Rock 'n Pop Music Memorabilia Auction Highlights

By Patrick Prince - Editor of Goldmine Magazine

In April, Backstage Auctions presents its annual Rock & Pop Auction packed with many irresistible items for collectors. Make sure you mark your calendar for April 23 to May 1, 2016.

Backstage Auctions owner Jacques van Gool was on hand to explain to Goldmine the significance of this upcoming music auction.

GOLDMINE: Tell us about the highlights of the Rock & Pop auction.

JACQUES VAN GOOL: The auction as a whole is one big, glorious fest of collectibles! We are still processing collections but in the end I anticipate that we will have in the vicinity of 1,000 auction lots. As an auctioneer it’s always hard to point at your favorite child. There are obvious highlights, such as the Beatles’ album-used Vox organ or Johnny Cash’s album-used recorder. At the same time, one might find Paul Stanley’s stage-worn boots or an interview cassette with Glenn Frey the highlight of the auction. For me, I just look at the event in its entirety, and what I see is a spectacular celebration of Rock & Pop memorabilia.

GM: Many of our readers will be interested right away in The Beatles collection in this auction. Please detail it for us.

JVG: Indeed, it is a remarkable collection, coming from the estate of a former Florida-based DJ. Safe to say that this individual had a legitimate man-crush on The Beatles, as the collection alone consists of nearly 1,000 individual pieces, ranging from massive amounts of books, magazines, CDs, DVDs and current-day merchandise all the way to an impressive collection of 1960s memorabilia, vinyl and reels. Among the eye-poppers are a Beatles turntable, rare Vee-Jay records, a Butcher cover and a fantastic collection of Bag One artwork, including two original portfolios, five John Lennon signed lithographs, 1970 exhibition programs and many other official prints. 

John Lennon Bag One

GM: You mentioned that a Johnny Cash recorder.

JVG: That’s a good one, too! In the late 1960s, Johnny Cash bought an Ampex MM-1000 recorder for the recording of several of his albums. In the mid-1970s, Johnny then sold the recorder to the SmithLee Recording Studio in St. Louis, who subsequently sold it to a Kansas-based recording studio owner. It’s been in Kansas ever since. Not only does this 2-inch recorder (the “Rolls-Royce” of its time) come with the original paperwork from Johnny Cash, but the Kansas studio owner wrote Johnny and received a letter back confirming that, indeed, this was the recorder he used for a number of his own albums. Not only are working 2-inch recorders hard to find for those who want or need one, but to potentially own one with this level of music history is an exceptional opportunity. Heads-up though; this is a 700-pound behemoth, so proper space and reinforced floorboards are required.

Rare Pressing of David Bowie's "Heroes" Album 

GM: You also have Bowie memorabilia up for auction. Does a rock star’s death make memorabilia more sought after? Is that merely a mainstream assumption? Or does it depend?

JVG: Good question and I think it’s a little bit of everything you mentioned. Sure, there’s always the immediate wave of demand and with Bowie that was no exception. But in general, it’s just a small spike on the longevity chart of an artist’s overall degree of collectability. Bowie was already collectible and will remain collectible long after his death. The prices are a little higher now than usual and with time, let’s say a year or so from now, it’ll swing back to where it was. And yes, we do have some cool Bowie collectibles. The one piece that deserves upfront mention is that we have literally the only one existing multi-color vinyl pressing of “Heroes”, coming directly from the L.A.-based pressing plant that was commissioned by RCA Records at the time. 

KISS Paul Stanley Used Boots

GM: Is there a favorite lot that you are personally excited about?

JVG: Oh man, where do I begin? Maybe I stay close to home. It’s no secret that KISS was the band that made me a collector back in 1975, so I’ve always been partial to KISS collectibles. We’ve got some great stuff this time around, including record awards, vintage 1970s shirts, passes and cards, autographed items and so on. There’s even the original light board controller used to light up the massive KISS logo on the 1979 Dynasty tour. But of all pieces, it has to be the pair of Paul Stanley tour used boots. There’s just something magical about these crazy platform boots.

