MUSIC RISING ANNOUNCES GUITAR ICONS: A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AUCTION TO BENEFIT MUSIC RISING
Famous Friends Come Together to Benefit Charity
Van Eaton Galleries – December 11th, 2021 at 10:00am PST
Los Angeles, California – November 23, 2021- U2’s The Edge and producer Bob Ezrin, Co-Founders of Music Rising, (musicrising.com) have announced Guitar Icons: A Musical Instrument Auction to BenefitMusic Rising to take place December 11th, 2021, starting at 10:00 a.m. PST. Hosted by VanEaton Galleries (vegalleries.com ) in Los Angeles, the live and online auction will offer a significant collection of guitars and other music memorabilia by some of the world’s most prominent musicians and friends of Music Rising. The auction will take the charity back to its roots and help support the musicians of the NOLA region after a long period being without income.
Music Rising was co-founded by U2’s the Edge and legendary producer Bob Ezrin, along with a host of music industry partners in 2005 after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Since its inception, Music Rising has provided millions of dollars in aid to musicians and recipients of music education across the country.
Guitar Icons: A Musical Instrument Auction to Benefit Music Rising includes an exclusive collection of important instruments donated by friends of the charity. All of the instruments have a unique and special story and provenance and together make up an extraordinary example of some of the greatest moments in music history.
Highlights include The Edge’s 2005 Limited Edition Gibson Les Paul Music Rising guitar, often referred to as the “One” guitar given its use on the Joshua Tree tours of 2017 and 2019 during performances of the hit “One.” The Edge also played this guitar on “One” and “American Soul” during U2’s 2018 Song of Experience shows along with their famous 360 tour back in 2010, and serves as a significant iconic symbol for Music Rising, being one of the first guitars produced to benefit the charity at its inception. Of further significance to the “One” guitar, The Edge also played this guitar at the first reopening of New Orleans Jazz Fest post Katrina in 2006 alongside Dave Matthews and during a performance at the Grammy Awards 2006 alongside Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello in ; The Edge “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m LookingFor” Custom Signature Fender Stratocaster. Edge took this guitar on the road with him during the period of 2017-2019 and used it for performances of “Bad” and the beloved chart topping hit single from The Joshua Tree, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For;” Paul McCartney’s Tourand Studio Played Left-Handed “Wings” Yamaha BB-1200 Electric Bass Guitar. The Cherry Burst BB-1200 was a principal instrument used during his performances with “Wings” in the late 1970s. He was frequently photographed playing it on stage, during live performances and in the studio; Lou Reed’s Danny Gatton Fender Stratocaster nicknamed “Goldie.” Reed’s love of this guitar can be seen in the patina and wear throughout and can be seen in videos of Reed playing his rendition of “Jealous Guy” at Radio City Music Hall, as well as on tour during 2005-2006; Bono’s U2 Tour Played Custom GibsonES-175 Electric Guitar used extensively on tour. Bono played this guitar on the 1992-1993 “Zoo TV” tour during performances of the songs “The Fly” and “Angel of Harlem.” The guitar was painted to Bono’s precise specifications and Bono also added a decal to the body of the guitar reading “I Feel Good;” Slash’s signed Gibson Custom Shop “Victoria” Les Paul Goldtop Model Electric Guitar created to Slash’s specifications and includes an original drawing by Slash of “Skully” on the top of the guitar; Noel Gallagher’s Tour-Played Nash Telemaster guitar which was played on tour with Noel Gallagher’s “High Flying Birds;” Legendary Producer Bob Ezrin’s Artist’s Proof Custom Frank Brothers EzrinModel Electric Guitar. This is a handmade instrument designed to capture the studio sounds of several of the iconic guitar players he has worked with over the years. Numbered “00” this guitar is one-of-a-kind; and a Lenny Kravitz Tour Played Custom Gibson Flying V guitar played during his most recent world tour.
Other exceptional highlights include Elton John’s Signed and Concert Played Yamaha Motif-8 Keyboard which was used by Elton John during live performances and on the road for nearly a decade. He also signed the instrument with black felt pen; RUSH’s Alex Lifeson’s Tour Used Signature Hughes & Kettner RUSH Amp and Cabinet Half Stack used extensively on the 40th Anniversary tour “Vapor Trails” and the “Snakes and Arrows” tour, as well as the “Time Machine” tour.
Adam Clayton’s TourPlayed Fender Standard Precision Bass. The U2 bassist played this guitar for performances of the song “A Sort of Homecoming” on The Joshua Tree tour from May-July, 2017. During the tour the bass was also used for the songs “Bullet, The Blue Sky,” “Running to Stand Still,” “One Tree Hill” and others; Alice Cooper’s Tournament Used “Big Bertha” Golf Clubs is the music icon’s personal set of golf clubs in a customized “Alice Cooper” bag; Chris Martin’s Tour Played Painted Fender Telecaster Deluxe guitar; PearlJam’s Eddie Vedder’s Concert Smashed Fender Stratocaster. The Lake Placid Blue Fender American Special Telecaster was decorated by Vedder with an embroidered red/white Chicago Cubs “C” sticker as a tribute to legendary Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton and used by Vedder during Pearl Jam’s August 20, 2018 tour at Wrigley Field and was smashed by Vedder at the conclusion of a cover of The Who’s “Baba O’Riley;” a collection of extraordinary silkscreened Pearl Jam concert posters signed by the band members and KISS’ Paul Stanley’s one-of-a-kind Tour Played Ibanez Custom Shop guitar.
