Eric Clapton’s guitar becomes one of the most expensive ever sold at auction
Erin Clapton’s 1964 guitar became one of the most expensive guitars ever sold at auction. Nicknamed ‘The Fool’ after its iconic custom paint design, the electric guitar sold for over £1million.
The instrument was sold as part of a three-day music auction event called ‘Played, Worn and Torn: Rock N’ Roll Iconic Guitars and Memorabilia’, organised by the Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville. The 1964 Gibson-SG was eventually purchased for $1.27million, equivalent to £1.03million, at Julien’s Auctions.
But it is the custom detailing that made the instrument so lucrative. Painted with a psychedelic design in the 1960s, the guitar was designed by a Dutch art collective and became one of the most memorable emblems of the summer of love.
The instrument also holds a lot of music history. Clapton played this guitar as his band, Cream, recorded their second album, Disraeli Gears. You hear this SG shredding the iconic riff of ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’. However, its history doesn’t stop there. Clapton then gifted the guitar to George Harrison following the disbandment of Cream, meaning a Beatle has also played it.
Harrison apparently then passed it to Jackie Lomax. It then ended up with Todd Rundgren in the 1970s and ‘80s until he sold it at an auction in 2000.
Back then, Rundgren sold the guitar for only $150,000 to pay off some debt. But now, with all that history in its wood and strings, the guitar went for over a million.
Talking about the sale, Darren Julien, President/Chief Executive Officer of Julien’s Auctions, said: “Eric Clapton’s The Fool, one of the most important guitars in all of rock music history has made history once again tonight at our auction.”
A portion of the proceeds will be going towards Kicking The Stigma, The Indianapolis Colts and Irsay Family’s mental health awareness initiative.
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