A guitar used by John Lennon has been sold for record price at auction.

The 1964 Framus 5/024 “Hootenanny” 12-string acoustic guitar that Lennon used to record Help! was sold for $2,857,500, according to Julien’s Auctions.

Lennon can be seen playing the song “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” on the guitar in the 1965 Beatles film.

It was one of the artifacts that were up for auction at Julien’s Auctions – the largest collection of celebrity-owned and stage and studio-played instruments in its Music Icons auction, a two-day event held at Hard Rock Cafe in New York and online at juliensauctions.com.

Julien’s said it has taken “great care to verify and match the instrument to existing photographs based on specific wood grain patterns, dark portions of the rosette, a ‘stripe’ found in the pickguard material, and the guitar’s Maton case, also photographed with The Beatles during recording sessions.”

David Goodman, chief executive of Julien’s Auctions, said, “This guitar is not only a piece of music history but a symbol of John Lennon’s enduring legacy.”

“Today’s unprecedented sale is a testament to the timeless appeal and reverence of The Beatles’ music and John Lennon,” he added.

Source: RTT Music News

Peter Frampton will receive the annual Les Paul Spirit Award.

The Les Paul Foundation announced that the prestigious award will be presented to the legendary musical artist and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer on June 9 at a private event to be held at the Gibson Garage Nashville.

The event will take place on what would have been Les Paul’s 109th birthday and marks the third anniversary of the Gibson Garage Nashville.

The annual award is presented to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the late Les Paul through innovation, engineering, technology and/or music. In addition to the award, a grant from the Les Paul Foundation will be made in the honoree’s name to the charity of his choice.

Frampton has experimented with new technologies and music trends, apparent in his early recordings on albums Frampton and Frampton Comes Alive! and particularly his hit singles “Do You Feel Like We Do” and “Show Me the Way,” synonymous with the use of the talk box.

“I cannot think of anyone more fitting to be honored with this year’s Les Paul Spirit Award than Peter Frampton,” said Michael Braunstein, Executive Director of The Les Paul Foundation. “Not only is he an extraordinary talent who has given us an amazing array of extraordinary music, but he is an innovator who understands music, technologies, and the spirit of Les Paul.”

Source; RTT Music News

Members of Grateful Dead took to Instagram to pay tribute to Bill Walton, describing the late NBA superstar as the “Biggest Deadhead in the world.”

Walton, the 1977-78 NBA MVP, sportscaster and two-time league champion, passed away on Monday (May 27) after battling cancer.

Walton reportedly attended approximately 850 Grateful Dead shows. Counting Dead & Company shows, Walton attended over 1,000 in total, according to Rolling Stone.

“Fare you well, fare you well, we love you more than words can tell. Bill was an irreplaceable force and spirit in our family. Father Time, Rhythm Devil, biggest deadhead ever. Over 1000 shows and couldn’t get enough. He loved this band and we loved him,” the band posted on Dead & Company’s Instagram feed.

“We will miss our beloved friend, @BillWalton, deeply. Rest in peace and may the four winds blow you safely home,” the group added.

The post features several pics of Walton in his signature tie dye vibing out at Dead shows over the years. There are also shots of him in elaborate, colorful costumes honoring the times he dressed up as “Father Time” for Dead shows on New Year’s Eve.

Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, and drummers Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann posted individual tributes of their own.

Weir wrote, “Thanks for the wonderful friendship, the years of color commentary — and the Hall of Fame existence that you wore like headlights. Bon voyage ol’ buddy. We’re sure gonna miss you — but don’t let that slow you down.”

Hart described Walton as “the best friend I ever had” in the caption of a photo of the two. “He called himself the luckiest man in the world but it was us who were lucky — to know him, to share the adventure with him,” he added. “He was the biggest Deadhead in the world and used our music as the soundtrack to his life. After our shows, he would regularly send messages that said, ‘thank you for my life.'”

RTT Music News

Hank Azaria has announced a new Bruce Springsteen tribute band.

The Emmy Award-winning voice actor and comedian revealed that Hank Azaria & The EZ Street Band will make their debut performance at the Le Poisson Rouge in New York City on August 1.

The set list will be “packed with Springsteen classics and deep cuts, delivered with Azaria’s unique flair and the band’s top-notch musicianship,” says a press release.

“I’ve never worked harder preparing for any role than I did in perfecting a singing vocal impression of Bruce,” Azaria said in a statement. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my time and use my passion for voices than playing these songs for a crowd that loves them and lovingly tribute Bruce, while raising money for folks who need it.”

Proceeds from the concert will go to the Four Through Nine Foundation.

Azaria is well known for voicing many characters in the long-running animated sitcom “The Simpsons,” including Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Snake Jailbird, and Professor Frink.

Source: RTT Music News