Kurt Cobain's guitar from Nirvana's 1991 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' music video was up for auction in Las Vegas, where acolytes of the 62-year-old billionaire were ready spend as much as $3.75 million on the piece at Irsay's direction. He said: 'I am thrilled to preserve and protect another piece of American culture that changed the way we looked at the world.'. Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts of the N.F.L., has spent $100 million buying one-of-a-kind sports, music and pop culture memorabilia. I began this collection to preserve, protect and share historic artifacts with others in hopes of telling stories of our shared past and culture and inspiring people to dream big and strive for great things in life, said Jim Irsay. Over the years, he's assembled a massive collection of historic artifacts, memorabilia, and instruments from music history, including guitars played by Prince, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and more. 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. The collection didnt begin as a means to inherit valuable objects, but rather to share music with others. [1] During our conversation, its apparent that Jim finds a sense of spirituality in the transcendent power of music. 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 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. Coming to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center in March, NFL owner Jim Irsay's memorabilia collection will surely blow you away. 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. Jim will literally rock in concert with legends John Fogerty, Buddy Guy, and Ann Wilson, while showcasing over 75 pieces of history that will likely be housed in his own museum some day. For the last quarter of a century, the billionaire owner and CEO of the NFLs Indianapolis Colts has spent big to obtain some of the most iconic instruments in rock history. 1,031 talking about this. The collection also includes handwritten lyrics, signed photos, and other memorabilia from the artists. You cant keep track, its impossible. 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." He wrote Sgt. For the small audience in attendance, its a thrill to hear such a storied guitar played at close quarters in a different musical context. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Colts owner Jim Irsay poses during a collection event in 2022. 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. I have this obligation. WATCHING THIS COLLECTION COME TOGETHER OVER25 YEARS HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL THING. 'Allen said: ''What do you mean? . "He wants. 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. 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. This 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst electric guitar sold for $300,000. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has spent 25 years assembling the worlds leading collection of rock n roll, American history and pop culture artefacts. 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. 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. 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.. 'People probably thought, ''That guy's crazy, we're not bidding.'' I try to go at the very best of the best.. He typically sets a ceiling on how much he wants to spend and leaves the actual in-person bidding to an intermediary. Given his great love for wordsmiths such as Dylan and Kerouac, Irsays answer is perhaps unsurprising. He typically sets a ceiling on how much he wants to spend and leaves the actual in-person bidding to an intermediary. Recent additions include the SG Special used by Pete Townshend during The Whos exhilarating performance on The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circusand the Steinway piano used on tour by Elton John from 1974-1993. 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. It just changed the world. In high school it was always, Are you a Lennon or McCartney man? I mean, I love Paul, but theres just no question. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay already has an impressive collection of music memorabilia, and it just got stronger this weekend. For example, Gilmours Black Strat, heavily modified with very few original parts other than the body, still feels imprinted with the Pink Floyd stars identity. $567,000. I want no money, Irsay told Reuters. Mostly, though, Irsay is drawn to collecting because hebelieves these instruments are more than just inanimate keepsakes. Artifacts and signed documents from numerous U.S. Presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and others. The collection didnt begin as a means to inherit valuable objects, but rather to share music with others. In 2022, according to the release, Guitar Magazine highlighted Irsay's collection of guitars as "The Greatest Guitars on Earth." Colts' Jim Irsay hosting free event in downtown Las Vegas . READARTICLE, "To call Irsays collection breathtaking would not do it justice. '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 described caressing Cobain's 53-year-old Fender, saying: 'With your fingertips, you try to sense its energy.'. Speaking between drags of his cigarette from a midtown-Manhattan hotel room, Irsay was preparing to exhibit his extensive collection of rare music memorabilia in New York on Friday. Irsay established himself long ago as a connoisseur of cultural and rock & roll artifacts. But I can be a curator. 