Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay” Lyrics Handwritten by Him, Johnny Cash’s ‘Country & Western’ Lyrics also Included
Julien’s Auctions has recently launched its Music Icon sale, featuring a vast collection of over 700 rock memorabilia items. Among these historic pieces are guitars once strummed by legendary artists like Eric Clapton, David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Kurt Cobain, Eddie Van Halen, and Django Reinhardt, along with an array of unique equipment and personal belongings associated with iconic figures such as The Beatles, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, and Elvis Presley. Interested buyers can browse through the listings online on the Julien’s Auctions website, with the auction scheduled for May 30 and 31 at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City.
Auction highlights include artifacts from Nirvana’s 1991 recording session in Hilversum, North Holland, Netherlands. These items include Dave Grohl’s session-played Remo Acousticon Quadra drum kit (complete with cymbals, stands, and cases), Krist Novoselic’s 1989 Warwick Dolphin Pro bass, and Kurt Cobain’s left-handed 1989 Takamine acoustic-electric rosewood guitar.
For fans of Pacific Northwest music, a section of the Melvins’ tour van, embellished by Cobain with KISS members, is up for grabs. Additionally, Taylor Hawkins’ custom seven-piece Gretsch drum kit from the 2018 Concrete and Gold Tour and autographed Pearl Jam concert posters are available for bidding. The auction also boasts a diverse selection of outfits worn by renowned artists like Cher, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Jimi Hendrix, and more. Among these fashion pieces is Johnny Cash’s Country & Western Superstar LP cover-worn double-breasted suede coat by Pierre Balmain Paris.
Written artifacts, including Bob Dylan’s handwritten “Lay Lady Lay” lyrics, John Lennon’s note on Edward Heath, a Mick Jagger-signed photograph from the 1980s, and Hendrix’s penned “51st Anniversary” lyrics, are part of the collection. For Grateful Dead enthusiasts, a Jerry Garcia-signed 1969 portrait is available for purchase. Nostalgic items from Woodstock, such as original Yasgur Farms Dairy New York 1969 stationery and a signed copy of the live record Woodstock Two by Joan Baez, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash, are also featured in the auction.
To immerse themselves further, prospective buyers can attend in-person viewings of the auction at Hard Rock Piccadilly Circus in London from May 9 to 14 and at Hard Rock Times Square in New York City from May 21 to 31. With so many rare and iconic pieces on offer, both music enthusiasts and history buffs will find something to pique their interest at the forthcoming Music Icon sale by Julien’s Auctions.