Lot 204 email save

204 - Beatles Shea concert played organ

Sign In to see what this sold for

The Vox Continental Organ used in early Beatles recordings and played by John Lennon at the historic Shea Stadium concert, 15th August 1965
The Vox organ used by John at the famous Shea Stadium concert, the first date on the Beatles second US tour and the first time Lennon played organ on stage. The Shea Stadium concert, attended by over 56,000 fans, is well documented in The Beatles Anthology, in which John describes it as'...Marvellous, the biggest crowd we ever played to...the biggest live show anyone had ever done in total and it was fantastic...that was a good experience..the first really big open air...Wow look at this!' John can be seen exuberantly playing the organ on I'm Down, the final song of the thirty-minute set, in an extremely unorthodox way. John say's 'We did 'I'm Down' ..the old Numbers record, decided to play it on stage for the first time...didn't really know what to do cause I felt naked without my guitar.. George couldn't play for laughing... you know I was doing it for a laugh!' Ringo adds: 'I felt that on that show John cracked up, just went mad, not mentally, ill just got crazy, playing the piano with his elbows and it was a real strange thing'. Footage captures John as he went 'mental' on the organ streaming with perspiration and playing with his elbows.
On 18th August the Beatles were due to play the Atlanta Stadium in Georgia, prior to the event it was discovered that this Vox organ was not working properly, no doubt due to John's frenzied playing at Shea Stadium! A replacement was immediately sought. The owner of the Thomas Organ Center - The Vox Shoppe in Atlanta negotiated with an initially reluctant Brian Epstein, to exchange the faulty organ for one in the shop's stock. When Epstein finally agreed, a policeman was dispatched to carry out the exchange. This, the original 1965 US Tour Vox Organ remained in the Thomas Organ - Vox Shoppe, Atlanta until it was sold to the current vendor. Estimate on request.

The lot is accompanied by a signed affidavit and advertisements regarding the organ and the 'Thomas Vox Shoppe'.
LITERATURE / REFERENCE:


The Beatles Anthology video / DVD collection.
'Imagine' the movie.
Lewisohn, Mark; 'The Complete Beatles Chronicle', Pyramid Books, 1992.

Upon bidding it will be deemed that you have read and fully understood Cooper Owen's Terms and Conditions and Summary of Charges. These can be found on ebay and Cooper Owen's website. Please note that all terms outlined on Cooper Owen's website take precedance.

View CooperOwen next auction.

Similar lots up for auction