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. (From left to right) Grammy-nominated Kenny Wayne Shepherd on blues guitar, John Mellencamp guitarist Mike Wanchic, Tom Bukovac, and REM bassist Mike Mills, Irsay outbid late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for Ringo Starr's drum kit, which will be in display in New York on Friday. The scroll is on loan from Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. Once Colts owner Jim Irsay's father, Robert, passed away in 1997, he began a unique collection that is now worth millions. 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. 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. Muhammad Alis 1965 first walkout robe that bore his new name, and his boxing shoes from the 1975 Thrilla in Manilla vs. Joe Frazier. 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. Though Irsay talked during his performance about the darkness that grips people in the throes of anguish or addiction, Tuesday night in Chicago was a festive occasion in homage to excellence. Jerry Garcias Tiger? He owns instruments from all four members, Irsay's interests extend to American history as well, which is why he's included items like Abraham Lincoln's pocket knife, Pictured next to the exhibit of the original scroll that Jack Kerouac wrote On The Road on are Jim Sampas, left, the Literary Executor, Jack Kerouac Estate, and a nephew of Kerouacs and Jim Canary, (right) the conservator at the Lilly Library at Indiana University, at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum at The Lowell National Historic Park in Lowell MA on March 17, 2022. Excited Indianapolis Colts fans were treated to a star-studded concert celebrating the Jim Irsay Collection and the kickoff of Colts season. "The guitar was acquired by The Jim Irsay Collection in Indianapolis in a bidding war among collectors and bidders all across the globe . 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. I look at it (as if) I own nothing because you never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul, Irsay said. 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'''. In 2014, Irsay was suspended by the NFL for six games and fined $500,000 for driving while intoxicated. If the (other bidder) would have gone to $4 million, I would have been out because I was asleep, Irsay told The Daily Mail. 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. The strategy relies more on Irsay's own personal mysticism than any data-driven analysis. 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. But, in terms of owning historic instruments with rock n roll credentials and sheer spending power, nobody can top Jim Irsay." The guitar, case and strap sold for seven times its $642,0000 estimate with Julien's Auctions in California. Special guests will include Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills and Nash, and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. 8 Reasons You Should Consider Taking Back-To-Back Cruises, 10 Fascinating Spots In New York City For History Lovers, 11 Best Things To Do In Enchanting San Miguel De Allende, This Expedition Cruise Ship To Sail Where No Cruise Ship Has Gone Before, Top 10 Most Visited U.S. National Park Sites In 2022 The 2 Unique Spots That Topped The List, Yosemite National Park Closed Indefinitely What Visitors Need To Know, Luxury Resorts And Slime The Spring Getaway Deal Perfect For The Entire Family, For details on Quillt's privacy and cookie policies, please visit our, Swanky New Train Station Coming To Orlandos Airport How It Will Help You Explore Florida, Worlds Largest Vow Renewal Happens In Vegas This March How You Can Join, Beautiful Ice Hotel Now Open In Canada Why You May Recognize It. I was a Lennon man.. who just might ask Mr. Irsay for a test drive of Hunter S. Thompson's vintage 1973 Red Shark convertible, can be reached at 317-370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com. To Irsay, his collection is more than just a hobby. And for most of the time since, the nearly million-dollar axe one of. The collection had a heavy focus on music history, including instruments such as Ringo Starrs drum set from the Beatles famous appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, John Coltranes saxophone and a piano from Elton John. We've received your submission. $957,500. 'I know what the future can bring. 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). 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. Its not really as much as the intellect of the mind, he told The Daily Mail. 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. Irsays lineup of famous guitars has been called the greatest on earth. Its hard to argue with this assessment. In addition to the artifacts, The Jim Irsay Bandled by Irsay on vocalswill entertain guests. The guitar was estimated to sell for $1 million . Our emotional and spiritual lives are so tied to the arts, so tied to music. READ ARTICLE, "The list of items [in The Jim Irsay Collection], spanning centuries, is extraordinary. 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. The Stratocaster that Bob Dylan played at Newport Folk Festival in 1965? The Gibson SG that George Harrison used on Revolver? Then, he explained, visions help him navigate through his life decisions, and it came to him that this should be a traveling museum. 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. He takes it on the road and shows it off for free. 