Bill Wyman Sold Lots of Rolling Stones Memorabilia in 2020

[JerseyGirl]

Jumpin' Jack Flash SALE! Bill Wyman sells his £3m collection of Rolling Stones' memorabilia including guitars and outfits spanning his 50-year career

London-born Bill Wyman, now 83, played bass guitar with the Rolling Stones between 1962 and 1993

He is putting 1,000 of his posessions under the hammer at an auction house in Los Angeles on May 29

They include the Vox amp he auditioned with, his 'Wyman bass' guitar and outfits he wore on stage

By LARA KEAY FOR MAILONLINE PUBLISHED: 10:11 EDT, 26 February 2020 | UPDATED: 11:40 EDT, 26 February 2020

Rolling Stones legend Bill Wyman is putting his collection of memorabilia that spans the five decades he spent with the band up for auction for £3million.

The collection of 1,000 items includes guitars, keyboards, amps, awards and outfits the band wore on stage throughout his 50-year career playing bass for the rock 'n roll legends.

Wyman, 83, who played with the band from 1962 to 1993, says he will donate some of the proceeds to a group of his favourite charities.

Among the highlights are some incredibly valuable bass guitars, some of which are worth up to £400,000 each.

The most expensive instrument is a 1969 Fender Mustang bass in a 'Competition Orange' finish designed by Leo Fender himself. It was played by Wyman during the Stones' concerts and recordings in 1969 and 1970 and was exhibited at the O2 Arena Rock Exhibition in London in 2010. It is expected to sell for £385,000.

They are all going under the hammer at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles in late May.


Music producer Bill Wyman is putting his £3million collection of Rolling Stones memorabilia that spans five decade up for auction for £3million. Pictured left: A 1978 Travis Bean custom short scale bass hand built for Bill Wyman. Right: Early 1960s Framus Star Bass model 5/150 used by Wyman between 1963 and 1965


This guitar case used by Wyman during his time playing bass for the Stones will also be up for grabs in May's auction


Pictured: The 1962 VOX 'Normal' model amplifier used by Bill Wyman at his audition for the Rolling Stones. It was used regularly in the Stones' early days and Richards later admitted it played a part in Wyman joining the group



A 1978 custom-built Travis Bean short scale bass used by Wyman on the band's recordings, videos and tours in 1978 is tipped to make £230,000.

A Dan Armstrong prototype bass that once appeared on Top of the Pops with Wyman is also valued at £155,000.

One of the most stand-out lots is an old amplifier Wyman used for his audition to join the fledgling band in 1962.

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones were suitably impressed by Wyman's musical skills and his VOX AC-30 amp that they hired him.

The amp was used regularly in the Stones' early days and Richards later admitted it played a part in Wyman joining the group.

Richards, 76, said: 'Bill had amplifiers! Bill came fully equipped. A Vox AC-30 amplifier, which was beyond our means to possess.

'We used to worship it. We used to look at it and get on our knees. To have an amplifier was crucial.'


This bright orange outfit worn by Bill Wyman with an ice cream cone embroidered on the back is going under the hammer for several thousand pounds in Los Angeles in May


Also going under the hammer is this Mellotron MKII Model Keyboard, which was delivered to Wyman's house in December 1966. At the time the American instrument cost him £830 but it is now expected to sell for £45,000

There is also a Mellotron MKII Model Keyboard going under the hammer, which was delivered to Wyman's house in December 1966.

At the time the instrument cost him £830 but it is now expected to sell for £45,000.

The wooden piece was incredibly advanced for its day as it included built-in recording equipment that could capture everything that was played.

There are a number of personal artefacts in the collection that document some of the Stones' earliest days as a group.

There is an early BBC radio contract dated July 15, 1964 for an appearance The Rhythm and Blues Show, recorded on October 8 1964.

The show aired on October 31 that year and the contract is now predicted to fetch £2,000.

Other items from the early years of the group include an early press release from April 1964 worth £2,000.

There is also a bar bill made out to hellraiser Brian Jones for drinks and food at the Scotch of St James nightclub in London dated April 1966.

The venue was a popular hangout for celebrities in the swinging sixties. The bill is also valued at £2,000.


Pictured: The 1969 Ampeg Portaflex bass amp used by Bill Wyman in 1971 with the Rolling Stones while recording Exhile on Main Street


A 'silver' record presented by DISC magazine to the Rolling Stones while Wyman played bass for them


One poignant lot is a bi-fold pamphlet containing a poem by Jim Morrison titled, 'Ode to L.A. while thinking of Brian Jones, Deceased'.

This is one of only 500 copies of this poem printed by Wetern Lithograph Co. in July 1969. The work reflects on the death of Jones who died in a swimming pool on July 3, 1969.

Morrison distributed the pamphlet during two performances by The Doors at the Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood on July 21 1969.

Very few survived as many concert goers failed to save them. It has an estimate of £4,000.

Speaking about the sale, Wyman said: 'Collecting and archiving has been one of the great pleasures of my life and will undoubtedly be one of my legacies.




The most valuable instrument in the lot is a 1969 Fender Mustang bass in a 'Competition Orange' finish designed by Leo Fender himself (top). There is also the famous 'Wyman bass' made by Vox (bottom) up for grabs

'It feels like the right time to share my archive with the world and I hope people will get as much joy from my collections as I have.

'It is easier to let these items go knowing that a portion of the proceeds from this sale will support three causes that are close to my heart.'

Some of the proceeds will be split between The Prince's Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support and The Central Caribbean Marine Institute.

Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien's Auctions, added: 'This sale features nearly all of the important instruments, equipment and wardrobe in Wyman's archive, offering fans a singular opportunity to own these historic pieces.

