Three classic guitars designed and played by Eddie Van Halen sold for $422,000 at a Julien’s Auction earlier this week. The sale, which included items from stars including Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, Lady Gaga, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson and Elvis, was highlighted by a trio of the late guitar hero’s customized instruments, including one of his Kramer “Frankenstrat” models with the signature white and black stripes on a red body, which went for $231,250.
His 2004 EVH Charvel Art Series ax went for $140,800 and the guitar and costume that EVH used in the “Hot For Teacher” video brought in $50,000. The items went under the hammer as part of Tuesday and Wednesday’s “Icons & Idols Trilogy: Rock ‘N’ Roll” event, which went online just over a month after Van Halen died (on Oct. 6) at age 65 following a long battle with cancer.
“As we were preparing for our annual ‘Icons & Idols: Rock and Roll’ auction lineup, we were stunned to hear the sad news of Eddie Van Halen’s passing,” Darren Julien, president and CEO of Julien’s Auctions said in a statement before the sale. “We are honored to include at this event two iconic guitars from his brilliant and blazing career as one of rock’s greatest and most gifted guitar heroes. His instruments join their rightful place among other rock royalty items from Kurt Cobain, Michael Jackson, Aerosmith and many others.”
The auction also featured a black Fender Stratocaster played and smashed by Cobain during Nirvana’s 1994 In Utero tour at a show at the Palais Omnisport de Rennes in Rennes, France, on Feb. 16, 1994 (which went for $128,000); Michael Jackson’s white nylon right-hand glove with a silver-tone metal hook, covered in hand-sewn Swarovski crystals and worn by the late King of Pop during The Jacksons’ 1984 Victory tour (final bid: $76,800); Lady Gaga’s black Kaimin PVC jacket worn in the video and photoshoot for her makeup brand, Haus Laboratories (final bid: $6,400);
