Items from U2, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain & others to topline Julien’s Auctions Music Icons

Julien’s Auctions has announced from Hard Rock Cafe in Piccadilly Circus that one of the most historically important Beatles guitars in rock history – John Lennon’s long-lost Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar, used in the recording of The Beatles’ Help! album and film and many of the Fab Four’s other seminal hits from the 1960s – will headline Julien’s Auctions’ blockbuster Music Icons two-day auction event taking place Wednesday, May 29th, and Thursday, May 30th live at Hard Rock Cafe in New York and online.

This extraordinary guitar, long forgotten and believed to have been lost, was recently found in an attic in the UK after being unseen for over 50 years. Considered the most important Beatles guitar ever to come to market, it is expected to exceed its estimate of $600,000 – $800,000 USD £485,000 – £647,000 GBP and set a new world record for the highest-selling Beatles guitar.

The Beatles’ arsenal of guitars and instruments would become as legendary and celebrated as their music, from their earliest recordings to the 1960s height of Beatlemania, when this Framus 12-string acoustic guitar would first appear. It was famously seen in the Beatles’ Help! film, notably in in the memorable scene where they perform “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” and other scenes, as well as numerous photographs taken by Beatles Monthly (Beatles fan club magazine) publisher Sean O’Mahoney, who had full access to the Beatles during their 1965 Help! recording sessions, where the guitar can be heard on “Help!,” “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away,” “It’s Only Love,” “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” and more. The Framus Hootenanny 12-string can also be heard on the Beatles’ recording of “Girl” during the Rubber Soul sessions and on the rhythm track for “Norwegian Wood” played by George Harrison.

By the mid to late 60s, the famous Framus was in the possession of Gordon Waller of Peter & Gordon, who later gave the Hootenanny 12-string guitar to their road managers. It was recently discovered in an attic in the rural British countryside where it had lain forgotten and unplayed for over 50 years. The homeowners found the guitar amid their move and contacted Julien’s Auctions. Executive Directors and Founders, Darren Julien and Martin Nolan, traveled to the UK and immediately recognized that this was indeed the storied Help! guitar. While on the premises, they also discovered the Framus’ original guitar case – a Maton Australian-made guitar case (photo below) that can also be seen in photos taken of the Beatles in 1965 – in the trash and rescued it (photo left & right: Beatles Book Photo Library). The sale of the guitar is accompanied by the case and book.

The industry’s leading rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia auction house has broken world records with the sale of Beatles memorabilia, including a previous John Lennon acoustic guitar, which sold for a record $2.4 million, Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drum kit, which sold for a record $2.2 million, The Ludwig Beatles Ed Sullivan Show drumhead, which sold for a record price of $2.1 million, and The Beatles White Album, owned by Ringo Starr, that sold for $790,000.

Additionally, Julien’s announced their first lineup of exceptional highlights and collections, that will include some of the world’s greatest stage-played guitars, instruments, wardrobes and memorabilia that have made pop culture history. Over 1,000 rock relics owned and used by the likes of AC/DC, Adam Clayton, Amy Winehouse, Joan Jett, Michael Jackson, Motley Crue, Nirvana, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, The Grateful Dead, Judas Priest, Heart, Queen, Tina Turner, Tupac Shakur and many more still to be announced, will be offered at their marquee event Music Icons.

Highlights include Adam Clayton stage-played and owned Fender, Rose Sparkle P Bass guitar, used at the recent ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere’ Las Vegas shows ($50,000 – $70,000) as well as Clayton’s stage-worn Rick Owens T-shirt, trousers and sneakers.
Adam Clayton stage-played and owned Fender, Rose Sparkle P Bass guitar.

Mick Mars stage-played, signed 1987 Kramer KM-1 electric guitar Mick Mars stage-played, signed 1987 Kramer KM-1 electric guitar, with custom Girls Girls Girls paint by Kline, used heavily on the Girls Girls Girls world tour from 1987-1988, and featured prominently in the music video for “You’re All I Need” ($60,000 – $80,000).

Tina Turner custom Gianni Versace dress worn during her 1996-97 “Wildest Dreams Tour” ($4,000 – $6,000).

Amy Winehouse Black Fendi dress custom made for Amy at the opening of the Fendi store in Paris Amy Winehouse Black Fendi dress custom made for Amy at the opening of the Fendi store in Paris France for Paris Fashion week ($2,000 – $4,000).

Joan Jett cropped jacket with multi-color sequined decorations, worn in the “Dirty Deeds” music video and on stage and backstage circa 1989 on tour and at a residency at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway March 1st-March 5th, 1989 ($5,000 – $7,000).

Michael Jackson stage-worn 1984 Victory Tour Billie Jean jacket Michael Jackson stage-worn 1984 Victory Tour “Billie Jean” jacket designed by Bill Whitten who famously designed Jackson’s crystal glove and socks. The jacket was exhibited at the Grammy Museum from 2018 to 2021 ($80,000 – $100,000).

Freddie Mercury pair of black nylon Onitsuka Tiger brand High-Top sneakers ($20,000 – $30,000). Mercury was first photographed wearing the white version of these boxing-style sneakers on stage in late 1979, along with red vinyl pants, sparking a new sporty image for Mercury.

Kurt Cobain handwritten Nirvana concert set list Kurt Cobain handwritten Nirvana concert set list ($6,000 – $8,000) and more to be announced.

Music Icons’ charity initiatives will be part of the event in the sale of several iconic items offered by The King’s Trust. A constellation of star items such as Chet Atkins’ guitar donated by Mark Knopfler; Helen Mirren’s dress designed by Stella McCartney worn to the premiere of The Queen in NYC circa 2006; two signed Barbra Streisand record albums Guilty and The Broadway Album; Phil Collins’ jacket by Armani, stage-worn at the Phil Collins Not Dead Yet tour 2017-2019; items from Ringo Starr such as a Peace Hand Statuette with added drumsticks and signed Beats & Threads hardcover book; Elton John’s Gucci jacket; Al Pacino signed script and clapper board from The Merchant of Venice; Sting’s signed bass guitar; Emma Bunton (of The Spice Girls) signed stage-worn high heels and color snapshot; artwork created and signed by Pierce Brosnan; a suit worn by Rod Stewart; Lewis Hamilton signed miniature collectible racing helmet and more.

Items to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust, cancer care and support charity in the UK that exists to improve the cancer experience of young people aged 13–24, were additionally announced, including several items from The Who, such as a Roger Daltry signed T-shirt, Tommy poster signed by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and Friends poster from the 2023 shows signed by Roger Daltrey, a Mick Hutson signed stamped glossy black and white print of The Who, as well as a Mick Hutson stamped glossy black and white print of Van Morrison on stage, hand signed by Mick and Van Morrison, a signed Wet Leg drumhead, Sam Smith photographic print and a Remo Drum skin and drum sticks signed by Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain, Poppys Meat-Cuts print out poster signed by Taron Egerton and more.

The announcement joins the previously announced auction of rock legend Randy Bachman’s collection of over 200 museum-quality guitars used on classic rock’s greatest hits “These Eyes,” “Takin’ Care of Business,” “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet,” and “American Woman.”
An exhibition of these highlights will be on display in the window of Hard Rock® Cafe Piccadilly Circus in London from Tuesday, April 23rd to Monday, April 29th, and will travel for an exhibition in New York taking place Wednesday, May 22nd to Tuesday, May 28th at Hard Rock Cafe New York before its auction.