bassist Mike Mills and singer Ann Wilson to accompany his eclectic, traveling $100 million memorabilia collection featuring a dazzling array of artifacts from American history, including the realms of music, sports and entertainment at a stop for an evening on Navy Pier in downtown Chicago. Well consult Indianapolis Motor Speedway on who they use to move cars. It's also an excuse for Irsay to immerse himself in the lives of his heroes, like the evening he spent with Lennon's dear cousin in London. Kurt Cobain's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' guitar sells for a Australian microphone king buys Kurt Cobain's iconic 'MTV Kurt Cobain's iconic blue guitar from Nirvana's 1991 hit Alex Raskin Sports News Editor For Dailymail.com, Do not sell or share my personal information, 1964 Gibson SG guitar (Beatles' George Harrison/John Lennon), 1979 Doug Irwin 'Tiger' guitar (Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia), 1969 C.F. Since then, Irsay has been open about his emphasis to support mental health resources. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay already has an impressive collection of music memorabilia, and it just got stronger this weekend. 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. That Irsay was actually sleeping in Hawaii when he received the text message, and now has Cobain's left-handed 1969 Fender Mustang resting on his lap, sums up his life as a wealthy collector. 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. READARTICLE, "To call Irsays collection breathtaking would not do it justice. Did we grant ourselves a moment of self indulgence and actually play Paperback Writeron one of the guitars it was recorded with? Visit jimirsaycollection.com to find out more about the collections upcoming tour dates. "He wants. The worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. And these will become not inanimate objects. Nothing against Buzz Aldrin hes the only one who hit a six-iron on the moon but really if it was Neil Armstrongs suit, I probably wouldve been in on it, Irsay told reporters. That's insane. I was a Lennon man.. 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 band had more than a dozen members, including instrumentalists and background vocalists. John Lennon's 1962 Gibson J-160E - $2,400,000. , Irsay touted self-owned guitars, artifacts and historic memorabilia belonging to. Because to me, thats really what its about.. Its so important to me that in the museum, people can play things and touch them. The lightness and elasticity, the short vibrato arm everything points to the elegant, lyrical playing style for which Gilmour is famous. He attributes this both to experience and mysticism. In 1977, the piano was used by Freddie Mercury for a 1977 Queen tour, and then by Paul McCartney during 1985s Live Aid concert. Its way bigger than just saying, Oh, thats a nice song. He talked about how much putting together a world-class collection costs and what it would take for him to part with it." I look at it (as if) I own nothing because you never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul, Irsay said. And the best part is that its free. Larry Hall, the chairman of the Jim Irsay Collection, who is also the VP of Special Projects and Historical Affairs with the Colts, described part of the intricate process in transporting all of the valuable artifacts. After decades of bidding in absentia, hes developed something of a sixth sense about how much an item will go for. campaign to encourage others to use mental health resources when needed. 'But out of all the guitars in the whole world, the Fender Mustang is my favourite. The interesting thing about guitars is because of the heritage of these and the providence, theyre special, Irsay told Duthiers. In 1977, the piano was used by Freddie Mercury for a 1977 Queen tour, and then by Paul McCartney during 1985s Live Aid concert. Like his father and grandfathers struggles, Irsay is no stranger to alcoholism, addiction and mental health challenges himself. Jim Irsays passion for rock music, American history and pop culture led him to assemble a robust collection of historic and culturally-significant artifacts over several decades that together make up The Jim Irsay Collection. 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. READ ARTICLE, Smells like team spirit: Billionaire Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay shares his collection of rare guitars at a free exhibition after splurging $4.4 million on Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's Fender Mustang READ ARTICLE, "Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is displaying his world-renowned collection of historic memorabilia to the public for the first time in the Big Apple. They will become alive again.'. IndyStar, Indianapolis Star: Local Sat, 04/20/2019 - 12:59pm Page 1; Page 2; Page 3; Page 4; . 