Appraisals of your Rolling Stones memorabilia. How does this work?

I guess it’s about time I finally write up how to get your memorabilia appraised. I’m getting a dozen or so posts a week, sometimes more on “How much is this worth?” or “Where can I get this appraised?”

I’m happy to help out…. for a small fee.

The knowledge I’ve gained over the years  from researching memorabilia, the countless hours online, the gathering of thousands of images and filing them away, the money spent on books and magazines, takes lots of time.

And lots of money.

I’m happy to share this knowledge, but unfortunately can’t do it for free.

If you are interested in having me either appraise your item or sell it, post a comment on my blog. I get an alert to approve this comment.

Usually your email is given to me.

I will contact you directly and ask for details and photos and the information you are looking for.

I have a Paypal account and based on the information you need, will give you a price.

I can also authenticate autographs and provide a letter.

Happy to help.

Thanks,

Garyrocks

The greatest Rolling Stones album deserves the most creative record store display.

I’m happy to say I’ve once again acquired my favorite Rolling Stones record store display.
Standing close to 48″ tall with near naked Mick in black an blue covering himself with nothing more than Andy Warhol’s now infamous record design.

Incredibly striking for the time, remember this was 1971, as out there as you get.
The Stones never afraid to push the boundaries of what might be considered as “bad taste.”
But, that’s why we love ‘em.

I also learned or realized something that perhaps I should have known already.
This Mick figure often turns up without the back part of the display.
It’s often sold as just the figure described as a variation of the display.

Wrong.

It’s more than likely the figure with the tabs cut off.

This Mick is die cut and stands away from the back of the display with various tabs that insert into slots on the back of the display, giving him a 3-D look.

The one I previously owned had the Mick stuck to the back of the display.
I could see the slots the tabs were supposed to fit in, but they weren’t there.

I can now thankfully cross this off the want list.
Thanks Ken.

Greetings From Asbury Park. Actually Boston. Some rare Bruce Springsteen memorabilia.

I love “The Boss.”
Just recently saw his show in Boston, 4th stop I believe on The Wrecking Ball Tour.
Backstage passes and all.
The show, 2 1/2 hours long.
The experience was amazing.

The first time I saw Bruce was back in 1975, the “Born To Run” tour.
He played the old Music Hall in Boston.
Another 3 plus hour show.
After that, I was hooked.
Seen dozens and dozens of shows since then.
This was one of the finest.
Bruce has still got it.

I began collecting Bruce memorabilia when I began collecting Stones stuff.
There’s not a ton of stuff out there, I’m excluding records and t-shirts.
But there are a handful of super rare promo items worth checking out.

Here’s a few from my collection.

This is one of my more favorite pieces.
Called or referred to as the “Clouds” poster.
The headline is the now infamous quote by Jon Landau who eventually became Bruce’s manager.

“I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen.”
Poster is circa 1974.

This record store display probably dates earlier, maybe 1972-73 right after he signed his record deal with Columbia.

The photo feels very “Asbury Park,” “E Street Shuffle,” like.
So I’m guessing this was pretty damn early, maybe even the very first promotional display.

This is one of my all time favorite.
The rare double-sided hanging mobile from 1975 promoting the release of Bruce’s landmark album
“Born to Run.”
A die-cut Bruce stands tall with his trusty Fender, black Converse sneakers hanging off the end.

This is a large record store standee or counter card for the release of
“Darkness on the Edge of Town.”

Bruce’s promo team at Columbia Records also produced some pretty cool jackets and shirts.

I love the promo baseball shirt for “Glory Days” off the “Born in the USA” album.

Is there anyone alive out there selling rare Bruce stuff??????

I’m interested.

Do I collect anything other than Rolling Stones memorabilia? Welcome To My Jungle.

I’ve been fortunate in my years in advertising to have met some pretty cool people.

Like say, Slash for instance.
I’ve always been a HUGE Guns N’ Roses and Slash fan.
Their critically acclaimed debut album “Appetite for Destruction” is still one of my top five favorite rock albums.
Most if not all critics agree it set the bar for heavy metal rock in the 80′s.

