Starting today, you can bid on historic music memorabilia, like the strap from the guitar Jimi Hendrix burned on stage at the Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967 and a glove Michael Jackson wore at a 1997 concert in London -- provided you've got some serious moolah.
The minimum bid for Hendrix's guitar strap is $50,000, while bids for Jackson's glove will start at $25,000. The online auction, dubbed the Gotta Have It! Rock & Roll Auction, is being conducted by Gotta Have It! Collectibles Inc. The company has previously partnered with Sotheby's on several successful auctions, and the plethora of items that will be on the selling block starting this week is simply stunning.
There are literally dozens of one-of-a-kind music memorabilia available, but we scoured the auction site for our favorite five. If we win the lottery in the next nine days, consider these ours:
1960s military-style jacket signed by George Harrison: Not only is this wool jacket in near mint condition, but it's signed by late Beatle George Harrison, and comes with a letter from Beatles autograph expert Frank Caiazzo. Bidding starts at $2,500.
Kurt Cobain's 1993 Fender Stratocaster: This left-handed Mexican Stratocaster guitar was played by Cobain throughout Nirvana's In Utero tour. Unfortunately, on December 30, 1993, Cobain smashed the guitar onstage, then drilled a hole in the bridge pickup. According to the auction listing, the guitar comes with a pick Cobain used on the tour, along with the drill he used to make the hole in the pickup. And, the listing points out, the guitar could be repaired to working condition. Bidding starts at $50,000.
Guest book page signed by The Doors: All four original members of The Doors signed this guest book page. We're not sure where the guest book is from, but this page also includes signatures of Bee Gees Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb on the reverse side. Bidding starts at $4,500.
Original 1956 contract signed by Elvis Presley and Col. Tom Parker: This contract with the William Morris Agency allots 25 percent of monies owed by the agency to Parker, and 75 percent to Presley. Signed by both in blue ballpoint pen. Bidding starts at $3,000.
Rolling Stones signed original promo card. There's no date for this autographed card, but it includes the signature of Brian Jones, who left the band in 1969 and died less than a month later. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts also signed the card. Bidding starts at $1,000.
The Gotta Have It! Rock and Roll Auction starts today at www.gottahaverockandroll.com and continues through Friday, July 22.
