“Summertime, and the bidding is easy”—with over 400 items spanning the history of popular music, RR Auction’s summer installment of our Marvels of Modern Music series is sure to be a hit. From the Beatles and Bob Dylan to Prince, Kurt Cobain, and Lady Gaga, icons of the past and present are represented in this sale.
Among the many chart-topping items is a fully signed Meet the Beatles promo album. The album is signed and inscribed on the back cover to George Harrison’s older sister Louise. Beatle’s albums inscribed to one of their family members are virtually nonexistent and hugely desirable.
Prince’s stage-worn lace shirt from the Purple Rain Tour. The long-sleeve shirt from the blockbuster 1984-85 Purple Rain Tour, gorgeously constructed entirely of sheer lace with a vine-and-leaf pattern, featuring a high-neck collar, three layers of ruffles on the chest, pearloid buttons down the front placket, and ruffled faux-French cuffs with stunning sewn-on blue jeweled cufflinks.
Also up are the handwritten lyrics for Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U.’ From the collection of Prince’s assistant Therese Stoulil and is accompanied by a letter of provenance, stating that months which reads, in part: “After 10 years of working for Prince, I resigned in May of 1996. And it was months after that there was a knock on my door, and I looked out the bedroom window and saw a black BMW in my driveway and immediately recognized it as Duane’s, Prince’s half-brother. I went downstairs opened the door, and he only said ‘this is from Prince’ then he got in his car and left. Once I realized what Duane delivered, I was both stunned and humbled. Prince would use white console marking tape to adhere the lyrics to his vocal microphone; that tape is still on both pages.” ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ was featured as the sixth track on The Family’s 1985 self-titled debut album. Five years later, the song became a best-selling hit when Irish singer Sinead O’Connor covered the song for her second studio album.
Among other Prince, lots included: An exquisite beaded jacket worn on-screen by Prince in Under the Cherry Moon, Prince studio-played Fender Acoustic Guitar for the Diamonds and Pearls album, Prince stage-worn Gold’ Jam of the Year Tour’ Outfit.
Autograph lyrics for ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ by Bob Dylan. The immensely desirable one-page handwritten lyrics for Dylan’s breakthrough single, “Like a Rolling Stone,” on The Dorchester of London letterhead, signed neatly at the conclusion, “Bob Dylan, 2010.” Accompanied by a 2013 letter of authenticity from Jeff Rosen, president of the Bob Dylan Music Company, which states that to the best of his knowledge, there are only five of the manuscripts known to exist for the song as of the date of this letter.
And an Eddie Van Halen’s stage-used Charvel guitar. The EVH Art Series electric guitar with yellow and black stripe pattern played during a Van Halen concert at the Scottrade Center by Eddie Van Halen, who has personally hand-striped the body and signed in silver ink.
Among other fan favorites; Kurt Cobain & Courtney Love’s personally-worn dresses, Lady Gaga’s personally-worn black satin dress by Alexa Chapman, Rihanna’s personally-worn Paris Fashion Week ‘Fear’ shawl, and a Beret worn by Harry Styles for his Variety ‘Hitmaker of the Year’ photo shoot.
Bidding for the Marvels of Modern Music Auction from RR Auction began on June 17 and will conclude on June 24, 2021. For more information, go to www.rrauction.com.
