The Futurama guitar that shaped The Beatles sold for record $1.27 million

by

As a lifelong Beatles fan who has witnessed countless documentaries and read countless books about the Fab Four, I can confidently say that this auction of George Harrison’s Resonet Futurama guitar is yet another testament to their enduring influence on music history. Having grown up with The Beatles’ songs as the soundtrack to my life, I find it truly remarkable how a guitar purchased for just £58 in 1959 has fetched such an astronomical sum six decades later.

A guitar previously belonging to George Harrison from The Beatles’ early days has broken a sales record, fetching $1.27 million at Julien’s Auctions in Nashville. This just goes to show the immense impact and popularity of The Beatles. As David Tedeschi, director of the upcoming Beatles ‘64, stated about the initial Beatlemania: “Their fervor was an intense, physical experience that they couldn’t express with words – that’s why they screamed, you understand?

In 1959, George Harrison bought a Resonet Futurama guitar from Hessy’s Music Store in Liverpool for £58. This guitar played a significant role in shaping The Beatles’ early music sound. Harrison frequently played it, using it in over 324 live performances and during their earliest studio sessions, such as their first commercial recording with Tony Sheridan in 1961. This Czechoslovakian-made guitar was distinctive for its unique design, featuring plastic pickguards and control mechanisms.

Regardless of its humble beginnings, it had a substantial impact on the Beatles’ live concerts and initial recording sessions. For instance, it was used in their composition titled “Cry for a Shadow,” which was jointly written by George Harrison and John Lennon.

The sale in question was included in Julien’s two-day “Worn, Played, and Damaged II” auction, where approximately 800 items belonging to music greats such as Eric Clapton, Prince, and Nirvana were displayed. An instrument that Prince played during his 1986 Parade tour was bid up to $381,000, while a Stratocaster guitar owned by Eric Clapton was sold for $65,000 in this auction.

Why such auctions are still interesting

It’s clear that most of these auctions cater to those with extra funds. Consequently, they might appear as a way for the wealthy to further explore rock and roll history. However, despite this perception, these auctions underscored the Beatles and George Harrison’s impact on music history by generating such high bids, thereby emphasizing their historical significance.

Martin Nolan, holding the position of Julien’s executive director, characterized the guitar as “a crucial guitar in the annals of rock and roll,” and he was indeed accurate in his assessment. Although many of us don’t have the financial means to own such instruments, this auction served as a testament to the guitar’s significant role in molding the distinctive sound of the Beatles, proving that Beatlemania continues to thrive.

Interestingly enough, it just so happens that this significant event took place exactly 65 years after Harrison acquired the instrument. This fact only serves to underscore its historical importance. And let me tell you, who would have thought that such an inexpensive guitar could hold such significance!

Read More

2024-11-28 20:01