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. Our emotional and spiritual lives are so tied to the arts, so tied to music. I get letters all the time, Please can I come on a pilgrimage, I just want to see Tiger, it means so much to me. Once again, this is a free event and open to the public, but tickets are required. Irsay didnt procure most of this stuff personally. However, one item in particular means a lot to Irsay: that lists the 12-step program with handwritten notes. Then, he explained, visions help him navigate through his life decisions, and it came to him that this should be a traveling museum. Recently, Irsay has added a Kurt Cobain guitar and Muhammad Ali's . Its a service of the arts to the community.. They become alive when theyre playing.. Specific piano movers that come recommended by Steinway. Coming to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center in March, NFL owner Jim Irsay's memorabilia collection will surely blow you away. The following are just a few of the guitars in Jim Irsay's collection: 'I said, ''Paul, hey man, thanks for not bidding on those drums, I appreciate it,''' Irsay said. The event will be open to the public, and while tickets are free, advance registration will be required to attend. Buzz Aldrins space suit recently sold at auction for nearly $3 million, but Irsay is holding out for Armstrongs. And regardless of your area of interest, there will be something there that will blow your mind." I am only a steward of this collection, so its my job to share it with as many people as I can. Its the same as the Horseshoe [the Colts]. Then (because it was the middle of the night in Hawaii, where he was at the time) he went to bed. '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. READ ARTICLE, Smells like team spirit: Billionaire Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay shares his collection of rare guitars at a free exhibition after splurging $4.4 million on Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's Fender Mustang READ ARTICLE, "Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is displaying his world-renowned collection of historic memorabilia to the public for the first time in the Big Apple. In seeking out and exhibiting objects from the past, Irsay aims to inspire young musicians to create the iconic music of the future. 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. You outbid me. When you recover, you want to do what you can to help those because now, today, theres millions out there struggling.. One guy dropped out and then the [other] guy was at [$3.25 million] and then he went to [$3.5 million], and then we went to [$3.75 million] and then silence silence silence'''. Owner by Day, Rock 'n' Roller by Night Jim Irsay, the billionaire Colts owner, recently spent $4.4 million for a guitar (pictured) belonging to the late Kurt Cobain, Cobain's Fender Mustang was seen in Nirvana's the 1991 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' music video (left). When I talk to a lot of artists I know and I start trying to get them to talk about the past a little bit, a lot of them are like, Im not interested in that. Muhammad Alis 1965 first walkout robe that bore his new name, and his boxing shoes from the 1975 Thrilla in Manilla vs. Joe Frazier. 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). READARTICLE, "To call Irsays collection breathtaking would not do it justice. I see the seekers walking across the old, beautiful lands of this country 300 years ago, not with muskets but with guitars slung over their backs. The strategy relies more on Irsay's own personal mysticism than any data-driven analysis. What the show and the collection are about its an eclectic collection, but really its about spirituality and human beings being as great as they can, and changing the world with love and strength, Irsay told a collection of reporters in Chicago. There was an event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City earlier this year; a date is set for Indianapolis next month. 'I said, ''If you go to auction, I'm not gonna bid on it,''' Irsay said. According to Irsay, at the heart of the collection is a David Gilmour Stratocaster in which 66 countries have contacted him about purchasing. The Jim Irsay Collection: $100 Million Traveling Museum Worth the (Free) Price of Admission. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. (Please dress appropriately for the weather that day). Historians and philosophers that have looked at the 20th century said that the 12 steps, which has been used in many ways to fight mental health issues, thats really something that [without it] realistically, half the people in this place wouldnt be here and believe me, youd see a ghost from me up here. Its not just guitars, either. Believe me, its not a one-man show.. Jerry. Jim Irsay Collection Exhibit & Concert Saturday, March 4, 2023 5:30 PM Reserve Now Event Details ICONIC ROCK MEMORABILIA + MORE Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will display his world-renowned collection of iconic rock memorabilia, American history and pop culture at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center on