An eclectic mix of music and film memorabilia sparked strong bidding at auction – fuelled by a wave of nostalgia for legendary music makers and movie stars.
In fact a double dose of nostalgia was sparked by Lots 1 and 2, guitars signed by ZZ Top and Whitesnake. The instruments were gifted to the late Eddie Fewtrell, known as the ‘King of Clubs’. He owned more than 20 nightclubs in and around Birmingham, UK, dominating the leisure scene for decades. Both instruments were displayed at his venues.
The ZZ top guitar achieved £520 in Hansons Auctioneers’ September 2023 Music and Film Auction. Released by the American rock band’s label BMG Records in 1994 to promote the Antenna LP, it was signed by band members Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard and Dusty Hill.
Bidders also battled to own a Washburn N2 Nuno Bettencourt guitar autographed by Whitesnake’s David Coverdale, Adrian Vandenberg and Denny Carmassi. It made £420.
Claire Howell, music consultant at Hansons, said: “Our vendor was pleased with the result and we were delighted too. Eddie Fewtrell was a nightclub legend so it’s no surprise bidders wanted to own these guitars. As well as being important pieces of rock memorabilia they sparked a wave of nostalgia about Eddie and Birmingham’s nightlife.
“Eddie, who died at the age of 90 in 2022, is famously known for kicking London’s notorious Kray brothers out of Birmingham. He will never be forgotten and the memories live on, helped a little by these guitars.”
Other items to excel included a full set of 1963 Beatles autographs which made £1,000 despite being individually cut out and then taped on to a single page.
Nostalgia for the late great Irish singer Sinead O’Connor (1966-2023) also shone bright in lot 165. An original Canadian sales award, a gold disc, sold for £580. It was made for Sinead to mark the sale of The Lion and the Cobra album in February, 1988.
Nostalgia came to the fore once again to fuel bidding for lots 40-45, a major archive of memorabilia relating to American singer, pianist and songwriter Little Richard (1932-2020). The lots achieved a combined total of £1,720. Among them was lot 44, a large array of Little Richard images, some original, which sold for £460.
Marilyn Monroe’s star quality never wanes and an original autographed framed photo achieved £950. Like many pieces of music memorabilia items like this make outstanding pieces of wall art.
For the same reason, a large mixture of Psyche postcards (lots 51-57) together achieved £2,300. Among them was lot 55, 12 original 1960s Russ Gibb postcards which made £240. Russ Gibb (1931-2019) was an American rock concert promoter, school teacher and disc jockey from Dearborn, Michigan, best know as the owner of the Grande Ballroom, a major rock music venue in Detroit.
More items ideal for display sparked strong bidding including a collection of film posters and photograph. The stars of the auction were lot 83, a Star Wars poster signed by nine cast members and a Star Wars Happy Birthday sheet signed by five cast members, sold for £400. Meanwhile lot 103, a collection of 14 officially licensed Star Wars 10 x 8 photographs signed by stars including Carrie Fisher achieved £460.
All items sold in Hansons Auctioneers’ September 13, 2023 Music Memorabilia Auction.
To find out more, or to discuss a potential consignment, email Claire Howell: [email protected]
