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rock ’n’ roll royalty

Relics of rock ’n’ roll royalty starred at Julien’s charity auction

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
rock ’n’ roll royalty
Seven microphones used by South Korean boy band BRS sold for $83,200. Julien’s Auctions image

LOS ANGELES – Julien’s Auctions kicked off the new year with its Online Charity Auction for MusiCares’ 30th Anniversary of Person of the Year, Featuring Aerosmith. In celebration of MusiCares’ milestone 30th anniversary, Julien’s Auctions hosted this special online-only auction with advance bidding that began Dec. 27, to registered bidders not able to attend the MusiCares Person of the Year benefit gala honoring Aerosmith at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Jan. 24. All proceeds of the sale benefit MusiCares, a Recording Academy charity.

One of the highly anticipated items sold Friday was the sale of seven signed, custom-made microphones from the biggest boyband on the planet: BTS. The microphones used from 2017-2019 –the first-ever items to come to auction from the seven-member South Korean boy band – sold for $83,200, over eight times its original starting estimate of $10,000. BTS is the first group since the Beatles (in 1995-1996) to earn three No.1s on the Billboard 200 in less than a year and successfully wrapped up their epic BTS world tour “Love Yourself: Speak Yourself,” earning the title of Top-Grossing Tour of May 2019 with sold out six nights of U.S. Stadium Shows.

rock ’n’ roll royalty
Steven Tyler’s microphone stand and personal scarves. Price realized: $7,680. Julien’s Auctions image

A sensational collection of items from this year’s MusiCares Person of the Year honorees, Aerosmith, rocked the auction stage. Among the top items featured (with their sold at auction prices): frontman Steven Tyler’s autographed Shure SM58 microphone and accompanying white microphone stand along with his personal scarves ($7,680); an autographed Joe Perry Gibson Les Paul Signature guitar ($7,680); a Steven Tyler and Joe Perry “Rockin’ Vegas Nights VIP Meet and Greet Package” ($3,840); a Gibson bass guitar signed “Tom Hamilton 2020” ($1,920); a Brad Whitford signed Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster guitar ($1,600); and a used Remo Emperor drumhead signed by Joey Kramer with two pairs of Joey Kramer Zildjian Artist Series signature drumsticks in green and red ($1,024).

rock ’n’ roll royalty
Tom Petty’s watch. Price realized: $22,400. Julien’s Auctions image

Other auction highlights included: Tom Petty’s Nixon Ltd custom limited-edition western motif watch engraved “Made with leather donated by Tom Petty” made from Petty’s personalized guitar strap ($22,400); a Paul Reed Smith SE Santana guitar with Santana IV and a tiger with angel motif, signed by Carlos Santana ($10,240); a Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar with floral, bird, and butterfly motif on the pick guard, signed by The Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl ($6,400); a cream Gibson SG Standard Les Paul electric guitar signed by the Who’s Pete Townshend, accompanied by the original Gibson Custom case ($7,680); a Pono Mahogony Tenor (MT) labeled ukulele with hand drawings signed by Pearl Jam frontman, Eddie Vedder ($8,960); a framed copy of Fleetwood Mac’s cover as the MusiCares 2019 Person of the Year, signed by band members Stevie Nicks, Mike Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Lindsey Buckingham ($5,760, original estimate $200); Stevie Nicks’ signed and used tambourine ($10,240) and microphone ($11,520) and more.

rock ’n’ roll royalty