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. Shepherd may prefer heavier strings and an action with a little more fight but it doesnt stop him from sounding pretty spectacular with David Gilmours longtime number one plugged into a vintage 5E3 Deluxe. We touch down in Indiana to pay him a visit. In spite of that vow, he almost let Kurt Cobains guitar slip through his fingers. The guitar promptly ignited a furious bidding war, which Irsays representative won by offering the max $3.75 million. And regardless of your area of interest, there will be something there that will blow your mind." You outbid me. 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. Irsay hopes that life experiences, ranging from outreach or a Jim Irsay Collection concert, can ultimately benefit those who are in need. 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." 'These things will come alive some day,' Irsay said. PROHIBITED ITEMS: Chairs, Tables, Outside Food/Drinks, Large Backpacks 14x 14, Illegal Substances, Weapons, & Drones, 200 S 3rd St, Las Vegas, NV 89101 At one point in an interview with The Post last week, Irsay referred to the collections value as being $100 million. When I first got the [On The Road] scroll, Rolling Stonesaid that I would destroy it! Irsay says, laughing. George Washington to Bob Dylan. Interestingly, experts only expected the guitar to go for around $600,000. Of course we did. 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. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been steadily assembling one of the most interesting privately owned collections of artifacts in the U.S. 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. His travels have taken him to Puerto Vallarta, Costa Rica, Spain, and the Dominican Republic, but he's happiest at home with his wife, two daughters, and dog. As of January 25, Kicking the Stigma has raised over $4.5 million. As you get older, you get more of a position of service. The band closed with an impressive rendition of Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones. That changed music, that brought 'Rubber Soul' with the Beatles. It includes instruments used by famous musicians. Somewhat paradoxically, the 63-year-old Irsay also gives off the impression of being one of the most normal people in the pro sports ownership ranks in the sense that hell mingle with the average fan, and wants to be liked. Theres so many things. Owner of the NFL Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay's passion for rock music, American history and pop culture has led him to assemble a. The event will be open to the public, and while tickets are free, advance registration will be required to attend. Irsay joined Cheddar News to talk about why he's bringing artifacts from the Beatles to Jerry Garcia to light now." 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. The Jim Irsay Collection: $100 Million Traveling Museum Worth the (Free) Price of Admission. Hes still adding to the collection and keeping it topical. A Jackie Robinson game-used bat from 1953. THE JIM IRSAY Collection is just as quirky as the man who created it, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay. The Jim Irsay Collection features historical documents, sports collectibles, musical instruments, pop culture memorabilia, and more. The interesting thing about guitars is because of the heritage of these and the providence, theyre special, Irsay told Duthiers. 'Trust me, you and I won't be here, but 400 years from now, they'll be able to have a hologram connected to this, and it will tell all the stories of the places [the instrument] was. I am only a steward of this collection, so its my job to share it with as many people as I can. Most of these artefacts currently reside either at Irsays home or in his office at the NFL teams headquarters and practice facility. Its so important to me that in the museum, people can play things and touch them. 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. And Irsay has done that in spades. If music isnt your thing, theres plenty of American history in the collection. Yet the 1964 Stratocaster Dylan played that day was soon left behind on a private aeroplane and he never looked back. Before sports became his life's work, Jim Irsay was a musician. 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. Once again, this is a free event and open to the public, but tickets are required. I want to make that very fucking clear. 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. About $15,000 of the balls sale price went to Ukrainian relief organizations. 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. 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 2014, he was arrested for DWI and possession of prescription medications. Back stage, Pete Seeger was trying to cut the wires. The storied collection of Jim Irsay, Owner/CEO of the Indianapolis Colts. Jim Irsay . Copyright 2023 Indianapolis Monthly, All Rights Reserved. '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. The band had more than a dozen members, including instrumentalists and background vocalists. 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. 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. In an interview with Vlad Duthiers of CBS Mornings, Irsay touted self-owned guitars, artifacts and historic memorabilia belonging to The Jim Irsay Collection, estimated to be worth over $100 million.