John Lennon's Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar, which he used on the The Beatles' Help! album, sold yesterday for just under $2.9 million at Julien's Auctions Music Icons sale at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York.
The $2,857,500 price tag makes it the most expensive Beatles instrument ever to sell at auction.
The previous top sellers were:
- Lennon acoustic guitar - $2.4 million
- Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drum kit - $2.2 million
- Ringo's Ludwig Beatles drumhead from their performance on The Ed Sullivan Show - $2.1 million
- Ringo's copy of "The White Album" - $790,000
The guitar ended up in the hands of Gordon Waller of Peter & Gordon, who later gave it to their road managers. It was recently found in an attic in the U.K. after being unseen for over 50 years. Considered the most important Beatles guitar ever to come to market, it exceeded by far its estimate of $600,000 - $800,000.
Lennon can be heard playing it on such songs as “Help!,” “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away,” “It’s Only Love,” “I’ve Just Seen a Face” and "Girl," and George Harrison played it on "Norwegian Wood."
The guitar is in its original, although beat-up, case, plus the winning bidder also gets a copy of the book The Beatles: Photographs From the Set of Help!
Darren Julien, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions, says, “Finding this remarkable instrument is like finding a lost Rembrandt or Picasso, and it still looks and plays like a dream after having been preserved in an attic for more than 50 years."
Another big seller Wednesday was the 1965 Fender Telecaster Bob Dylan played on his 1966 album Blonde on Blonde, as well as on his tour that year with The Band, then known as The Hawks. It went for $650,000, which was $50,000 less than the pre-sale estimate.
The Band’s Robbie Robertson later used it on tour as well as on The Band albums Music From Big Pink and Stage Fright, as well as on sessions for Joni Mitchell and Ringo Starr.
The Music Icons auction, which continues today, also includes instruments and memorabilia once owned by Ringo, Randy Bachman, U2 bassist Adam Clayton, Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, The Who, Mark Knopfler, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, Elton John and many others.
IN OTHER JOHN LENNON NEWS.....
As if there haven't been enough documentaries on John Lennon, here comes one more.
One to One: John & Yoko is set in 1972 as it examines their move from England to New York City where they lived until he was gunned down in front of his apartment on December 8th, 1980.
At the core of the story are the One to One concerts, his only full-length performances after The Beatles. The audio has been remixed and produced by his son Sean, and the footage restored, as well as previously unseen and unheard personal archives, such as phone calls and home movies recorded and filmed by John and Yoko.
Director Kevin Macdonald says, "I wanted to make a film that surprises and delights even the most dedicated Lennon and Ono fans by focusing on one transformative period in their lives and telling the tale through their own words, images and music.
"Built around the beautiful 16mm film footage of the only full-length concert John gave after leaving the Beatles, I hope the film will introduce the audience to a more intimate version of John and Yoko - while also reflecting their politically radical and experimental sides."
And Sean adds, "Kevin's documentary brings completely fresh insight into my parents' lives during their Bank Street and early New York years, showing first hand their unwavering dedication to promoting peace and non-violence during a turbulent era of unrest, corruption and unnecessary war."
No word on when the film will be released.