The sale of U2 memorabilia and other rock 'n' roll treasures, including a guitar owned by Jimi Hendrix, helped to raise millions for musicians who lost instruments during Hurricane Katrina.
The Icons of Music auction on Saturday raised approximately $2.7 million with the sale of such items as The Edge's prized Gibson Les Paul guitar, Bono's sunglasses and a guitar formerly owned by rock legend Jimi Hendrix, which sold for nearly $450,000.
The U2 guitarist's instrument fetched nearly $270,000. The guitar has been played on every tour the band has made since 1985. "I have to say that it is a strange feeling to see some of your stuff up here," the guitarist told Reuters news agency.
U2's The Edge presents Hamish Dodds of Hard Rock International, with his Gibson guitar for the charity auction. The guitar raised $270,000, and his knit cap another $12,000.
(Diane Bondareff/Associated Press)
The auction, which was held at New York's Hard Rock Cafe by Julien's Auctions, was said to contain the largest collection of U2 memorabilia ever sold.
The seven-hour event also saw the sale of an Irish Falcon Gretsch guitar autographed by Bono that raised nearly $202,000, along with bassist Adam Clayton's Fender Active Jazz Deluxe that sold for nearly $25,000.
The Edge also donated his signature knit cap, which sold for around $12,000.
Aside from U2 memorabilia, other auction items included a saxophone signed by former U.
S. president Bill Clinton, which raised more than $60,000, and a pair of John Lennon's round blue-tinted sunglasses, which fetched nearly $34,000.
Proceeds from the sale will go to the charity Music Rising, which was co-founded in 2005 by The Edge and record producer Bob Ezrin and Henry Juszkiewicz, who is the chairman of Gibson guitars, in an effort to rebuild the musically rich atmosphere of New Orleans.
U2 recorded a cover of The Saints are Coming last year with popular punk band Green Day to raise money for the same charity.
Hurricane Katrina was one of the costliest and most destructive hurricanes in the history of the United States, submerging about 80 per cent of New Orleans and causing the deaths of nearly 1,800 people.
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