Noel Gallagher’s electric guitar has sold for over £130,000 at an auction.
The guitar was used by Noel Gallagher in the lead up to Oasis’ debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’ in 1994.
This Epiphone Les Paul standard electric guitar had a sales estimate of £60,000 and £80,000, and went under a hammer at Sotheby’s inaugural popular culture sale.
The guitar was eventually sold for £132,000.
The auction also saw two further guitars used by Noel Gallagher go under the hammer, including an Epiphone EA-250 electric guitar for £48,000, having been originally estimated to sell for between £20,000 and £30,000.
Elsewhere, a 1980 Gibson Flying V Guitar which was also used by Gallagher and previously owned by The Smith’s Johnny Marr, also sold for £36,000.
It was used by Gallagher in the recording of Oasis’ track ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’ in 1994.
“a fitting tribute” to Noel, Liam and Oasis
Speaking about the sale of these guitars, Katherine Schofield who is Head of popular culture at Sotheby’s in London had this to say.
“It has been brilliant to offer these important Oasis guitars from the beginning of the Brit Pop era in our inaugural Pop Culture sale at Sotheby’s”, she said. “It’s a fitting tribute to celebrate, not only the 30th Anniversary of Definitely Maybe, but also the recent announcement of the long-awaited Oasis reunion”.
Schofield continued: “It was thrilling to see such strong and competitive bidding for these culturally significant guitars, previously used by Noel Gallagher”.
“Together with the sale of a Steinway Piano from Abbey Road Studios and items from Marianne Faithfull’s collection, the auction engaged new and existing clients and we have welcomed many enthusiasts, buyers and collectors to view our curated exhibition in advance of the auction”.
This auction also saw a Steinway grand piano which was used at Abbey Road Studios, sold for £192,000.
The guitar was housed at the studios between 1973 and 2016, and used by some household names including, Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Radiohead, Amy Winehouse, Foo Fighters, Lady Gage, Tony Bennett, and Florence and the Machine.
The auction also featured several Freddie Mercury items such as a Jean-Paul Gaultier studded black leather jacket. This jacket was worn by Mercury at The Dominion Theatre in London in 1988. It sold for £72,000.
Photographs which were taken around 1980, and signed by Queen, also fetched for £22,800.
A rare blue vinyl pressing of the 1978 track Bohemian Rhapsody and B-side I’m In Love With My Car also sold for £18,000.
Earlier this week, Noel Gallagher joined forces with Manchester City, sharing a new kit inspired by the band’s album ‘Definitely Maybe’, calling it ‘Definitely City’.
More on this from Nova here.
