From Beatles to Zeppelin - Rare Rock Autograph Auction

Rare rock memorabilia to be auctioned April 1 to benefit pediatric cancer center in Phoenix.

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) March 14, 2006 -- On April 1, Rock Star Gallery, an Arizona-based music memorabilia museum, will conduct an auction of more than 200 lots of rare rock and pop music memorabilia to benefit the Children’s Cancer Center at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Titled "From Beatles to Zeppelin," the auction will be held at the gallery, with auctioneer Mike Brandly officiating and live Internet bidding available through CBTechLive.com.

Highlights in the sale include seven LPs autographed by the Beatles. All American pressings, the albums are: Something New, Rubber Soul, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Yesterday and Today (a monaural, third-state “trunk” cover), Revolver, Abbey Road and A Hard Day’s Night. All autographed items in the auction come with a certificate of authenticity from the ROCK STAR gallery.

“I got (the albums) from a couple of collectors years and years ago,” said Dunn. “Many of the people I work with are in the industry, and when the Beatles were doing the Magical Mystery Tour, they were taking a break and signed menus and photographs, so they were accessible at that time. All signatures have been examined by experts and come with a guarantee from the gallery.

Other autographed albums of interest include the rare Lynyrd Skynyrd Street Survivors “flame cover” album, signed by the band members before their 1977 plane crash; three framed autographed albums from Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson; and an autographed collage of album covers from the Led Zeppelin release In Through the Out Door, signed by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham. All albums in the auction are matted and custom-framed.

Much of the collection was amassed by Rock Star Gallery's owner, Michael Dunn, who is selling three decades of acquisitions to raise funds for the hospital that helped save his young son from a rare form of soft tissue cancer. “A few years ago, our son was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma,” Dunn explained. “He was only five years old. It came on so suddenly and before I knew it, we were in the hospital, with chemotherapy and radiation treatment for over a year. The oncology team at Phoenix Children’s Hospital was remarkable. Due to their hard work, knowledge, care and prayer, our son’s cancer went into remission.”

The auction also features several artist-used guitars, including many signed by their previous hit-making owners such as U2, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones and Springsteen. Another standout is a black Ibanez guitar signed by members of the band Van Halen.

Also available in the auction are several artworks, including a painting of the Rolling Stones by band member Ronnie Wood; and several art compositions by Ringo Starr. Also available for bid is a series of high-quality photographic prints from Robert M. Knight, one of the most prolific photographers in rock music history. The photographs include classic shots of such artists as Jeff Beck, Dave Matthews, John Mayer and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons. The winning bidder on each photograph will receive an extra bonus. “The day before our auction Fender Guitars is having a big party in Tempe (Ariz.) featuring Fender guitar legends,” said Dunn. “On the day of our auction, Robert Knight will bring these artists into our gallery, and the high bidder on each photograph will get his photograph signed and personalized by the artist in the picture.”

The "From Beatles to Zeppelin" auction items will be on public display at Rock Star Gallery, 16451 N. Scottsdale Rd., Suite 103, Scottsdale, Ariz., until April 1. The auction will be conducted live Saturday, April 1, commencing at 11 a.m. Mountain Time (10 a.m. Pacific Time, 1 p.m. Eastern Time), with live online bidding through CBTechLive.com and eBayLive Auctions. For more information on the “From Beatles to Zeppelin” auction, visit www.cbtechlive.com.
Rock Star Gallery Tel. (480) 275-4501.

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