Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman is selling more than 1000 rare items for charity
Former Rolling Stones guitarist and bassist, Bill Wyman, has revealed his intentions to sell over 1000 rare items at a newly announced auction.
The event, titled the Property From Bill Wyman And His Rolling Stones Archive sale, is designed to raise money for charitable foundations The Prince’s Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support and CCMI – Central Caribbean Marine Institute.
The three-day auction will take place on May 29-31 and comes in collaboration with Ripple Productions Limited and Julien’s Auctions. “Collecting and archiving has been one of the great pleasures of my life and will undoubtedly be one of my legacies,” Wyman said of the auction.
Wyman added: “It feels like the right time to share my archive with the world. I hope people will get as much joy from my collections as I have.”
“The sale will feature over 1,000 lots selected from Wyman’s renowned and vast archive,” the auction house explained. “The archive contains not only an unprecedented collection of his instruments, stage worn ensembles, awards, personal items and artefacts collected during his illustrious three-decade career as a founding member and bassist of the Rolling Stones, but also important instruments and artefacts from his ongoing solo career.”
A selection of highlights from the auction:
- A 1969 Fender Mustang Bass with a Competition Orange finish designed by Leo Fender before he left the company, used by Wyman on The Stones’ concerts and recordings in 1969 and 1970 and exhibited at the O2 Arena Rock Exhibition in 2010.
- A 1978 custom built Travis Bean Custom Short Scale Bass used by Wyman on the band’s recordings, videos and tours in 1978 and the 1980s.
- A 1981 black Steinberger Custom Short-Scale XL-Series Bass played during the 1988 A.I.M.S. Gala concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Rolling Stones 1982 tour.
- A 1974 Dan Armstrong Prototype Bass used by Wyman on several performances, such as the Rolling Stones’ 1975 performance on a flat-bed truck in New York City.
- A 1965 VOX ‘Wyman Bass’ Model Teardrop Bass Guitar, used on the Rolling Stones tours and recordings from 1966 through 1968.
- An early 1960s Framus Star Bass model 5/150 Black Rose Sunburst Finish played in the band’s concerts and recording sessions from 1963-1965.
- A 1968 Gibson Les Paul Standard Model Gold Top guitar and case used by Brian Jones in The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus concert show and film in December 1969 and on other recordings and more.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.