GM: Anything else you’d like to add about this upcoming auction? 

JVG: Yes, there are a couple things I would like to add. One is an amazing collection of Bruce Springsteen memorabilia that includes signed items, rare promotional material, vinyl, concert CDs, record awards, jackets, you name it. There is even of rare college magazine from the 1960s that published Bruce’s first poems. Bruce Springsteen collectors will be thrilled and impressed with the depth and width of everything.

Another fantastic collection features original Fillmore East negatives, mostly from the late 1960s. There are all the usual suspects, but I’m partial to the set of “The Wind in the Willows” negatives from 1967, featuring none other than Deborah Harry.

And speaking of 1967, remember the band The One Percent? Probably not, but it eventually morphed into Lynyrd Skynyrd and we will feature the original management contract for this band containing the signatures of the likes of Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington ... and their parents! None of the band members was old enough to enter into a legal contract, hence all the parents’ signatures.

Fleetwood Mac Fully Signed Set List

We have a fantastic collection of original interview cassettes that comes from the private collection of a Japanese journalist who interviewed American and British rock stars for a host of Japanese magazines. These are intimate recordings with the very first lineup of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and an hour-long discussion at the Aspen home of Glenn Frey — great stuff.

I can go on and on. There are hundreds of fantastic concert shirts, tour itineraries, backstage passes and tickets, collectible vinyl, Alice Cooper-used stage and album props, more autographed items than one could hang on a wall and an equal number of impressive record awards. There are posters, promotional jackets, and just about everything else. 

This is hands down one of the most comprehensive Rock & Pop auctions we have ever done and we couldn’t be more proud. Come to our site when the auction preview goes live and feast your eyes on all this amazing music memorabilia and history.

A PREVIEW of the Rock & Pop Auction will be live on April 16, until its official opening. 

The auction will be open for bidding from April 23 to May 1. For more information, or to bid, visit:  www.backstageauctions.com. 

 — Patrick Prince - Editor / Goldmine Magazine 

Reposted from Goldmine with permission. All Images are property of Backstage Auctions. 

DVD Review: Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronounced 'Leh-nerd Skin-nerd' & Second Helping: Live from Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre

DVD Review: Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronounced 'Leh-nerd Skin-nerd' & Second Helping: Live From Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre
Eagle Rock Entertainment
All Access Rating: B+

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced
Leh-nerd Skin-nerd & Second Helping:
Live from Jacksonville at the Florida
Theatre 2015

The material is strictly "Old Testament" Lynyrd Skynyrd, timeless scripture from the rowdy Southern-rock rogues' first two albums.

Over two shows earlier this year at the Florida Theatre in the band's hometown of Jacksonville, Fla., the congregation in attendance saw a glorious revival of the band's self-titled debut, subtitled "Pronounced Leh-nerd Sky-nerd," on one evening and its sophomore effort Second Helping the next night – the joyous, engaging performances filmed brilliantly for a new live release available on DVD, Blu-ray and digital formats, as well as a DVD/2 CD set available at Wal-Mart.

Both seminal LPs from the early '70s are played with red-blooded passion and carefree panache by the current version of Lynyrd Skynyrd, led by lone original member Gary Rossington, singer Johnny Van Zant – younger brother of Ronnie Van Zant, who died in a tragic 1977 plane crash that decimated the band – and Rickey Medlocke, the blazing guitarist who co-founded Blackfoot.