Saturday, March 4, 2023. In spite of that vow, he almost let Kurt Cobains guitar slip through his fingers. If Irsays fondest wish comes true, his wildly eclectic collection will one day reside in its own wildly eclectic museum. Its a 200-foot scroll upon which Kerouac pounded out his most famous missive during a weekslong, alcohol- and drug-fueled frenzy. . After all, Allen, with his $20-billion fortune, could have easily out-spent Irsay if he were so inclined. Irsay, the eccentric owner of the Indianapolis Colts, had assembled an all-star band, including blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, R.E.M. In another Beatles connection, Elton also played it at a concert in Madison Square Garden in November 1974. Irsay joined Cheddar News to talk about why he's bringing artifacts from the Beatles to Jerry Garcia to light now." (Cobain committed suicide in 1994 after years of mental health and substance abuse issues). Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will display his world-renowned collection of iconic rock memorabilia, American history and pop culture at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center on Saturday, March 4, 2023. The event was free for the public to attend, provided they signed up before RSVPs reached capacity. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been steadily assembling one of the most interesting privately owned collections of artifacts in the U.S. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Here are some selections from the roughly 9 million oddball facts and anecdotes surrounding it. But its professional football. This time, Irsay wisely declined. $567,000. I also hired a guy who worked at the Smithsonian Museum in Indianapolis. Irsay is still sore over not obtaining Wilson, the anthropomorphic volleyball from the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away, which sold for $308,000. '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 hadn't expected to top that, but Gilmour's guitar was suddenly garnering much higher bids. 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. '', '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.'. Indeed, hes not shy about allowing his numerous musical celebrity friends to play guitars from his collection, and will occasionally do it himself. He typically sets a ceiling on how much he wants to spend and leaves the actual in-person bidding to an intermediary. Its a 200-foot scroll upon which Kerouac pounded out his most famous missive during a weekslong, alcohol- and drug-fueled frenzy. And then we have people on retainer like Jim Canary, whos a paper conservator at Indiana University. For the small audience in attendance, its a thrill to hear such a storied guitar played at close quarters in a different musical context. He paid $965,000 for the Newport Stratocaster Bob Dylan played at the 1965 Newport Festival, when he and his band went electric for the first time; dropped $4.4 million for Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobains Fender Mustang; and $4 million for Pink Floyd guitarist David Gimours black Fender Stratocaster. In addition to music artifacts, Irsays collection also features Abraham Lincolns pocket knife, Jackie Robinsons game-used bat, a lottery ticket signed by John Hancock and Muhammad Alis championship belt. My biggest regret was when I lost Wilson, the volleyball from Cast Away. According to Duthiers, the Jim Irsay Collection first began after Irsays father. These guitars are unlike manuscripts or something like that, Irsay said. The manuscript is now part of the Jim Irsay Collection, which is currently touring the US, John Coltrane's saxophone is one of the more iconic pieces of the Jim Irsay Collection given its historical significance to jazz. But on January 25, he showcased distinctive items hes been able to obtain as a collector. Jack Kerouac to Jackie Robinson. Jim Irsay, owner & CEO of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, is bringing items from The Jim Irsay Collection - a renowned assemblage of iconic artifacts from rock music, American history, and pop culture - home to Indianapolis for one night only, September 9, 7:30-10pm - on the field - at Lucas Oil Stadium. Irsay hopes that life experiences, ranging from outreach or a Jim Irsay Collection concert, can ultimately benefit those who are in need. The instrument, which Cobain acquired from a Los Angeles guitar shop in 1990, was later used in many live Nirvana performances. Image: David Redfern / Redferns. As an added bonus, Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy, astonishingly spry and vibrant at 86 years old, joined onstage as a surprise guest, playing for an enthused crowd. 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. As he sees it, the former owners are still connected to the pieces from beyond the grave, and his role is to preserve everything until humanity is ready to reveal the secrets within. In 2002, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay paid $957,000 for the late Jerry Garcia's famed "Tiger" guitar at auction. I had never done it before, and that was a great experience.'