EMI Group has rallied its artists and songwriters to donate items for a massive eBay auction to raise funds for the Japanese Red Cross disaster relief efforts to help those affected by last month’s earthquake and tsunami. The multi-national music company will also match all funds raised from the "EMI Family 4 Japan" auction up to a maximum of one million euros ($1,392,182.64 CAD).
While the first phase of the auction featuring more than 200 items ends tomorrow (April 15), a second auction is already underway (ending April 21). Some of the very cool items up for bid include a 1987 Ferrari 412 as featured in Daft Punk’s film Electroma; Katy Perry’s cupcake trampoline from her current California Dreams world tour; a framed guitar signed by Coldplay and a triple platinum sales award from Canada for Viva La Vida; access to private concert rehearsal by Sting; three framed and signed prints of David Gilmour taken in Gdansk; more than 30 albums individually signed by David Bowie; a limited-edition Beatles’ Yellow Submarine Schwinn bicycle; a signed guitar from Norah Jones; the MacBook used by David Guetta to create the demos for One Love; framed handwritten lyrics from Brian Wilson; and a limited-edition Gorillaz lithograph signed by Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn.
Canadian artists have also contributed, including 18 holes of golf with Anne Murray at the prestigious Angus Glen Golf Club course; a one-off diamante head used onstage by Deadmau5; a Gibson Les Paul guitar signed by 13 Canadian artists (including Anne Murray, Feist, k-os, Serena Ryder and Finger Eleven); a Columbia Crest guitar with partial hand-written lyrics and signed by Colin James; Yamaha F310 guitar with partial hand-written lyrics of "Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone" and signed by Glass Tiger; and Yamaha F310 guitar with partial hand-written lyrics of "Rock You" and signed by Helix.
All the items can be viewed and bid on at ebay.com/EMIfamily4Japan.
With the end of the first auction nearing, still up for grabs are Coldplay singer Chris Martin’s jacket from the 2010 Viva La Vida world tour; Jane Birkin’s own Birkin handbag designed by Hermes; a pair of vintage speakers from Abbey Road’s famous Studio 3; five nights at Michael Franti’s yoga retreat in Bali; the Beastie Boys’ Japanese MTV award, and a signed limited edition lithographic Depeche Mode print.
Anne Murray - 18 holes of golf with Anne Murray at the prestigious Angus Glen Golf Club course
Arcade Fire - four VIP tickets to their Hyde Park show on 30th June 2011
B-52s - signed guitar
Beach Boys - signed limited edition Pet Sounds plaque, plus hand-written, autographed & framed lyrics to The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" from Brian Wilson
The Beatles – the last of an extremely limited edition Schwinn bicycle featuring the ‘Yellow Submarine’ artwork
Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) - one of the four original handmade "Zero" shirts worn by Billy Corgan for the release and tour of ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness’, with a letter of authenticity signed by Billy
Billy Idol - limited edition portrait print by Shepard Fairey, signed by Billy Idol and Shepard Fairey
Bret Michaels – signed cowboy hat
Chris Tomlin - handwritten and signed lyrics
Coldplay – a framed guitar signed by all members of the band and a triple platinum sales award from Canada for ‘Viva La Vida’
Colin James - a Columbia Crest guitar with partial hand-written lyrics and signed by Colin James
Corinne Bailey Rae - a personal favourite Prada dress worn by Corinne on her first album tours, along with a note from Corinne
Daft Punk - 1987 Ferrari 412, used in the Daft Punk film Electroma
David Bowie - 35 albums signed by the artist
David Crowder Band - signed Yamaha keytar
David Gilmour - three framed and signed prints of David Gilmour in Gdansk, photographed by Anna Wloch, including David, Polly and Lech Walesa, David on stage at soundcheck and a selection of David's guitars.
David Guetta - his Apple MacBook, used to create the demos for his album ‘One Love’.
Deadmau5 - his famous diamante mau5head stage costume, autographed, plus VIP tickets to Deadmau5’s live concert in London’s Victoria Park later this year
Dean Martin - the opportunity to record a duet with Dino at the world-famous Capitol Studios
Duffy - the bicycle used by Duffy in the making of her 2009 Diet Coke commercial
Duran Duran - a painting by the band signed by Simon Le Bon
A Fine Frenzy - the outfit worn by Alison to the 2011 Grammys, plus the handwritten lyrics to a song of the winning bidder’s choice
Gorillaz - limited edition lithograph, with certificate of authenticity, signed by Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn
Helene Fischer - a dress worn by Helene on stage
Huey Lewis & The News - hand-written, autographed & framed lyrics, plus a personalized gold album award for Greatest Hits, and a VIP concert experience & personal phone call from Huey to the winner
Iron Maiden - exclusive limited edition ‘Ed Force One’ A2 print signed by Iron Maiden, two pieces of original Iron Maiden Japan 2011 event artwork signed by artist Herve Monjeaud, plus signed Nicko McBrain drumsticks as used on The Final Frontier World Tour
Jeff Bridges – signed guitar including a drawing of a symbol that is meaningful to him, “The Seed”
JLS - Aston and Ortise’s bowling shirts from the filming of ‘Stars & Strikes’, plus two signed albums
Jonas Brothers - signed record bag
Juan Luis Guerra - the hat worn on the cover of ‘La Llave De Mi Corazon’, signed by the artist
Katy Perry - a cupcake trampoline featured on stage on her current California Dreams tour
Kylie Minogue - signed ‘Kylie’ large lettering in white wood, from the ‘Fever’ album promotional campaign
Lykke Li - waistcoat worn by Lykke at the Way Out West festival last year
Marisa Monte - signed limited edition CD kit
Megadeth - a guitar signed by Dave Mustaine
Norah Jones - a signed guitar
Pat Benatar - Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo autographed B.C. Rich Eagle 1 electric guitar
Pet Shop Boys – the Rubik’s Cube jacket worn by Chris Lowe on the US leg of the Pandemonium tour in 2009
Philippe Jaroussky - signed and framed gold disc
Priscilla Ahn - a watercolor painting created by Priscilla following the Japanese earthquake, entitled ‘Falling, Tumbling, Raindrop Hearts’
The Prodigy - Signed Roland tr707 drum machine used by Liam Howlett on 'Invaders Must Die', along with a signed 7” limited edition of the single
Professor Green - large signed poster of the album art to ‘Alive Till I’m Dead’
Rosanne Cash - the blouse designed by Catherine Malandrino that Rosanne wore on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ in 2006, autographed copies of her "Black Cadillac" and "The List" albums, autographed copy of her memoir "Composed,” and two tickets to any concert of the winning bidder’s choice with a meet and greet backstage
Scouting For Girls - signed Brits memorabilia
Selena - framed commemorative Selena stamp, signed by the Quintanilla family and Chris Perez
Simply Red - signed and framed setlist from their last ever gig in Japan
Slash - signed Gibson Slash ‘Appetite For Destruction’ Les Paul electric guitar
Sting - attend the private rehearsal for Sting’s forthcoming exclusive fanclub-only show at the Apollo Theater in New York featuring the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as VIP tickets to the show itself on the 28th April
Tinie Tempah - his pink blazer worn in the video for ‘Frisky’
VV Brown - signed megaphone as used on stage
Willie Nelson - signed guitar
Air Jordan 1