Speaking of guitar heroes . . . . . 

On this day in music history: June 24, 1999 - Musician Eric Clapton auctions off 100 of his guitars, amplifiers and other accessories. Clapton puts the guitars on sale through Christie’s Auction House of New York to raise funds for his Crossroads Center Foundation and for the drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, W.I.. Among the instruments on the auction block are numerous vintage Fender, Gibson and Martin guitars. The centerpiece of the collection is the two tone sunburst 1956 Fender Stratocaster nicknamed “Brownie”. This iconic guitar being one of Clapton’s personal favorites was most famously used by him on the Derek & The Dominoes album “Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs” in 1970, and pictured on the back cover of the LP. Clapton originally purchased the guitar for $400 at the Sound City music store in London in May of 1967, while on tour with Cream. The Strat is also pictured with Clapton on the cover of his first solo album. The pre-sale estimate for the guitar is for between $80-100,000. The final auction price far exceeds that, when it sells for a then record price of $497,500. The winning bid is placed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. “Brownie” is now on permanent display at the Experience Music Project museum in Seattle, WA.

with thanks to the most excellent Behind The Grooves by Jeff Harris