. Smells like team spirit: Billionaire Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay shares his collection of rare guitars at a free exhibition after splurging $4.4 million on Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's Fender Mustang READ ARTICLE. Las Vegas (February 27, 2023) Kevin Cronin, the iconic lead vocalist for the legendary REO Speedwagon, will join Indianapolis Colts Owner & CEO Jim Irsay and his all-star band for a free, one-night-only performance in Las Vegas celebrating The Jim Irsay Collection, Irsay's traveling museum of iconic artifacts from rock music, American history and pop culture This FREE, one-of-a-kind event will also feature a special performance from the Jim Irsay Band along with Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Kevin Cronin, Billy F. Gibbons, Vince Gill and Stephen Stills. If the (other bidder) would have gone to $4 million, I would have been out because I was asleep, Irsay told. If music isnt your thing, theres plenty of American history in the collection. Before sports became his life's work, Jim Irsay was a musician. And a deeper feeling than just having words or sign language, or hunting and gathering systems. have each advocated for the initiative, among others. Jim Irsay, owner of the NFLs Indianapolis Colts, is bringing his collection to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center on March 4, 2023. Inside the Jim Irsay Collection and Jim Irsay Band concert at Lucas Oil Stadium 48 PHOTOS More Stories Time-lapse videos show how Indy suburbs have changed past 40 years News House strips. Then (because it was the middle of the night in Hawaii, where he was at the time) he went to bed. 'All of us in the guitar-collecting business were like: ''What? "Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is displaying his world-renowned collection of historic memorabilia to the public for . 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. "He wants. $957,500. And theres no sign of the pace slowing any time soon the collection continues to expand and the plans for it get more and more ambitious. Notwithstanding, its simply one of the most appealing vintage Gretsch guitars weve ever played and it instantly feels like home. The Jim Irsay Collection is highlighted by instruments and items owned and used by some of the greatest artists in music history, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Prince, James Brown, Eric Clapton, Sir Elton John, Johnny Cash, Jerry Garcia, Les Paul, David Gilmour, Jim Morrison, Pete Townshend, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, John Coltrane, and more. There are also other forms of rare collectibles too, like one of Jackie Robinson's game-used bats and Jack Kerouac's 'On The Road' manuscript. We never put it in harms way. Though many of the pieces in the collection have been present during seismic moments in popular music history, its interesting to compare guitars that spent a long time in the service of one artist to those instruments whose spell in the limelight was more fleeting. When you have a gene, thats a very difficult thing. Its like Dylan says, He not busy being born is busy dying, Irsay asserts. We have a lot of high-end shippers that are in specific fields, Hall said. Jim Irsay bought Kurt Cobain's guitar for $4.5 million. 'It's so eclectic because it's everything.'" If someone has a death in the family or a transformative time in their life, and a certain song came out at that time, they remember that moment. After all, millions of people have strong and intensely personal connections to their favourite musicians and sports teams. 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. The Cobain family will donate a portion of the proceeds of the sale to a mental health initiative run by the Irsays, Kicking The Stigma. Of course we did. You cant keep track, its impossible. Perhaps as a nod to Irsays own well-publicised battle with addiction, theres also the working manuscript for The Big Book aka Alcoholics Anonymous. He purchased a 1966 Vox guitar , played by Lennon and George Harrison, for $408,000 at auction in 2013. Previously,Cobain's acoustic guitar from Nirvana's iconic 1993 MTV Unplugged performance sold for a record-breaking $6million at auction in June 2020. According to Irsay, at the heart of the collection is a David Gilmour Stratocaster in which 66 countries have contacted him about purchasing. He predicted that future historians will look back on the century and pinpoint it as an outlier era of technological advancement. Copyright 2023 Indianapolis Monthly, All Rights Reserved. And for most of the time since, the nearly million-dollar axe one of. Outside of music, the collection includes such historic items as: Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Corporate Meetings: 702.388.2101 For matters related to TJIC Exhibitions/Tour, For all media inquiries related to TJIC, For all other (non-tour matters) related to TJIC. This fall, its gone on a national tour, with stops in Indianapolis (natch), New York City, and Los Angeles, to name a few locations. 