The Framus Hootenanny 12-string acoustic guitar used by the late John Lennon to create the iconic song Help! from 1965 by the Beatles. The album is expected to sell for up to $800,000 (£650,000) at an upcoming auction scheduled for next month.
Julien Auctions said Tuesday at a news conference at London’s Hard Rock Café at Piccadilly Circus that the prized musical instrument will be for sale at its MUSIC ICONS auction scheduled for May 29-30.
The guitar, described by the auction house as “one of the most important Beatles guitars in rock history,” will be sold at an auction taking place at the Hard Rock Café in New York and online at julianauctions.com.
The guitar was “long forgotten and believed to have been lost” until it “was recently found in an attic in the United Kingdom after being hidden for over 50 years,” according to Julien’s.
‘The discovery of Help! by John Lennon! “The guitar believed to be lost is considered the largest find of a Beatles guitar since the Höfner bass lost by Paul McCartney in 1961,” said Darren Julien, CEO and co-founder of Julien.
The Framus Hootenanny 12-string acoustic guitar used by the late John Lennon to make the iconic Help! from 1965 by the Beatles. The album is expected to fetch up to $800,000 (£650,000) at an upcoming auction scheduled for next month.
The guitar, described by the auction house as “one of the most important Beatles guitars in rock history,” will be sold at an auction taking place at the Hard Rock Café in New York and online at juliensauctions.com . Lennon photographed in 1965
Julien said, “Finding this remarkable instrument is like finding a lost Rembrandt or Picasso, and it still looks and sounds like a dream after being kept in an attic for over 50 years.”
“Awakening this sleeping beauty is a sacred honor and is a great moment for music, Julien’s, the Beatles and auction history.”
The auction house said the sale of the instrument, amid the Beatles’ enduring popularity, “is expected to set a new world record for the best-selling Beatles guitar.”
Help!, which was the fifth studio album of the iconic quarter, was the soundtrack of the film of the same title released in August 1965. Among the most notable songs on the album are Yesterday, Ticket to Ride and You’re Going to Lose That. Girl.
The guitar was first seen in the mid-1960s, according to Julien’s, as recounted in the group’s film and in photographs taken by Sean O’Mahoney, who published the Beatle fan club’s Monthly Book magazine. Beatles at the time, according to the auction house.
Specific tracks where guitar can be heard on the album include the title track, You Have to Hide Your Love, I Just Saw a Face and It’s Only Love, Julien said.
Other tracks on which the distinctive musical instrument can be heard include the Beatles’ 1965 track Girl and Norwegian Wood, from the group’s Rubber Soul album released in December of that year.
The Beatles have propelled the auction house to world record sales, as previous sales include a Lennon acoustic guitar that sold for $2.4 million; while Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drum set sold for $2.4 million; and a Ludwig Beatles Ed Sullivan Show patch sold for $2.1 million.
The auction house said the sale of the instrument is expected to “set a new world record for the best-selling Beatles guitar.”
Specific tracks where guitar can be heard on the album include the title track, You Have to Hide Your Love, I Just Saw a Face and It’s Only Love, Julien said.
The guitar was “long forgotten and believed to have been lost” until it “was recently found in an attic in the United Kingdom after being hidden for over 50 years,” according to Julien’s. Lennon photographed in 1965
Help!, which was the iconic neighborhood’s fifth studio album, was the soundtrack to the film of the same title released in August 1965.
Highlights from the album include the title track, Yesterday, Ticket to Ride and You’re Going to Lose That Girl.
Other items for sale include a cropped jacket with multicolored sequin embellishments worn by rocker Joan Jett during her 1989 tour.
The I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll artist’s fashion item is expected to sell for between $5,000 and $7,000, Julien’s said.
A pair of black nylon high-top sneakers from the Onitsuka Tiger brand, owned by late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, were among the items in the lot, Julien’s said.
The shoes, which the Bohemian Rhapsody frontman wore on stage in 1979, are expected to sell for between $20,000 and $30,000.
Buyers can take a walk on the wild side with a 1987 Kramer KM-1 electric guitar played by Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars.
The autographed musical instrument has the Girls Girls Girls album font on the front, as Mars played it on the band’s 1987-1988 world tour in promotion of the album. It is expected to sell for between $60,000 and $80,000.
A Fender Rose Sparkle P Bass guitar, owned and played by U2’s Adam Clayton, is expected to sell for between $50,000 and $70,000.
Clayton played the instrument at the shows the iconic band played at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Other items for sale include a cropped jacket with multicolored sequin embellishments worn by rocker Joan Jett during her 1989 tour.
A pair of black nylon high-top sneakers from the Onitsuka Tiger brand, owned by late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, is among the items in the lot.
Buyers can take a walk on the wild side with a 1987 Kramer KM-1 electric guitar played by Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars.
A custom Gianni Versace dress worn by the late legend Tina Turner is expected to sell for between $4,000 and $6,000
For sale is a black Fendi dress custom made for the late Amy Winehouse for a Fendi event in Paris
A Fender Rose Sparkle P Bass guitar, owned and played by U2’s Adam Clayton, is expected to sell for between $50,000 and $70,000.
A custom Gianni Versace dress worn by the late legend Tina Turner is expected to sell for between $4,000 and $6,000.
The What’s Love Got to Do with It frontwoman wore the garment on her Wildest Dreams tour in 1996 and 1997, according to Julien’s.
Up for sale is a black Fendi dress custom made for the late Amy Winehouse for a Fendi event in Paris.