The collection will also boast additional instruments for auction including Bruce Springsteen’s signed AmericanaOriginal ‘50s Fender Telecaster; Joe Wash’s “Bono” IrishFalcon Gretsch guitar; The Eagles Don Felder’s signed Epiphone G-1275 Double Neck Electric Guitar and SignedArt Print; Vince Gill’s The Eagles Concert Played Duesenberg Bonneville guitar; The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood’s Signed American Original 50’s Fender Stratocaster; The Kings of Leon band signed Epiphone Dot Studio Guitar; Steve Miller’s Signed Original and Hand Painted Maccaferri guitar; Halestorm Lzzy Hale’s signed Tour PlayedPrototype Signature Epiphone Explorer guitar; a Julian Lennon signedMartin & Co. Acoustic guitar; a Green Day Band Signed Epiphone Les Paul Special guitar; Ed O’Brien’s Radiohead Tour Played Signature Fender Stratocaster; Flea’s Red Hot Chili Peppers Band Signed Signature Fender Jazz Bass; Joan Jett’s SignatureGibson Worn White Melody Maker; Johnny Marr’s Signed Studio Played Limited Fender Jaguar guitar; a Dave Grohl signed Gibson Explorer guitar; Tom Morello’s Signature “Soul Power” Stratocaster; Win Butler’s signed Prop Bass Guitar from TheArcade Fire music video “Everything Now;” Zac Brown’s Personally Played SignedNatural Gibson ES-335guitar and three additional guitars which were played and used by the late Lou Reed.
“The music of New Orleans has influenced various styles of music borrowed from early traditions. It is the birthplace of jazz and represents a musical culture which bears great significance to most every genre today. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to lose my ability to do what I love – making music. Unfortunately there are many musicians and crew members who continue to struggle since the pandemic. If this multigenerational chain is broken, we lose more than just a few concerts we lose an entire culture that stretches back centuries. Some of the world’s greatest musicians and friends of Music Rising have generously donated their personal instruments to raise money for Music Rising. We hope you have a chance to bid on one or more of the beautiful instruments in the auction. The monies raised goes to musicians and crew. Your support continues to be invaluable to Music Rising.” – U2’s The Edge
“When we launched Music Rising in 2005 we didn’t have any idea how significant a role the organization would play in helping musicians and music educators for as long as it has. Guitar Icons: A Musical Instrument Auction to Benefit Music Rising will be our biggest fundraising opportunity this year. We are working closely with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation in bringing back the bright sounds of the music of New Orleans. We thank you for your support and hope you are able to bid on one or more of the extraordinary instruments offered in the auction. We are thankful for all of your continued support of Music Rising.” – Co-Founder and producer, Bob Ezrin
Music Rising has also launched a new apparel collection featuring limited edition t-shirts, hoodie, caps and tote. All the new apparel can be purchased at www.musicrising.com and benefits the charity. The iconic logo, which serves as the symbol for Music Rising is featured on each item.
The auction will take place at Van Eaton Galleries located at 13613 Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks, California beginning at 10:00 a.m. PDT on Saturday, December 11, 2021. The auction will also stream live and be online via various auction platforms all available through https://vegalleries.com/musicrising. A public exhibition of the collection will begin Monday, November 22, 2021 at the gallery and can be visited by collectors and fans by appointment. Proceeds from the auction will be administered by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation on behalf of Music Rising.
GUITAR ICONS: A Musical Instrument Auction to Benefit Music Rising
Van Eaton Galleries is one of the world’s premier original animation art and collectibles galleries. The Gallery is located in Sherman Oaks, California and specializes in unique original animation artwork. Established in 1994, the gallery offers distinct collections from the world of animation and special exhibits and events for collectors, fans and guests from around the globe. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Van Eaton Galleries has offered such collections as That’s from Disneyland, The Story of Disneyland, The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss, and animation artwork from Disney, Warner Bros., DreamWorks, Hanna-Barbera, Don Bluth and many others. For more information, please visit https://vegalleries.com/auctions
ABOUT MUSIC RISING
MUSIC RISING was launched in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina. The organization’s mission was to rescue the musical culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South region of the United States in the hurricane’s aftermath by replacing musical instruments there were lost or destroyed in the deluge. Co-founded by U2’s The Edge and legendary producer Bob Ezrin – along with a host of music industry partners, the organization – the organization provided instruments to thousands of musicians and students and many churches, community and cultural programs. Since its inception, Music Rising has assisted over 3,000 musicians. In April, 2006, the organization helped to re-open the historic Preservation Jazz Hall in New Orleans and Music Rising heralded the historic performance by U2 and Green Day at the New Orleans Superdome officially reopening the stadium during the New Orleans Saints game. Later, the organization dedicated itself to helping churches and schools rebuild their music programs by providing tens of thousands of students with instruments to support music education and choir members with instruments they needed to bring music back to their congregations. Music Rising was also dedicated to supporting a variety of community musical and cultural organizations and events. Music Rising also awarded a $1 million grant to Tulane University’s The New Orleans Center for the Gulf South at Tulane University (NOCGS).
The Center is now home to the coordinate major, Music Rising – The Musical Cultures of the Gulf South, a course of study focused on the region’s music and culture. The NOCGS also co-sponsors the Trombone Shorty Academy (TSA), a program for teaching musical fundamentals and cultural traditions to young musicians from underserved New Orleans high schools. Music Rising’s commitment continued to grow by providing instruments to other areas across the country affected by natural or economic disasters including the floods of Nashville in 2010, Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and others. The charity is the recipient of the 2005 Gold HALO Award for Cause Marketing, the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award, the 2008 PRISM Award and the recipient of close to $1 million from the Clinton Global Initiative. In 2016, Music Rising was honored with the prestigious Jazz Foundation of America Medal of Honor. Music Rising is administered by The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and 100% of donations made go directly to its efforts. Fans and supporters can purchase new limited-edition merchandise to benefit the organization directly from the website. To find out more go to www.musicrising.com
