I want to talk about now, I want to talk about what Im doing today and Im interested in the moment that Im in. As long as were living and breathing and experiencing life were adventurers, you know? As well as being used by Elton himself at sold-out Dodger Stadium shows in October 1975, the piano would go on to be played by Freddie Mercury during Queens A Day At The Racestour in 1977 and by Paul McCartney in front of a television audience over over one billion people during the Live Aid finale in 1985. I try to go at the very best of the best.. Jim Irsay, owner of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, is bringing his collection to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center on March 4, 2023. Speaking between drags of his cigarette from a midtown-Manhattan hotel room, Irsay was preparing to exhibit his extensive collection of rare music memorabilia in New York on Friday. Yet the 1964 Stratocaster Dylan played that day was soon left behind on a private aeroplane and he never looked back. $965,000. [41], Irsay has been a staunch supporter of former Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano, who beat acute promyelocytic leukemia after being diagnosed in September 2012. (Please dress appropriately for the weather that day). According to Duthiers, Irsay also invites guest musicians to join and play famous guitars from the collection. Irsay had the winning bid on a guitar that was previously owned . , Irsay dealt with addiction using prescription drugs after his college football career at SMU was ravaged by injury. He described caressing Cobain's 53-year-old Fender, saying: 'With your fingertips, you try to sense its energy.'. Irsay hopes that life experiences, ranging from outreach or a Jim Irsay Collection concert, can ultimately benefit those who are in need. Art shippers that do nothing but that. A guitar formerly owned by Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain that was featured in the music video for the bands hit song Smells Like Teen Spirit sold for $4.5 million on Sunday, after billionaire Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay made the winning bid. My grandfather died of alcoholism in 1927; even my father died of alcoholism, Irsay told Duthiers. Jim Irsay Collection Exhibit & Concert Saturday, March 4, 2023 6:00 PM Reserve Now Event Details ICONIC ROCK MEMORABILIA + MORE Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will display his world-renowned collection of iconic rock memorabilia, American history and pop culture at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center on Saturday, March 4, 2023. [89][90] Among the artists that have performed with the band are singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, guitarist/singer Buddy Guy, singer-songwriter John Hiatt, guitarist Mike Wanchic, bassist Mike Mills, guitarist Tom Bukovac, guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, drummer Kenny Aronoff, keyboardist Michael Ramos and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Ann Wilson among others. [65] In 2023, Irsay acquired the saddle used by Secretariat when he won the American Triple Crown in 1973.[66][67]. Its a service of the arts to the community.. He was named Vice President and General Manager in 1984, one month after the Colts relocated from Baltimore, to Indianapolis. 'I know what the future can bring. 'Allen said: ''What do you mean? Our goal, to share the worlds unique, hidden and once in a lifetime locations with you to create unforgettable memories. Special guests will include Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills and Nash, and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. Irsay also has been open about his struggles with addiction. Jim Irsay Jim Irsay Guitar Collection. The collection is highlighted by musical instruments and items owned and used by the greatest artists in music history, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Prince, Eric Clapton, Sir Elton John, Jerry Garcia, Les Paul, David Gilmour, Jim Morrison, Pete Townshend, Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, The Edge, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and other icons, as well as signed photos, handwritten lyrics, and other historic music memorabilia. [62] On June 20, 2019, Irsay paid a record $3.975 million for a guitar, known as The Black Strat, formerly owned by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. An active philanthropist, Mr. Irsay hopes to establish a museum to share these treasures with the world. '''There was three of us bidding, going up in $250,000 increments. 'I have JFK, his rocking chair, Jackie Robinson's bat that he hit a homerun World Series with, Muhammad Ali's shoes from the Thrilla in Manila against Joe Frazier,' Irsay said. We are an outdoor venue. . When you have a gene, thats a very difficult thing. The collection had a heavy focus on music history, including instruments such as Ringo Starrs drum set from the Beatles famous appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, John Coltranes saxophone and a piano from Elton John. He predicted that future historians will look back on the century and pinpoint it as an outlier era of technological advancement. [10][11], Since joining the organization in 1984, Irsay has worked with numerous Pro Football Hall of Fame coaches, players and executives, including Eric Dickerson (Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1999), Marshall Faulk (2011), Bill Polian (2015), Tony Dungy (2016), Marvin Harrison (2016), Edgerrin James (2020) and Peyton Manning (2021).[12]. There was also sports memorabilia, such as a bat used by Jackie Robinson and the belt won by Muhammad Ali in his famous bout with George Foreman in Zaire, which Irsay recently bought at auction for $6 million (even though, as Irsay revealed to the media, the belt was not adorned with real gold). [2] His father was from a Hungarian Jewish[3] family and his mother was the daughter of Polish Catholic immigrants. 'It sounds ridiculous,' he added. However, one item in particular means a lot to Irsay: an Alcoholics Anonymous manuscript that lists the 12-step program with handwritten notes. Former Colts players, including the uber-popular Pat McAfee, speak very highly of him. The breathtaking collection has been estimated to be worth well north of 100 million dollars. When youre worth more than $3 billion, you can acquire some cool stuff. In 2021, he implemented the Colts Kicking the Stigma campaign to encourage others to use mental health resources when needed. Irsay and his family have donated to various projects and programs across Indiana, including the Irsay Family YMCA,[20][21] the downtown Indianapolis Colts Canal Playspace,[22] Riley Hospital for Children,[23][24] Wheeler Mission Center for Women & Children,[25] Indiana Universitys Irsay Research Institute[26] and many others. 