• Pink Floyd's David Gilmour auctioned off his guitar collection for $21.5 million in a record-setting event at Christie's. Among the axes sold: an iconic Fender used on The Dark Side of the Moon. The "Black Strat," a 1969 Fender Stratocaster that Gilmour subsequently modified, was sold for $3,975,000 to Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay. The sum was the most ever paid for a guitar at auction, according to Christie's. Irsay also snapped up a C.F. Martin six-string acoustic that figured in the Pink Floyd tracks "Wish You Were Here" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." The 73-year-old songwriter said he'll donate the proceeds of the 127-lot sale to ClientEarth, a London-based environmental group. The previous record for an auctioned guitar was $2.7 million for a Fender Stratocaster signed by 19 musicians including Sting, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page to raise money after the 2004 Asian tsunami.
• An energetic Mick Jagger skipped, spun, sprinted and pranced Friday night as the Rolling Stones launched their North American tour at Chicago's Soldier Field. The 75-year-old showed no sign of ill health three months after the tour was postponed because a doctor said he required medical treatment. By all visible indications: Jagger was Jagger. Before a sold-out crowd of around 60,000 at the Chicago Bears' home stadium, the band's finger-wagging frontman opened with "Street Fighting Man," running from the stage in the end zone area and down a narrow stage jutting into the crowd on what is normally the 30-yard line of the football field. He didn't say he was speaking about his health, but could have been as Jagger looked out at the audience and shouted, "It feels pretty good!" Jagger sang for over two hours onstage, with the city's skyline as his backdrop, and seemed no worse for the wear. As he bowed, fireworks exploded overhead. The No Filter Tour was set to start April 20 in Miami before doctors told Jagger in late March he required treatment, reportedly for a heart valve issue. All the Stones are now in their 70s. And they seemed as enthusiastic as Jagger, and also showed no indication of slowing.
A Section on 06/23/2019