A Gretsch Falcon electric guitar with Bigsby tailpiece, serial number 925593B-35, laminated maple, ebony fretboards, played by Bono on stage and signed with a Bono drawing on the pickguard. Bono performed on May 27, 2003, at the Pavarotti & Friends charity concert in Modena, Italy. Pavarotti & Friends benefited many UN causes. For this particular concert, Bono had brought his own guitar, but it was blown off its stand during rehearsal, so a replacement needed to be found. A search in the small town of Modena resulted in this Falcon in a used guitar shop. With it, Bono performed "One," which can be seen on YouTube. At this concert, Bono also performed "Ave Maria" with the lyrics slightly altered by Bono to reflect the ongoing situation in the Middle East. After the concert, Bono "signed" the guitar with a doodle believed to be Bono playing the guitar and returned it to the shop owner.


PROVENANCE Lot 395, "'Icons of Music' Benefiting Music Rising Featuring Property from The Edge and Other Band Members of U2," Julien's Auctions, May 31, 2008


Bono