- The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has stated that an auction of his instrument collection at Christie's in London exceeded all expectations after fetching £3,649,280, which was more than triple its initial valuation.
- The five-hour auction featured 111 lots comprising guitars, amplifiers, harmonicas, and memorabilia, attracting bidders from 34 nations.
- Marr's 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, played on The Smiths' debut album and featured on the cover art of Oasis's debut single Supersonic, was the top seller at £358,400.
- Other notable items included a 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 that sold for £204,800, and a Fender Signature Jaguar used on the James Bond film soundtrack No Time To Die, which fetched £46,080.
- Full hammer prices for 31 of the lots will directly benefit charity, with 100 per cent of those funds being donated to The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society.
IN FULL