I just finished up a TV campaign for the L.A. Zoo promoting a new exhibit called The Lair in which Slash and the venerable wise cracking octogenarian, Betty White starred.
We shot 5 different TV spots over the course of a day at the zoo.
They were both a joy to work with.

And Slash is the real deal.
The rock icon you would expect him to be.
But down to earth and soft spoken.
A true gentleman.

I was completely beside myself.

I happened to have a few rare GNR items in my collection, one I brought along to the TV shoot to have Slash sign for me.
An original ticket and flyer, circa 80′s, from one of their gigs at the famed Troubadour in West Hollywood.
The band’s stomping ground and where they played several of their most memorable performances.

Here are a few pictures from the shoot, as well as some other rare promo items.

The “Welcome to the Jungle” welcome floor mat.
Only a 1000 were made and distributed to record executive heavies to promote the album and single.
It would have been tough to get this signed.

Next is a rare record store display for “The Spaghetti Incident,” Slash’s last album with the band. It’s about the size of a paint can.

Okay…you’ve seen what I have, here’s some stuff I want.

Figured it might be time after roughly three years to maybe post some pictures and descriptions of some things I’m looking to add to my collection.
Most of what I’m looking for can be best described as what I don’t know about. It’s always more fun and exciting to stumble upon something you’ve never seen or heard of before.
But, there are some items I would love to add to my collection.
If you have any of these items or know where they are, I’m always interested in talking.

Rock and Roll Photography. Visual storytelling at it’s best.

Copyright Rob Shanahan.

Copyright Rob Shanahan.

I’m going to be giving a talk at the Griffin Museum of Photography in Boston, February 16th in conjunction with their current exhibit on Rock and Roll photography.

Some of the featured photographers are: Mike Mitchell, Herb Greene, Bob Bonis, Ron Pownall, Astrid Kirschherr, Melissa Mahoney and Brian Babineau to name a few.

Many of these photographers have had a enormous impact on me.
Their enduring and powerful images have inspired me to make photography a major part of my collection.
It prompted me to write a post on Rock and Roll photography and how important it is as an art form.

Photography has brought new meaning and importance to items I have purchased over the years. Whether serving as photographic reference, or adding depth and history to the items I have.

The story and photo behind the piece I have often found is more interesting and meaningful to me than the piece itself.

They are everywhere we want to be.

Backstage and onstage.
In limos.
In the studio.
Standing in front of the stage.
Sitting in dressing rooms.
Riding the elevators.
Grabbing a bite in a restaurant…..catching moments no one would see, if not for them.

Thank you all.

The prints shown here are those of Rob Shanahan.
These two beauties are in my personal collection.

You can see more of Rob’s exceptional work on his website.

robshanahan.com

….And he’s just published a book.
I had the pleasure of finally meeting Rob in Anaheim at the NAMM show this past January just a few weeks ago where he was signing and promoting his book.

Here’s a bit more info on this super talent.

Rob is recognized as one of music’s most published photographers. He’s also Ringo Starr’s personal photographer. “Volume 1” is his first book of photographs and it features photos of such iconic musicians as Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Walsh, Christina Aguilera, Sheila E, Tommy Lee, Dave Navarro, and many more. It includes intimate shots of the musicians not only behind the scenes, but also in the studio, onstage and backstage as well. Along with the photos is a foreword by Ringo Starr, artist quotes, and personal anecdotes shared by Shanahan.

Rob has been getting a lot of good press about his book. Check out his interview on Good Day LA and slideshow at Spin Magazine.

My room is not only filled with memorabilia, it’s filled with books on Rock and Roll Photography.

Copyright Ken Regan. Keith Richards, San Antonio, 1975. (I own the guitar strap.)


Copyright Michael Putland. The Rolling Stones 1978. (I own the shirt Keith is wearing.)

Copyright Paul Natkin. Keith Richards portrait. (I own the attitude.)

Here’s a few other wonderful prints I own.
All I need is the room to hang them.
If I stop buying prints, I could maybe build an addition.

Enjoy.

