If the (other bidder) would have gone to $4 million, I would have been out because I was asleep, Irsay told. ADA SECTION: We will have a designated ADA/Handicap area. During the past year, The Jim Irsay Collection World Tour (think of it as a new-age traveling museum with live music and more) has made one-night stops in Nashville, Washington, D.C., Austin, L.A., New York, and Chicago. A guitar formerly owned by Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain that was featured in the music video for the band's hit song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" sold for $4.5 million on Sunday, after billionaire. Jim Irsay bought Kurt Cobain's guitar for $4.5 million. The band, which features names like Mike Wanchicon guitar (John Mellencamp), Mike Millson bass (founding member of R.E.M),and Kenny Wayne Shepherdon guitar, will be joined by special guest Ann Wilson of Heart. Our goal, to share the worlds unique, hidden and once in a lifetime locations with you to create unforgettable memories. 'This crazy Australian billionaire bid $6 million dollars on it,' Irsay said. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The Jim Irsay Collection features historical documents, sports collectibles, musical instruments, pop culture memorabilia, and more. 'I got this long text: ''Oh my God, it was crazy,''' Irsay told DailyMail.com, repeating the message he received from a conduit after the final gavel. Obviously the collection would be impossible without Irsay's fortune, much of which comes from his family's heating and cooling (HVAC) empire, not to mention the Colts, a team his late father bought in Baltimore in 1972 before famously moving the franchise to Indianapolis nine years later. It sold for $50,000 (and probably could have been obtained for $50 before Russia invaded Ukraine). Irsays collection also includes Jack Kerouacs original 36-metre typewritten manuscript for On The Road ($2.4m), Hunter S Thompsons Red Shark convertible, Abraham Lincolns walking cane and an original Apple II manual signed by Steve Jobs in 1980. Read what he has to say in his own words here. Jim Irsayrenowned philanthropist and Owner of the Indianapolis Coltshas a deep passion for rock music. The collection isnt just for viewing purposes, however. The guitar promptly ignited a furious bidding war, which Irsays representative won by offering the max $3.75 million. A Jackie Robinson game-used bat from 1953. Displaying historical items free of charge makes the collection worthwhile for the 63-year-old. Jack Kerouac to Jackie Robinson. I am only a steward of this collection, so its my job to share it with as many people as I can. How you experience it when you walk in? The exhibit is at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum at The Lowell National Historic Park. Sign Up For Our Newsletters Before the time comes to stop the tape, we have to ask our host the question that invariably comes up when two Beatles obsessives engage in conversation. In the interests of making the collection more accessible to the public, a series of pop-up exhibits and concerts in the USA and Europe are set to be the precursor to the opening of a museum akin to Seattles MoPOP, which was founded by Microsofts Paul Allen. 'If the [other bidder] would have gone to $4 million, I would have been out because I was asleep,' Irsay said. My biggest regret was when I lost Wilson, the volleyball from Cast Away. The event was free for the public to attend, provided they signed up before RSVPs reached capacity. Other notable artifacts include Kurt Cobains 1969 Fender Mustang, Ringo Starrs drum set used during The Beatles debut on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 and Bob Dylans electric guitar played at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. The interesting thing about guitars is because of the heritage of these and the providence, theyre special, Irsay told Duthiers. 'I have JFK, his rocking chair, Jackie Robinson's bat that he hit a homerun World Series with, Muhammad Ali's shoes from the Thrilla in Manila against Joe Frazier,' Irsay said. Its not really as much as the intellect of the mind, he told, Irsay is still sore over not obtaining Wilson, the anthropomorphic volleyball from the Tom Hanks movie, Before the auction, Irsay placed his maximum bid at $3.75 million ($4.4 million with auction fees included). It's amazing to have that piece of history because Lennon was so major', Much of Irsay's collection centers around his lifelong passion for the Beatles. Until then, an acoustic Gibson once owned by the Beatles' Lennon was the world's most expensive guitar, selling at auction in 2015 for $2.4 million. Handwritten documents and artifacts from womens suffrage pioneer Susan B. Anthony. The Stratocaster that Bob Dylan played at Newport Folk Festival in 1965? The collection is highlighted by musical instruments and items owned and used by the greatest artists in music history, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Prince, Eric