve Miller Band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Country Joe & the Fish and more will be offered. Fans and collectors of the supergroup that put the 1960s psychedelic music scene of San Francisco on the map will also have a chance to bid on a never before seen archive of original documents and material of the band's pre-fame days, including a set of original contracts and correspondence regarding Janis Joplin and Big Brother & The Holding Company's historic Summer of Love performance at the legendary Monterey Pop Festival, in 1967. Included in this lot are several additional items of correspondence regarding a proposed television special about the festival that never materialized. Another highly prized item is a vintage quarter-inch magnetic tape recording featuring approximately 90 minutes of a previously unreleased performance by Big Brother & The Holding Company playing live at the University of California Medical Center on March 4, 1967 (photo left). The amateur recording, made a few months prior to the release of the band's first album and before its historic performance at the Monterey Pop Festival includes Janis Joplin's famous rendition of the Big Mama Thornton song "Ball and Chain," which, apart from a less developed example produced at a live performance in 1966, is the earliest known live version to exist (estimate: $10,000-$15,000). The band's first recording contract with Mainstream Records in 1966 (estimate: $15,000-$20,000) is also on offer. In addition, the Grateful Dead's original recording contract with Warner Bros. Records for the legendary band's debut album (dated December 28, 1966) and signed by all five founding members is also offered (estimate: $50,000-$70,000) accompanied by the original envelope addressed to the Dead's manager, Danny Rifkin, at the historic 710 Ashbury home in San Francisco where the Dead resided.

Several fascinating items heading to the auction block come from one of the most creative and influential musicians of all time, Jimi Hendrix. Included are his personal American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) certificate dated December 12, 1968 (estimate: $4,000-$6,000); an arrest warrant warning presented to the legendary guitarist for failure to appear in court after receiving a traffic violation (estimate: $2,000-$4,000); an original telephone bill dated January 13, 1970, bearing Hendrix's West 12th Street address in New York and his "platinum" Electric Ladyland record award (photo right)

Other auction highlights include: Exceptional artifacts from The Fab Four including a black and white photograph of The Beatles taken by Astrid Kirchherr in 1962, signed by each member of the group (estimate: $5,000-$7,000), an original Ivor Novello award presented to E.M.I. Records Ltd. in 1964 for The Beatles "Can't Buy Me Love" (estimate: $8,000-$10,000), a double sided piece of paper featuring an original drawing and poem on the other side titled "The Poet of Dumbwoman's Lane" by Paul McCartney circa late 1980s (estimate: $15,000-$20,000), a Hofner bass guitar signed by Paul McCartney (estimate: $4,000-$6,000), a BOAC 747 Jetliner postcard signed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono circa 1969 (estimate: $2,000-$4,000) and George Harrison's denim overalls with a colorful hand sewn pattern of a star, a moon, and a yellow submarine (estimate: $6,000-$8,000); Sex Pistols singer Sid Vicious' publicity and film worn T-shirt that he wore throughout 1978 and according to his friend and former owner of the shirt, on the day that he died (estimate: $20,000-$30,000); a Black Sabbath custom made DW reunion tour 2012-2014 drum kit (estimate: $20,000-$30,000) (photo left);

an original 1978 self-portrait drawn in charcoal with pen and ink on paper by David Bowie (one of his most popular visual creations) while he was voluntarily exiled in Berlin and reproduced by RCA Records as a limited edition set of lithographs to promote the release of his 1977 album Heroes which was also recorded in Berlin ($40,000-60,000) (photo right); a large scale acrylic on canvas painting of rock legend and lead singer of Aerosmith Steven Tyler titled Mr. Tyler! by Sebastian Kruger (estimate: $20,000-$30,000); an extremely rare and early Elton John colorful jumpsuit manufactured by Mr. Freedom worn during his 1970 USA tour and a pair of maroon velvet shorts with green turn ups also made by Mr. Freedom and worn in 1972 and on other tour dates (estimate: $2,000-$4,000); a Los Angeles Police ensemble worn by George Michael in his 1998 music video for "Outside" (estimate: $10,000-$20,000); several items from the supergroup Queen including two vintage tour jackets from their "Queen European Tour 78" (photo below left) and "World Tour Queen 1979" tours (estimate: $800-$1,200 each), a promotional poster for Queen's 1991 album signed by the group from a small quantity of posters given to Hollywood Records executives (estimate: $4,000-$6,000) and a signed Brian May Guitars signature guitar (estimate: $1,000-$2,000);

two tour items from Madonna including a custom made Breedlove N25e/R acoustic guitar played by the Material Girl on her 2001 Drowned World Tour (estimate: $10,000-$20,000), and her multicolored floral brassiere worn on her 1993 The Girlie Show World Tour (estimate: $10,000-$20,000 each) (photo below right); Whitney Houston's 1980 high school yearbook from the Mount St. Dominic Academy in New Jersey (estimate: $300-$500); a handwritten school essay by Buddy Holly titled "My Idea of a Good Sport" (estimate: $1,000-$2,000); a pink handwritten setlist for a Rolling Stones concert by Mick Jagger circa 1965 (estimate: $10,000-$15,000); a 1993 black Gretsch guitar owned and played by Chris Cornell with the band Soundgarden (estimate: $4,000-$6,000); a 2003 Peavey Van Halen Wolfgang guitar, tobacco burst gifted to Les Paul by Eddie Van Halen at Paul's 88th birthday party (estimate: $20,000-$30,000) and items from Ace Frehley, Eddie Vedder, The Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and more.