December 3, 1965, the day Keith Richards gets buzzed. Or maybe zapped is a better word.

From Keith’s book “Life.”
“My most spectacular one was in Sacramento…..He has a good laugh at the memory of finding himself in a hospital and hearing a doctor say, “Well, they either wake up or they don’t.”

Keith Richards near electrocution at the Memorial Auditorium 1965. It was the second time the Stones came to Sacramento, coming off an appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. About 4 songs into their set, Keith stepped up to the microphone and got a jolt of electricity that put him on his butt. Some who were in the audience recall seeing a blue flash, or sparks and wondered if he was dead. Concert promoter Jeff Hughson heard a loud crack and thought it was a gun! “Oh no, someone shot Keith”!..My question was did the show go on, I have read in some places it did. Well it didn’t. Mick Martin who was at the backstage door, saw Keith being carried out and he looked kind of “blue”. The concert it turns out…did end at this point. The Stones didn’t carry on, they just left. Without Keith, come on, it just isn’t the Stones. Anyway, that’s the way it went down 46 years ago.

http://www.eagle969.com/What-Really-Happened-to-Keith/11278801?pid=186190&archive=1

This is an original flyer from the show in Sacramento I recently purchased.

All photos from concert are copyright 2005, Michael C. Peart

In honor of Keith Richards’ 68th birthday, some of my favorite Keith items.

Handwritten letter to a fan, circa 1965.

Keith's pirate worn in the "Respectable" video in May of 1978.

Keith's leather jacket worn in the late 70's.

Keith's Bobby Lee guitar strap used during the Tour of the Americas, 1975.

Main Offender Tour bag.

Signed rubber skull from backstage. "Who is the guy?"

A rare Rolling Stones signed tour program, Winnipeg, Canada 7/14/66….and a friendship to boot.

I was contacted several weeks ago by someone researching early signed items.
He found my blog about early signed Stones items, posted a question hoping to get some advice.
We spoke over the next several weeks and talked about our personal passions and lives as much as the item pictured.
So not only was I able to acquire this wonderful signed program, but more importantly made a friend as well.
I’m proud to own this and the memories of his Dad that came with it.
Thanks Todd, it has found a great home.

Here’s the email he sent me regarding the piece pictured.

“My father, Jim Paulson, was a prominent radio/TV broadcaster in Canada up until his passing in ’07. Right from his teens in the ’50′s he was a serious autograph collector starting with various people who were on the covers of the current TIME magazines. In ’66 he was working for Winnipeg radio station CKRC as one of their top DJ’s and that’s how this collection of Rolling Stones autographs came about. He (as he had told me in the past) was the show’s MC for the station that night, therefore was able to have access to the boys. As well as the Stones, he’d met many people throughout his career and since these are really HIS memories.“

The Rolling Stones’ 1966 American Tour was a concert tour by the band. The tour commenced on June 24 and concluded on July 28, 1966. On this tour, the band supported their album Aftermath. The last gig of the tour in Honolulu, Hawaii was broadcast in the Hawaiian radio K-POI.

An ad from the show.

Mick Jagger’s stage worn pants from 1982 European Tour bring strong prices in Julien’s auction.

These well worn, well sweated, well jumped around in on stage pants, during The Rolling Stones European Tour in 1982 just brought over $6000.00 including buyer’s premium in the recent Julien’s auction.

The description was as follows:

A pair of Mick Jagger’s stage worn red, yellow and blue pants designed by Anthony Price. The pants were worn during the Rolling Stones 1982 European Tour. The current owner obtained the pants while backstage at one of the concerts. A drink was spilled on the clothing items and the articles of clothing were given to him. When security cleared the area the the clothing was still in his arms. No size present.

A second pair brought even more money hovering around the $7000.00 range, also including a hefty buyer’s premium of 25%.

The market for stage worn clothing is still incredibly strong even in these tough times.
Collectors view these one-of-a-kind items some of the rarest and most valuable to obtain and buy.
I was tempted to buy one of the pairs, but with two kids in college, and my wife standing behind me watching the auction live online, I figured…..maybe better not.