Clapton, Sir Elton John, Jerry Garcia, Les Paul, David Gilmour, Jim Morrison, Pete Townshend, Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, The Edge, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and other icons, as well as signed photos, handwritten lyrics, and other historic music memorabilia. Then theres Bob Dylans Newport Stratocaster. But, in terms of owning historic instruments with rock n roll credentials and sheer spending power, nobody can top Jim Irsay." Irsay sets his price before the bidding even starts (in this case, $3.75 million, or $4.4 million with auction fees included) and then sits back and lets the universe take care of the rest. Kurt Cobain's iconic Smells Like Teen Spirit guitar sold for a staggering $4.55 million after a bidding war won by Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay on May 22. Jim Irsay, owner of the NFLs Indianapolis Colts, is bringing his collection to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center on March 4, 2023. . Darren Julien, chief executive officer of Julien's Auctions, said: 'To have this legendary guitar, one of the most culturally significant and historically important guitars of Kurt Cobain and in all of rock music history to return to Indiana to be part of Jim Irsay's renowned memorabilia collection is a great honor and personal highlight of my life. In fact, Cobain's family donated a portion of the proceeds to the organization, which has already raised more than $16 million since 2020 to help fight the stigma of mental illness. READ ARTICLE, "As much of a spectacle as the cover sets might bewith Irsay backed by members of John Mellencamps band and R.E.M., among otherstheyre simply a warmup act for the main attraction, Irsays massive and still-growing collection." Irsay is still sore over not obtaining Wilson, the anthropomorphic volleyball from the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away, which sold for $308,000. But I can be a steward and a curator. Its so important to me that in the museum, people can play things and touch them. You cant keep track, its impossible. How do you sell the golden tickets? I cant be Pete Townshend or Chrissie Hynde or Natalie Merchant or whoever, because thats just not me. Items on display ran the gamut from historical artifacts such as letters from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth and the Atlantic Charter signed by Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt to pop culture items such as Hunter S. Thompsons Red Shark 1973 Chevrolet Caprice convertible. Muhammad Alis 1965 first walkout robe that bore his new name, and his boxing shoes from the 1975 Thrilla in Manilla vs. Joe Frazier. He typically sets a ceiling on how much he wants to spend and leaves the actual in-person bidding to an intermediary. Sometimes you might think Im coldhearted. "Over the years, some remarkable guitar collections have featured in the pages of this magazine. In spite of that vow, he almost let Kurt Cobains guitar slip through his fingers. '', 'Thankfully [Allen] wasn't in an ornery mood [during the auction], because if we really got into a bidding war, I couldn't have lasted.'. For the small audience in attendance, its a thrill to hear such a storied guitar played at close quarters in a different musical context. . Upon follow-up, he said it was priceless, and that if a Saudi sheikh offered him $1 billion, the answer would be a flat no. And regardless of your area of interest, there will be something there that will blow your mind." 'I've been doing it for 25 years, and I would say I'm one of the only people who can peg these things pretty close,' Irsay said. He purchased a 1966 Vox guitar , played by Lennon and George Harrison, for $408,000 at auction in 2013. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to see you at the event! Powered by. For matters related to TJIC Exhibitions/Tour, For all media inquiries related to TJIC, For all other (non-tour matters) related to TJIC. Irsay owned four guitars, including a 1942 Martin D-18 originally owned by Elvis Presley, when he met McKinney. The product of a quarter-century of feverish gathering, this massive cross section of musical, pop cultural, and political history includes everything from Abraham Lincoln's pocketknife to Jack Kerouac's manuscript for the novel On the Road. Gilmours Black Strat? Irsay possesses a Steinway that Elton John used for years, including during a 1974 Madison Square Garden show where John Lennon performed several songs as Johns guestwhich turned out to be the former Beatles last live performance. Yet rather than accumulating expensive toys in some crass display of wealth, talking with Irsay reveals that he has a deep love and appreciation, not only for the timeless music these instruments were used to create but also what they represent as cultural and indeed countercultural objects. He now calls Las Vegas home, but has journeyed from the sunshine of California and the rain in Seattle, to the humidity of Arkansas