The image of U2's The Edge playing a Gibson Explorer is etched into the minds of millions of rock fans the world over. And on May 31, one lucky (and no doubt well-heeled) music connoisseur will take possession of one of Edge's most-prized Explorers when the guitarist auctions it off for charity.
The event, to be hosted by The Edge and held at New York's Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, is the Icons of Music Sale II to benefit Music Rising. Music Rising is a campaign co-founded by The Edge, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and legendary producer Bob Ezrin in 2005 to aid musicians of the Gulf Coast Region in regaining their livelihood after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
"No one could ever come close to repaying the debt to those who have established this form of music that we all take totally for granted, this hybrid of European melody and African-American rhythm that's given us jazz and R&B and rock 'n' roll," said the Edge. "There's something powerful about musicians giving instruments they own to an auction to aid musicians who are going through a particularly difficult time."
The Edge's 1976 Gibson Explorer (est. value $80,000 and up) is the same guitar he's played on stage since the Joshua Tree tour. He also used it in the video of the U2 hit Beautiful Day. Other Edge items up for grabs are his silver adjustable U2 block rings that were featured on the cover of Atchung Baby (est. $2,000/4,000), a blue Gibson Les Paul that was used in many studio recordings (est. $20,000/40,000) and his personally worn custom designed Converse shoes (est. $800/1,200).
Other rock star items on auction are a Kurt Cobain-played bass guitar with home photos of him playing it (est. $40,000/60,000), a Jim Morrison handwritten poem (est. $4,000/6,000), a Miles Davis stage-played trumpet (est. $10,000/20,000), a Jimi Hendrix signed receipt (est. $2,000/3,000), Slash's first stage-played Gibson Les Paul Guitar with Velvet Revolver (est. $20,000/30,000), a Bob Dylan handwritten set list (est. $2,000/4,000), four Beatles D.A. Millings suits from Madame Tussaud's ($60,000/80,000), a Patti Smith hand-drawn self portrait (est. $1,000/2,000), a Johnny Cash owned and played guitar (est. $10,000/20,000), among others.
Tickets to this exclusive event are available thru Ticketmaster and Hard Rock Cafe New York. The benefit tickets will sell for $250.00 each with proceeds going directly to Music Rising. Tickets include entry into the evening portion of the event, special catered services and a complimentary Icons of Music collectible auction catalog detailing all lots in the sale in full color.
Highlights from the Icon's of Music II auction will be on display at The Museum of Style Icon's at Newbridge Silverware in County Kildare, Ireland (May 2-4), Celebrity Vault in Beverly Hills, CA (May 22-24) and The Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square (May 26-May 30) prior to the live auction on May 31.
Registering to Bid
Registration is required to bid in this live auction and can be done either in person at any one of the exhibitions showing the highlights from the collection or by visiting Julien's Auctions any time before the sale, or calling (310) 816-1818. Online bidding registration can be completed via Auction Network online. The Auction Network will conduct a live webcast in real-time streaming video.