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. Danny Bridges. Marcs weapon of choice is Dylans Newport Stratocaster and Kenny Wayne selects the Black Strat. Mostly, though, Irsay is drawn to collecting because hebelieves these instruments are more than just inanimate keepsakes. Admission is free and, as of this writing, a limited number of tickets remain available. And regardless of your area of interest, there will be something there that will blow your mind." Muhammad Alis championship belt from his 1974 fight with George Foreman and boxing shoes from his 1975 fight with Joe Frazier. The Indianapolis public will get the chance to see all his memorabilia, free of charge. None other than gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson encouraged Irsay to purchase Kerouacs On the Road manuscript. . Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay's collection of rare rock & roll instruments is touring the country The 62-year-old billionaire recently spent $4.4 million at auction for a guitar. Art shippers that do nothing but that. Irsay's collection also includes Jerry Garcia's prized 1979 Doug Irwin 'Tiger' guitar (upper right), The Jim Irsay collection will be shown for free in New York on Friday after stops in Washington, LA, Austin and Nashville. Were journeymen, were seekers. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. This is my effort to make the world a better place. But, in terms of owning historic instruments with rock n roll credentials and sheer spending power, nobody can top Jim Irsay. During the course of our photoshoot, he not only pretends to smash the Black Strat but he also mischievously tucks a lit cigarette under the strings behind the nut. During our conversation, its apparent that Jim finds a sense of spirituality in the transcendent power of music. George Washington to Bob Dylan. The lineup features a cast of leading local session pros led by guitar tech and record producer Marc Johnson, plus Irsay on vocals and the guest of honour, Kenny Wayne Shepherd. As you get older, you get more of a position of service. I LOVE WHAT I DO. The Stratocaster that Bob Dylan played at Newport Folk Festival in 1965? 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. According to Duthiers, Irsay also invites guest musicians to join and play famous guitars from the collection. Cobain committed suicide in 1994 aged 27. 10 young bluesbreakers who are making the Blues fun again, Maybe Id move to Japan and try and be an English teacher! Mastodons Bill Kelliher on the future of the band, his love of Les Pauls and what hed do if he wasnt in the band. 'I'm a man of integrity, and I didn't bid on it.'. At one point in an interview with The Post last week, Irsay referred to the collections value as being $100 million. Last May, Irsay purchased a baseball that was signed by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to New York City in 2019. '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. I want to make that very fucking clear. Whether its David Gilmours Martin D-35 or the franchise his late father Robert purchased back in 1972, he is adamant that he sees himself more as a custodian than an owner. Its so important to me that in the museum, people can play things and touch them, he told guitar.com. It sold for $50,000 (and probably could have been obtained for $50 before Russia invaded Ukraine). '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. This was the piano he toured with for 20 years; it was also played by Paul McCartney and Freddie Mercury. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. The scroll is on loan from Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. . 'People probably thought, ''That guy's crazy, we're not bidding.'' The Jim Irsay Collection is highlighted by instruments and items owned and used by some of the greatest artists in music history, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Prince, James Brown, Eric Clapton, Sir Elton John, Johnny Cash, Jerry Garcia, Les Paul, David Gilmour, Jim Morrison, Pete Townshend, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, John The Jim Irsay Collection & Exhibit includes items such as: Muhammad Alis 1974 Rumble in the Jungle championship belt, a 1953 Jackie Robinson bat, Sylvester Stallones original manuscript notes for the movie Rocky, and instruments by Eric Clapton, Elton John, and Kurt Cobain. I dont have any ownership over it. Before the auction, Irsay placed his maximum bid at $3.75 million ($4.4 million with auction fees included). Colts owner Jim Irsay poses during a collection event in 2022. I dont think its ever had that kind of blues played on it before, Shepherd remarks later, and our own close encounter with the Black Strat reveals a setup thats clearly been optimised for a less ferocious touch than that of the Louisiana-born blues-rocker. History is so important, he says.