From the wistful drawl and affecting melancholy of "Tuesday's Gone" and a nostalgic, affecting "The Ballad of Curtis Loew" to rambunctious hell-raisers "Gimme Three Steps" and "Call Me The Breeze," Skynyrd treats these songs as if they were treasured family heirlooms, dusting them off and making them shine and sparkle in an environment that's warm and vibrant. Smooth flowing camera work draws out the strong, defiant personalties and smirking charm always inherent in Skynyrd, no matter the era. Professionally done, albeit with an adoring admiration for Skynyrd's instrumental fire, shots frame and articulate the searing fret work of Rossington and Medlocke, catch Michael Cartellone in the act as he bashes away on the drums and follow the rollicking piano runs of Peter Keys until the party comes to a crashing end. There is cantankerous defiance and sincerity in "Don't Ask Me No Questions," "Simple Man" and "Sweet Home Alabama," and "Free Bird" sounds as transcendent as ever, while rarely performed tracks like "I Need You," "Mississippi Kid" and "Poison Whiskey" are welcomed like prodigal sons reappearing again after long absences.

If at times it seems as if Skynyrd is not as tight as they should be or they're low on fuel, their energy level noticeably waning, none of that detracts from rock 'n' roll that has a pure heart and that is as intoxicating as moonshine and just as potent.

– Peter Lindblad

Capricorn Records - The Rise and Fall of One Man's Dream

Capricorn Records

In the 1970s Capricorn Records became well known for representing Southern rock bands like the Allman Brothers Band and Marshall Tucker Band.

Located in Macon, Georgia it was started by Phil Walden, Alan Walden and Frank Fenter in 1969 and by the mid 70s had quite an impressive list of artists including; The James Montgomery Band, Elvin Bishop, Wet Willie, Sea Level, Jonathan Edwards, Kingfish, Captain Beyond, White Witch, Grinderswitch, Cowboy, Hydra, Kitty Wells, Dobie Gray, Alex and Livingston Taylor, Travis Wammack and Stillwater.

In addition to ABB and MTB, Capricorn also managed the solo efforts of Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Chuck Leavell and Butch Trucks. In the late 70s and seemingly overnight, Capricorn went bankrupt and closed it’s doors.

The influence that the label, the Walden brothers and it’s artists had on the industry and specifically Southern rock is quite amazing for an independent music label.

Phil Walden

Phil Walden grew up in Macon, Georgia and started his forays into the music business while attending Mercer College where he booked bands for local high schools and fraternity parties.  Walden opened his first office as a sophomore and started expanding his services all over the southeast. One of his first clients and relatively unknown at the time was Otis Redding. It was at Redding’s suggestion that he establish himself as a manager and before too long his client list read like a who’s who of some of the country’s finest rhythm and blues performers including Percy Sledge, Sam and Dave, Clarence Carter and Joe Simon.  As his client roster grew, it looked as though Walden’s focus would be firmly planted in the R&B industry – until Otis Redding’s untimely death in 1967.

With his experience in R&B along with his passion for music and the south, he approached Atlantic Records vice president Jerry Wexler with the idea of building a studio in Macon. After several ideas were presented and scrubbed, it was agreed that Atlantic Records would fund a record label to be based in Macon, Georgia. Walden and Wexler named the label Capricorn. So with a $70,000.00 advance from Atlantic, Walden set out to recruit rock and roll bands and build his Macon empire.

One of the first musicians to catch Walden’s attention was Duane Allman, who at the time was a session guitarist at Muscle Shoals Studios, but by 1969 Walden had worked his magic and The Allman Brothers Band was formed and would later become the cornerstone of Capricorn Records. While Phil was managing the Allman Brothers Band, Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie and Elvin Bishop, his brother Alan was managing ZZ Top, The Charlie Daniels Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. It’s not surprising at all that each of these bands’ influenced each other with the deep rooted southern rock sound.

Walden’s pioneering spirit and determination to be all things to all artists led to the formation of various music business related ventures including;  Phil Walden & Associates, The Paragon Agency, No Exit Music, Rear Exit Music and numerous other non-music related businesses. He was building his empire, fast and steady – some say too fast but it was the 70s and it was rock and roll.

As amazing as Capricorn’s rise had been, it’s demise in 1979 was fast and furious ending in bankruptcy and sent Walden into a personal downward spiral as well. He rose from the ashes and a decade later made a fresh start after several attempts to get things going again; in the early 90s resurrected Capricorn but this time in Nashville. Walden was back, albeit with a humble start but with newly forged relationships, a new location and a growing client list including; Widespread Panic, Cake and 311. And like a broken record, it happened again and Walden was forced to sell off most of Capricorn’s assets – including the classic back catalog.

