A guitar played by Prince is the top-valued instrument in a rock auction this month.
The blue guitar is one of a number made specially for Prince by Dave Rusan of the Knut-Koupee Music store in his native Minneapolis.
Called “Cloud” guitars after their unusual, swirling, psychedelic shape, the instruments were a vital part of Prince’s visual persona. A yellow example sold earlier this year for $910,000.
This particular Cloud was made for the movie Purple Rain, released in 1984, and is played on-screen in the film’s final concert scene.
It goes into the sale with a $60,000 estimate.
It is joined in the sale by a probably unique Ramones instrument.
The Univox electric was given to the band at a promotional stop. New member Richard Reinhardt was trying his luck by using the stage name “Ritchie Beau” and signed with that name. Not long after he was forced into line, becoming Richie Ramone.
Bidding for that has no estimate, and is currently at a few hundred dollars before the sale closes on November 21. Richie was a drummer, so there’s not the deep, personal connection that comes with an instrument like Johnny Ramone’s Mosrite Ventures II that sold for $937,500 in 2021.
Other instruments include an Eddie Van Halen Stratocaster-style guitar by Kramer. A Squire strat signed and inscribed “Git it!” by Bruce Springsteen. And another similar model signed by Eric Clapton.
Is this the best signed Beatles photo ever? Image courtesy RR Auction.
Topping the pre-sale charts though are The Beatles.
A lot billed as “very likely the greatest Beatles signed photograph known to exist” is predicted to realise $40,000 and is already approaching $30,000.
The picture shows the band on stage at Liverpool Empire Theatre and was taken by Dezo Hoffman, one of the most famous early Beatle photographers. It was signed by the band for their 1963 Australian tour.
Also expected to do well is a hand-written document containing the lyrics to two Sex Pistols songs, Holidays in the Sun, and Submission.
Probably written for use in rehearsals before the songs were recorded for 1977’s Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, the lyrics carry an $80,000 estimate and pre-sale bidding has them valued at just under $25,000.
Punk memorabilia is now having its moment in the sun.
Fans of bands like the Pistols are entering later middle age, and many of them now have the money to indulge their passion for their youthful counter-cultural enthusiasms.
The guitars, photo and lyrics are all on sale at RR Auction’s Marvels of Modern Music sale that closes on November 22.