and the snow of Minnesota. He owns guitars that once belonged to Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Prince and others, as well as Jack. Corporate Meetings: 702.388.2101 I want to make that very fucking clear. We've received your submission. Because to me, thats really what its about.. Irsay said he had initially approached cities including Nashville and Austin about doing a public-private partnership in which he would provide all of the exhibits at no cost while the cities committed to providing the space and upkeep. The moment proved to be a major turning point for rock music, and the guitar Dylan used is Irsay's favorite of his collection: 'If I had to pick one, and its awfully hard, I would say probably Bob Dylans Strat that he plugged in at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 and changed music, turned it electric. I also hired a guy who worked at the Smithsonian Museum in Indianapolis. A 1953 game-used Jackie Robinson baseball bat. Irsays lineup of famous guitars has been called the greatest on earth. Its hard to argue with this assessment. 'I had drunk enough liquor to float a battleship around before that auction,' he said. When he's not collecting NFL wins, Indianapolis Colts owner James Irsay, hunts down iconic memorabilia from music's most influential artists. The lightness and elasticity, the short vibrato arm everything points to the elegant, lyrical playing style for which Gilmour is famous. WATCHVIDEO, "Bloomberg caught up with Irsay in advance of the [concert and exhibit in New York]. The product of a quarter-century of feverish gathering, this massive cross section of musical, pop cultural, and political history includes everything from Abraham Lincolns pocketknife to Jack Kerouacs manuscript for the novel On the Road. This time, Irsay wisely declined. I want no money, Irsay told Reuters. The guitar promptly ignited a furious bidding war, which Irsays representative won by offering the max $3.75 million. In 2014, Irsay was suspended by the NFL for six games and fined $500,000 for, Since then, Irsay has been open about his emphasis to support. After decades of bidding in absentia, hes developed something of a sixth sense about how much an item will go for. The greatest guitar collection on Earth Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has spent 25 years assembling the world's leading collection of rock 'n' roll, American history and pop culture artefacts. The collection also includes handwritten lyrics, signed photos, and other memorabilia from the artists. Then (because it was the middle of the night in Hawaii, where he was at the time) he went to bed. The Jim Irsay collection can be seen at Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday and will continue touring, Irsay's intuition admittedly fell short in 2019, when he paid a record $4 million for Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's 'Black Strat' (pictured) a Fender Stratocaster that was drawing bids from 61 different countries, Bob Dylan plays a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar for the first time on stage as he performs at the Newport Folk Festival on July 25, 1965 in Newport, Rhode Island. Colts Owner Jim Irsay Shows Off Unique Collection Worth Millions, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Perhaps as a nod to Irsays own well-publicised battle with addiction, theres also the working manuscript for The Big Book aka Alcoholics Anonymous. But I like people to be able to say, I played Tiger, if you are a guitar player of any magnitude, or even if you just want to hold it. The Gibson SG that George Harrison used on Revolver? Colts owner Jim Irsay poses during a collection event in 2022. In another Beatles connection, Elton also played it at a concert in Madison Square Garden in November 1974. So much of what were about as a world, as humanity, is tied to music. Many items, if not most of the Irsay Collection, were acquired at auction, but Irsay usually wasnt sitting in the crowd waving a tiny paddle with a number on it. 'These things will come alive some day,' Irsay said. When youre worth more than $3 billion, you can acquire some cool stuff. Its to allow people to see it and share these things., Irsays exhibit has a little bit for everybody, but the heart of the experience is a guitar collection described last year by Guitar Magazine as The Greatest Guitars on Earth.. Ill never let that happen again.. While recording Revolver, The Beatles were reimagining the pop landscape from one studio day to the next, and that certainly gives this instrument a special allure even if John obviously preferred his Epiphone Casino. Martin & Co. D-35 guitar (Pink Floyd's David Gilmour - 'Wish You Were Here'), 1969 Fender Stratocaster guitar (Gilmour - 'The Black Strat'), 1939 C.F. About 175 guitars make up the Irsay collection, and McKinney remains on the lookout for new acquisitions. Irsay joined Cheddar News to talk about why he's bringing artifacts from the Beatles to Jerry Garcia to light now." WATCH VIDEO 'I have JFK, his rocking chair, Jackie Robinson's bat that he hit a homerun World Series with, Muhammad Ali's shoes from the Thrilla in Manila against Joe Frazier,' Irsay said. Irsay joined Cheddar News to talk about why he's bringing artifacts from the Beatles to Jerry Garcia to light now." He takes it on the road and shows it off for free. 