"From Kurt Cobain's legendary In Utero tour Fender Mustang guitar to a rare archive of Janis Joplin and Big Brother & The Holding Company's historic performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, these are some of the most important music artifacts that have ever come to auction," said Darren Julien, President/Chief Executive Officer of Julien's Auctions. "Julien's Auctions is honored to offer this spectacular collection of recording and performance instruments, costumes, gear, photographs, documents and ephemera from the 20th century's greatest artists whose iconic pieces have earned their place in the annals of rock history and pop culture."

JULIEN’S AUCTIONS PUBLIC EXHIBITION & LIVE AUCTION LOCATION

Hard Rock Cafe New York
1501 Broadway-Times Square
New York, NY 10036

JULIEN'S AUCTIONS NEW YORK PUBLIC EXHIBITION
Monday, October 21st, 2019 – Friday, October 25th, 2019
Free to the public: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time daily

LIVE AND ONLINE AUCTION

Friday, October 25th, 2019
Icons & Idols: Rock 'N' Roll
Session I: 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Session II: 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Saturday, October 26th, 2019
Icons & Idols: Rock 'N' Roll
Session III: 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Session IV: 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time

ABOUT HARD ROCK

With venues in 75 countries, including 185 cafes, 27 hotels and 11 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's most valuable collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise available in Rock Shops and online at https://shop.hardrock.com. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands including Hard Rock Live performance venues. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the company’s two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, FL., both owned and operated by HRI parent entity The Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as other exciting locations including Atlantic City, Bali, Cancun, Daytona Beach, Desaru Coast, Ibiza, Orlando, Shenzhen and San Diego. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street in the United Kingdom, Kathmandu, Nepal, Kyoto, Japan and Chandigarh, India. New Hard Rock Hotel, Casino or Hotel & Casino projects include Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Dublin, London, Los Cabos, Madrid, Maldives, New York City, Ottawa, Sacramento, Dalian and Haikou in China. In 2018, Hard Rock International was recognized as a Forbes Magazine Top Employer for Women and Land Operator of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards. For more information on Hard Rock International visit www.hardrock.com.

Press Contact

Mozell Miley-Bailey
(646) 653-3105
homagepr@gmail.com

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About Julien's Auctions

Julien’s Auctions is the auction house to the stars. Collaborating with the famous and the exclusive, Julien’s Auctions produces high profile auctions in the film, music, art and sports markets. Julien’s Auctions has received international recognition for its unique and innovative auction events, which attract thousands of collectors, investors, fans and enthusiasts from around the world. Julien’s Auctions specializes in sales of iconic artifacts and notable collections including Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Lady Gaga, Banksy, Cher, Michael Jackson, U2, Barbra Streisand, Les Paul, Neil Young, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, Hugh Hefner, Pelé and many more.

In 2016, Julien’s realized $5 million in the historic auction of the Brazilian soccer icon, three-time World Cup Champion and FIFA Player of the Century’s collection of memorabilia, personal property and awards, which featured the sale of Pelé’s 3 World Cup Gold medals, sold for a combined total of US $970,992 (£674,300), including his 1970 World Cup winner’s medal sold for $427,100 (£346,000), which set world records for the most expensive Pelé item and the most expensive soccer medal ever sold at auction. In 2020, Julien’s shattered multiple records of sports jerseys sold at auction in the sale of a trio of historic #23 basketball jerseys worn by Michael Jordan (his historic 1984 “Signing Day” official Chicago Bulls rookie #23 which sold for $320,000, a new world record sale for a jersey worn by the 14 Time All-Star and five-time MVP legend), Barack Obama (the forty-fourth U.S. President’s 1979 #23 Punahou School jersey which sold for $192,000, a new world record selling price for a high school jersey) and Lebron James (the NBA legend’s 2003-2004 official Cleveland Cavaliers rookie year NBA jersey rookie season which sold for $128,000) which combined totaled $640,000 as well as Colin Kaepernick’s official San Francisco 49ers rookie jersey which sold for $128,000, a new world record for most expensive NFL jersey sold at auction. Other notable Sports memorabilia sold by Julien’s Auctions include Babe Ruth’s 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers coaching uniform which sold for $187,500 and NASCAR legend Richard Petty’s 1974 Dodge Charger Daytona race-winning car which sold for $500,000.

In 2016, Julien’s Auctions received its second placement in the Guinness Book of World Records for the sale of the world’s most expensive dress ever sold at auction, The Marilyn Monroe “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress which sold for $4.8 million. Julien’s Auctions achieved placement in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2009 for the sale of Michael Jackson’s white glove, which sold for $480,000 making it the most expensive glove ever sold at auction. In 2020, Julien’s Auctions received its third Guinness Book of World Record placement for the sale of Kurt Cobain’s “MTV Unplugged” 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic-electric guitar, which sold for $6 million making it the world’s most expensive guitar ever sold at auction. In 2022, Julien’s Auctions sold the world’s second most expensive guitar ever sold at auction with Kurt Cobain’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video 1969 Fender Mustang electric guitar, which sold for $4.5 million.

Based in Los Angeles, Julien’s Auctions has a global presence bringing their auctions and exhibitions to targeted destinations worldwide including London, New York, Las Vegas, Japan and China. Live auctions are presented for bidders on-site and online via live streaming video and mobile technology. For more information on Julien’s Auctions, go to www.juliensauctions.com.

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