Phil Walden died in his Macon home in 2006, but his legacy and the history of Capricorn label is still very much alive and present.

"Phil was one of the preeminent producers of great music in America," former president Jimmy Carter said in a statement at the time of Walden’s death. Walden's work with Redding, the Allmans and others, Carter said, "helped to put Macon and Georgia on the musical map of the world.” Walden was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1986.

In March Backstage Auctions will host a historical event showcasing memorabilia featuring the artists that defined the Southern Rock and Soul sound of the 1960s and 1970s. The auction will be live and open for bidding from March 14 - 22, 2015.

For more information on the auction and to register for a VIP All Access Pass click here:  Auction

CD Review: Pat Travers Band – Can Do

CD Review: Pat Travers Band – Can Do

Frontiers Records

All Access Rating: B+

Pat Travers Band - Can Do 2013

Nobody’s found the switch yet to turn out the lights on Pat Travers. Approaching age 60, he can still coax beautiful melodies and electrifying power from an amplified guitar and get it to speak fluently in multiple tongues, such as powerhouse hard rock, hot funk and cool soul grooves, smoky blues and emotional balladry.

His conversations are simple and heartfelt these days, like those conducted in a dark, lonely tavern between two used-up people who don’t have the heart to lie anymore. Here’s one more for the road.

Lively, gritty and at times stylish, with spotless production, Can Do finds the Pat Travers Band talking in simple languages everybody from the hopeless romantic to the working-class slob can understand, setting hooks that have a firm grip and an easy logic. The latest studio album from the Toronto-born guitar slinger is by turns thoughtful and reflective, as the glassy serenity and breezy warmth of “Diamond Girl” and the wistful “Wanted (That was Then/This is Now)” so effectively illustrate, and vigorously defiant, shaking his fist at Father Time in rugged, driving rockers like “Stand Up/Give It Up,” “Armed and Dangerous” and “Long Time Gone,” a nod to Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen” where his clearly defined guitars are searing.

Nowhere near as explosive or as sweaty as the classic Live! Go for What You Know concert LP and somewhat reserved in parts, Can Do is still mostly a spirited romp through Travers’ past and present circumstances, as the feverish title track surges and smolders in the heat of a summer night and the sparkling “As Long As I’m With You” unabashedly wallows in the joys of a real, warts-and-all love. Reinvigorated by his new relationship with Frontiers Records, Travers brings together a band of brothers that includes bassist Rodney O’Quinn, second guitarist Kirk McKim and the prodigal drummer Sandy Gennaro on drums, and they serve the songs well.

It’s a tight unit that’s in perfect sync with Travers’ many moods, weaving wonderful harmonics together in lovely figures when the occasion calls for it and then shifting into riff-heavy rock ‘n’ roll overdrive on Travers’ command, sliding comfortably into the utterly infectious blues grooves of “Dust & Bone,” a delicious bite of tasty blues-rock Aerosmith would have given up heroin for in the ‘80s, and allowing the melodic movements of “Waitin’ on the End of Time” to breathe.

Want to hear Travers stretch out and really show the kind of diversity and creativity he’s capable of? The beguiling instrumental “Keep Calm and Carry On” explores every facet of his skillful, classy playing, displaying a deft touch, cleverly executed maneuvers and a nice warm feel that are as apparent in the quieter, softer moments as they are when volcanic eruptions explode from his instrument. Is slide guitar your thing? He can reel off steely licks in his sleep. And if you want this Canadian to channel Lynyrd Skynard and fry up some high-energy Southern rock, there’s the boisterous “Red Neck Boogie” to scratch that itch. The charms of Can Do will bloom, just not right away. Wait for it. Your patience will be rewarded. http://www.frontiers.it/

– Peter Lindblad