A man in Texas purchased a Taylor Swift-themed guitar at an auction for $4,000, only to smash it with a hammer in front of a cheering crowd. The incident occurred at a charity event, sparking debate about Swift’s cultural impact and the nature of celebrity worship.
Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, shared a video of a 9-year-old playing the electric guitar with raw emotion, captivating the business tycoon and social media users alike. Mahindra highlighted the child’s passion and ability to convey feelings through music, inspiring admiration and heartwarming comments from viewers.
George Terry, former guitarist for Eric Clapton, shares insights into their intense time together in the mid-1970s, revealing Clapton’s struggles with addiction, an unexpected LSD incident during an Australian show, and the spontaneous nature of their performances. Terry also highlights the origin of Clapton’s ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’ album and his impact on the music scene.
Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro faced an unexpected setback when his guitar fell off the strap and crashed on stage during an impromptu jam with Guthrie Govan. Despite the mishap, Loureiro handled the situation with grace and professionalism, delivering a valuable lesson on the importance of composure and resilience.
John Lennon’s iconic ‘Help!’ guitar, played during the making of the album and film, is headed to auction after spending decades in an attic. Discovered in the British countryside, the Framus 12-string acoustic guitar has an estimated value of $600,000 to $800,000, but experts believe it could surpass the $2.4 million record set by Lennon’s Gibson J160E in 2015. Auctioneers have hailed the discovery as ‘the greatest find of a Beatles guitar’ since the recovery of Paul McCartney’s lost Höfner bass guitar.
Santana’s 2010 project, which consisted of covers of some of the most revered rock songs ever, was a challenge for the guitar hero. Clive Davis, CCO at Sony and co-producer of Santana’s last three studio albums, convinced Santana to take on the project. Santana said, “Three times he called me before I deferred to him. I was like: ‘Man, I don’t wanna touch them ten songs. Those songs are scary; they’re already done. I don’t wanna touch any or thing.’ But Clive said: ‘Yeah, but only you can do it, man. C’mon, you can do it. You can do it!’” Santana approached the project with the utmost respect, saying, “When you get a validation like that, your heart takes off like an eagle.” He also said, “The first day in the studio we cut ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ and ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps.’ And that set the tone for the whole thing.”
A previously lost 12-string acoustic guitar owned by John Lennon will hit the auction block in May, with an estimated value of $600,000 to $800,000. Discovered in the attic of a UK home, the guitar was used by Lennon on the 1965 album “Help!”. The current owners stumbled upon the instrument during a house move and contacted Julien’s Auctions, who verified its authenticity and found the original Maton guitar case in the trash.
Singer-songwriter MJ Lenderman has released a live album, ‘Live at the Lodge Room & Lincoln Hall,’ showcasing his unique blend of pedal steel-inflected alt-country and fuzzed-out six-string excursions. Captured in Los Angeles and Chicago, the album features a looser and more expansive take on Lenderman’s studio recordings, with the band exploring tempos and tones, and plenty of space for sprawling guitar leads. Lenderman’s trusty Death by Audio Interstellar Overdriver pedal provides his signature gnarly lead tones, while he plays off the energy of his accompanying musicians, who sometimes include guest sit-ins.
Martin Guitar has launched the DSS Biosphere II guitar, an aquatic-themed model that pays tribute to the Keiki Kohola Project, an organization that protects humpback whale calves in Maui. The guitar is made from sustainable materials including FSC-certified wood and hemp, and is 100% plastic free. To support the organization, Martin has donated a generous monetary sum and is raising awareness for its work. The company also published an Impact Report and opened a museum exhibit highlighting its environmental initiatives.