'I said, ''If you go to auction, I'm not gonna bid on it,''' Irsay said. Notwithstanding, its simply one of the most appealing vintage Gretsch guitars weve ever played and it instantly feels like home. Buzz Aldrins space suit recently sold at auction for nearly $3 million, but Irsay is holding out for Armstrongs. have each advocated for the initiative, among others. To Irsay, his collection is more than just a hobby. 'All of us in the guitar-collecting business were like: ''What? He predicted that future historians will look back on the century and pinpoint it as an outlier era of technological advancement. READARTICLE, "To call Irsays collection breathtaking would not do it justice. I have this obligation. Believe me, its not a one-man show.. Irsay established himself long ago as a connoisseur of cultural and rock & roll artifacts. Former Colts players, including the uber-popular Pat McAfee, speak very highly of him. Last May, Irsay purchased a baseball that was signed by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to New York City in 2019. The Dish He attributes this both to experience and mysticism. READ ARTICLE, "As much of a spectacle as the cover sets might bewith Irsay backed by members of John Mellencamps band and R.E.M., among otherstheyre simply a warmup act for the main attraction, Irsays massive and still-growing collection." But I can be a curator. Pop Culture. I mean, its the fabric of peoples lives. I've only owned two of them.'. 'It's not really as much as the intellect of the mind; it's more of the spirit and what comes to me,' said Irsay, who could easily be mistaken for a country music mogul in his black sunglasses and grey Stetson. Items that will be on display include: An eclectic collection of pop culture and sports memorabilia will also be on display, including: The evening will also include some live music, with Irsay taking the lead and an all-star band backing him. Outside of music, the collection includes such historic items as: Irsay, owner & CEO of the NFLs Indianapolis Colts and an active philanthropist, regularly loans items to museums, nonprofits and other organizations for display and research.Items have been displayed at the U.S.s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), The Lincoln Memorial, the world-famous Beverly Hills Hotel, and the Indiana State Museum; as well as at The Centre Pompidou (Paris), the British Library (London), Auditorium Parco della Musica (Rome) and other locations around the world. The half-day event at Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom is free to the public and features everything from John Lennon's piano, used to write 'A Day in the Life,' to Irsay's newly acquired Fender. Before the auction, Irsay placed his maximum bid at $3.75 million ($4.4 million with auction fees included). Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay already has an impressive collection of music memorabilia, and it just got stronger this weekend. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor, entered rehab and was suspended for six games and fined $500,000 by the NFL. As well as being used by Elton himself at sold-out Dodger Stadium shows in October 1975, the piano would go on to be played by Freddie Mercury during Queens A Day At The Racestour in 1977 and by Paul McCartney in front of a television audience over over one billion people during the Live Aid finale in 1985. The Jim Irsay Collection: $100 Million Traveling Museum Worth the (Free) Price of Admission. But its professional football. Admission is free and, as of this writing, a limited number of tickets remain available. My sincere thanks to Steve Campbell and Larry Hall for the access to both Jim Irsay and his mind-boggling collection. Indeed, hes not shy about allowing his numerous musical celebrity friends to play guitars from his collection, and will occasionally do it himself. Irsay didnt procure most of this stuff personally. I dont have any ownership over it. