Eric Clapton’s “The Fool” guitar becomes one of the most expensive ever at auction
nme.comEric Clapton‘s iconic guitars – named “The Fool” – has become one of the most expensive guitars ever at auction.On Thursday, November 16, the musician’s 1964 custom-painted psychedelic Gibson SG was sold for $1.27 million (£1.03 million) at Julien’s Auctions.
The six-string instrument was sold as part of the three-day music auction event “Played, Worn and Torn: Rock N’ Roll Iconic Guitars and Memorabilia” at the Hard Rock Café in Nashville.Per Guitar World, the guitar is the same ’64 SG that Clapton played when he and his Cream bandmates were creating their second LP, ‘Disraeli Gears’.
The six-string was painted by the Dutch art collective from whom the SG got its name. It became an influential emblem of the psychedelic era as well as a symbol of the Summer of Love in 1967.According to Planet Rock, Clapton gifted the guitar to George Harrison following the disbandment of Cream.
Harrison then passed it down to Jackie Lomax. It was also owned by Todd Rundgren in the 70s and 80s who gave it the nickname “Sunny” after Cream’s track ‘Sunshine of Your Love’, until he sold it at auction in 2000.A portion of the proceeds of “The Fool” guitar will go towards Kicking The Stigma, The Indianapolis Colts and Irsay Family’s mental health awareness initiative.Speaking about the instrument, 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.”He continued: “To have this legendary guitar that created and defined the classic rock sound that is an art masterpiece and symbol of the psychedelic ‘Summer of Love’ era go to Jim Irsay’s renowned memorabilia collection is another great.
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