'It's not really as much as the intellect of the mind; it's more of the spirit and what comes to me,' said Irsay, who could easily be mistaken for a country music mogul in his black sunglasses and grey Stetson. Jerry Garcias Tiger? But I like people to be able to say, I played Tiger, if you are a guitar player of any magnitude, or even if you just want to hold it. But, in terms of owning historic instruments with rock n roll credentials and sheer spending power, nobody can top Jim Irsay." He once offered to buy Cobain's acoustic guitar from the famed 'MTV: Unplugged' set, but when the seller instead opted to put it up for auction, Irsay backed away. Irsay also has been open about his struggles with addiction. Kurt Cobains Guitar From Nirvanas Smells Like Teen Spirit Music Video Up For Auction (Forbes), This is a BETA experience. Thats why were especially excited to share this special evening with our friends, fans and neighbors right here in Indianapolis.. 'I got this long text: ''Oh my God, it was crazy,''' Irsay told DailyMail.com, repeating the message he received from a conduit after the final gavel. I want it to be interactive., I cant be Pete Townshend or Chrissie Hynde or whoever because thats just not me. How do you sell the golden tickets? I cant be Pete Townshend or Chrissie Hynde or Natalie Merchant or whoever, because thats just not me. This is evidenced on day two of our stay in Indianapolis when the team puts together an impromptu concert performance in the grounds of a disused psychiatric hospital. He now calls Las Vegas home, but has journeyed from the sunshine of California and the rain in Seattle, to the humidity of Arkansas and the snow of Minnesota. [47][48] According to The Indianapolis Star sports columnist Bob Kravitz, Irsay had an ongoing drug problem. It's a history nerd's fever dream, with items like: Abraham Lincoln's walking cane; An original Wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth. Displaying historical items free of charge makes the collection worthwhile for the 63-year-old. The collection didnt begin as a means to inherit valuable objects, but rather to share music with others. [38], In December 2021, the Irsay family donated $3 million to Indiana University to create a research institute dedicated to studying mental health and the stigma associated with it. History is so important, he says. Thats a cool groove. Cobain played the guitar in Nirvanas wildly popular 1991 video for Smells Like Teen Spirit, which shows a high school pep rally that develops into a chaotic mosh pit, helping drive the bands album Nevermind to go gold within weeks of the videos release. According to Duthiers, the Jim Irsay Collection first began after Irsays father. '', 'Thankfully [Allen] wasn't in an ornery mood [during the auction], because if we really got into a bidding war, I couldn't have lasted.'. According to the IndyStar,[54] Irsay was an accomplished weightlifter and competed in super heavyweight championships in the 1980s, all while serving as the general manager of the Colts. READARTICLE, For matters related to TJIC Exhibitions/Tour, For all media inquiries related to TJIC, For all other (non-tour matters) related to TJIC. Jim Irsays passion for rock music, American history and pop culture led him to assemble a robust collection of historic and culturally-significant artifacts over several decades that together make up The Jim Irsay Collection. Given his great love for wordsmiths such as Dylan and Kerouac, Irsays answer is perhaps unsurprising. Kurt Cobain's iconic Smells Like Teen Spirit guitar sold for a staggering $4.55 million after a bidding war won by Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay on May 22. In 2015, Irsay's personal $2.2 million limit for Ringo Starr's drum kit proved prescient. Updated: 7:16 PM EDT June 22, 2022. He owns guitars that once belonged to Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Prince and others, as well as Jack. During the course of our photoshoot, he not only pretends to smash the Black Strat but he also mischievously tucks a lit cigarette under the strings behind the nut. [43] The gala has been hosted at the Colts' Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center[44] as well as Jim Irsay's house. [39] The donation was an extension of Kicking The Stigma. Jim Irsay's passion for rock music, American history and pop culture led him to assemble a robust collection of historic and culturally significant artifacts over several decades that together make up The Jim Irsay Collection. Handwritten notes, documents, and artifacts from Susan B. Anthony. Irsay is an NFL owner of considerable wealth. The Nirvana frontman played the blue-and-white 1969 Fender Mustang guitar to record the band's seminal 1991 grunge anthem, The guitar, case and strap sold for seven times its $642,0000 estimate with Julien's Auctions in California. 'All of us in the guitar-collecting business were like: ''What? After all, Allen, with his $20-billion fortune, could have easily out-spent Irsay if he were so inclined. READ ARTICLE, "Irsay, who possesses one of the most impressive collections of musical, historical, sports and pop-culture memorabilia on the planet, is determined to showcase the artifacts while celebrating the music he reveres." The guitar, case and strap sold for seven times its $642,0000 estimate with Julien's Auctions in California. However, one item in particular means a lot to Irsay: that lists the 12-step program with handwritten notes. A personal friend of Irsays, Allen passed away in 2018 but could regularly be found bidding on many of the same celebrity-owned instruments as the Irsay team, including Ringo Starrs Beatles-era drums. 'These things will come alive some day,' Irsay said. Before sports became his life's work, Jim Irsay was a musician. [4][5] Jim's brother, Thomas Irsay, was born with a mental disability and died in 1999, and his sister, Roberta, died in a car accident in 1971. The greatest guitar collection on Earth Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has spent 25 years assembling the world's leading collection of rock 'n' roll, American history and pop culture artefacts. Since 2012, the galas have raised more than $12 million for research at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center,[42] where Pagano received treatment. And then we have access to other resources to help us with preservation, control and security factors. And the best part is that its free. Irsay played linebacker for the SMU Mustangs football team as a walk-on,[6] but an ankle injury ended his playing career. Taylor Guitars has certified warranty Service Centers available in various locations around the globe. Thus, one item which Irsay would covet should it come available is Neil Armstrongs space suit. To call Irsays collection breathtaking would not do it justice. Admission is free and, as of this writing, a limited number of tickets remain available. 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