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been on a buying spree, purchasing a baseball signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for more than $50,000 and the Fender Mustang guitar used by . Irsay threw in a record winning bid of $3.975 million for Gilmour's 1969 black Fender Stratocaster known as "The Black Strat." As of January 25, Kicking the Stigma has raised. Ahead of the Colts game this Sunday, part of Jim Irsay's private collection of music memorabilia he's gathered over time will be on display. Its hard to argue with this assessment. And speaking of drug-fueled missives, in 1998, Thompson sent Irsay an equally impassioned plea for the Colts to draft QB Ryan Leaf instead of Peyton Manning. But on January 25, he showcased distinctive items hes been able to obtain as a collector. In 2014, Irsay was suspended by the NFL for six games and fined $500,000 for driving while intoxicated. Then, he explained, visions help him navigate through his life decisions, and it came to him that this should be a traveling museum. This was the piano he toured with for 20 years; it was also played by Paul McCartney and Freddie Mercury. Irsay envisages a space where musical instruments coexist with the other objects in the collection to tell the story of American history and 20th century pop culture. CHICAGO Jim Irsay puffed on an American Spirit cigarette onstage and belted out covers of Neil Young and the Rolling Stones and it was actually much cooler than it sounds. Among the collection are instruments owned and used by The Beatles, Prince, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Johnny Cash, James Brown, Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia, Les Paul, David Gilmour, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Pete Townshend, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, John Coltrane, The Edge, and others. The lot came with the guitar case the Smells Like Teen Spirit group's late frontman used, which has a poster of Poison Idea's album Feel the Darkness on it, whilst inside is a bunch of guitar strings, picks and a 'stash' bag. He talked about how much putting together a world-class collection costs and what it would take for him to part with it." Almost alarmingly so. , Irsay touted self-owned guitars, artifacts and historic memorabilia belonging to. Its been that way ever since the cavemen were around the fire and they scrawled on the walls, they beat things there was always this feeling of self-expression. I see the seekers in my mind walking across the old, beautiful lands of this country 300 years ago, not with muskets, but with guitars slung over their backs. Cobain committed suicide in 1994 aged 27. So when the Colts boss saw Allen at an event in the following days, Irsay figured he should offer a 'thank you' to Allen, whom he mistakenly assumed had stayed out of the bidding. After all, Allen, with his $20-billion fortune, could have easily out-spent Irsay if he were so inclined. Sometimes its not popular. This time, Irsay wisely declined. In 2014, he was arrested for DWI and possession of prescription medications. Well consult Indianapolis Motor Speedway on who they use to move cars. The electric guitar was also used by the tragic rock star in the music video for the song. A portion of Irsay's guitar collection will also be featured on two walls. Martin & Co. Irsay hopes that life experiences, ranging from outreach or a Jim Irsay Collection concert, can ultimately benefit those who are in need. Hes still adding to the collection and keeping it topical. SEATING: This event will be standing room ONLY with LIMITED seating available on a first come, first served basis. Buddy Guy, 86, Chicago legend, slaying at Jim Irsay event pic.twitter.com/xKO8ZXhXyy. (Cobain committed suicide in 1994 after years of mental health and substance abuse issues). He described caressing Cobain's 53-year-old Fender, saying: 'With your fingertips, you try to sense its energy.'. "Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is displaying his world-renowned collection of historic memorabilia to the public for . Once Colts owner Jim Irsay's father, Robert, passed away in 1997, he began a unique collection that is now worth millions. Irsay also has been open about his struggles with addiction. He talked about how much putting together a world-class collection costs and what it would take for him to part with it." An active philanthropist, Mr. Irsay hopes to establish a museum to share these treasures with the world. Today, the necks startling lustre and the overall originality of the instrument tell us little about its former owner and, perhaps fittingly, theres a frustrating and slightly icy sense of detachment that leaves us feeling no closer to rocks greatest poet and greatest enigma. I didn't anticipate that. If the (other bidder) would have gone to $4 million, I would have been out because I was asleep, Irsay told The Daily Mail. 'It's so eclectic because it's everything.'" Irsay is an NFL owner of considerable wealth. To call Irsays collection breathtaking would not do it justice. 'I went into that thing, and I was pretty determined to get it, but I really didn't know what was going to happen,' said Irsay, who was actually awake and personally participating in that auction. An eclectic exhibit with items, ranging from pop culture to historical, is coming to Las Vegas for one night only, along with a concert featuring a few big names. 'But out of all the guitars in the whole world, the Fender Mustang is my favourite. In 2002, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay paid $957,000 for the late Jerry Garcia's famed "Tiger" guitar at auction.