'The remaining categories of items represented in the auction are by contrast just a sample taken from Wyman's vast archive of documents, awards, records and memorabilia.'

Laura Woolley, a consulting sale specialist for Julien's Auctions, said: 'In my more than 20 years of working with memorabilia and celebrity archives I have never seen an archive as comprehensive as Bill Wyman's archive.

'It is unprecedented to find an artist who is as passionate about documenting and preserving history as he was about making history with the world's greatest rock 'n roll band, the Rolling Stones.'

The sale will take place between May 29 and May 31.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8047203/Music-producer-Bill-Wyman-sells-3million-collection-Rolling-Stone-memorabilia.html

[JerseyGirl]

Sep 10, 2020 5:31pm PT

Rolling Stones Bassist Bill Wyman Breaks Down His Favorite Memorabilia Items That He Put Up for Auction

]By Meredith Woerner

Courtesy of Bill Wyman

Bill Wyman, founding member of the Rolling Stones and legendary bassist, has gone through his collection of historic rock and roll memorabilia and put it all up for auction to help raise money for the Prince Trust. The collection of guitars (with a secret drug compartment possibly owned by the Allman Brothers), exceedingly rare posters and t-shirts will be available for bidding at Julien’s Auctions starting September 11.

Before the bidding began, Wyman gave Variety an exclusive look at the items that hold a special place in his heart — plus plenty of great stories such as the first time the Rolling Stones met James Brown (It didn’t go well — at first) and the cowboy boots that saved his life.

All the proceeds from this special collection will go to the Prince’s Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support and CCMI (Central Caribbean Marine Institute).

Here are the top ten items Wyman wanted to highlight from his charity auction:

1. The TAMI Show Poster



The TAMI show poster is rather rare and special. It was the first rock concert ever to be filmed on video (or Electronovision as the special process was called). The show featured a host of artists who had all achieved gold-record status.

“The Stones had no hit record at that time (in November 1964), but were still placed top of the bill. This offended James Brown, who said he would make the Rolling Stones wish they had never come to America! After our success following his amazing set, however, we all became friends and remained so,” said Wyman.

2. Silver Cowboy Boots



“The silver cowboy boots are very special to me, not least because they actually saved my life! I was wearing these boots at a show in Minnesota at the St. Paul Civic Center, and as the show ended and the curtains closed I tripped, fell off the stage, and knocked myself unconscious. When Astrid, my girlfriend at the time, noticed that I was missing, the crew went searching for me, and spotted my silver boots sticking out from beneath the curtain.”

3. 1965 Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty

“I purchased the 1965 Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty at a guitar shop in Los Angeles in February 1973. When I was looking through my collection recently to plan for the auction, I found evidence that this guitar might have originally belonged to the Allman Brothers. There was even a hidden drug compartment in the back of the case that I hadn’t previously seen!”

4. Vox AC 30 Amplifier



“I bought my first Vox AC 30 in 1961 for my South London group The Cliftons. It’s rather rare and unique, as it is not the usual dark version, but pale yellow in color.

At my audition with the Stones, I offered this amplifier to the boys to use, together with a Watkins Westminster amp (that has unfortunately vanished forever). I was playing my home-made fretless bass at the time, with my own amplifier and bass cabinet with my favorite 18-inch speaker. The Stones used the Vox Amp throughout their early career, and it finally came to be used by Ian Stewart to amplify his piano onstage when he performed with us.”

5. Brian Jones Gibson Les Paul Guitar



“The Brian Jones Gibson Les Paul gold top guitar was a gift to me from Brian around 1967-68, and I have always treasured it. I loaned it to my great friend Terry Taylor for a few years in the 1970s when he was in the Tucky Buzzard band. I then had it displayed in my Sticky Fingers restaurant in London throughout the 1990s and 2000s.”

6. Rolling Stones Badges



“I collected countless badges and other small artifacts during my 30-year career with the Stones. Since there are so many, I ended up featuring them in trays, together with their dates and my serial numbers.”

7. Goats Head Soup Sweater, Original Test Pressing, Two Gold Discs, Two Framed Mirrors



“I have many items from the ‘Goats Head Soup’ album release, including the original test pressing, two gold discs, two framed mirrors and my own limited edition ‘Goats Head Soup’ sweater — one was given to each of the band at the time.”

8. The Rolling Stones Books



“While collecting everything I could on the Stones, I discovered books with the “Rolling Stones” title. These included the 1952 book by the great sci-fi writer Robert Heinlein.

Another book I discovered was written by the American short story writer O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) in 1912 titled ‘Rolling Stones.’ These are both featured in the auction.”

9. Various Vinyl Albums



“A large and varied assortment of my vinyl albums are being auctioned, which cover my widespread love of music from every genre. I learned my bass-playing style through listening to many of these tracks and musicians, and when I formed the Rhythm Kings I was inspired by these albums to experiment with and record a variety of music. Many of these early albums also exhibit covers with stunning iconic artwork.”

10.0 Rolling Stones T-Shirts



“Throughout my Rolling Stones years I collected T-shirts of all descriptions, even a few bootleg and private ones, many of which are featured in the auction. There is one particularly special one that I loved (and almost regret auctioning!) It was given to me by a fan, and features three fine paintings of me on the front. This T-shirt should find a new home with someone who can gain as much enjoyment from it as I have.”

variety.com/lists/rolling-stones-bill-wyman-memorabilia-auction/rolling-stones-t-shirts/#!

[Chuckiebob]

He has to sell it while he can. After us boomers are gone, no one will care and it will be worthless to most. David Gilmore put most of his "classic" guitars up for sale, and mentioned that very fact. Sad but true.