Photo: Bettmann
A guitar used by John Lennon in The Beatles' 1965 film and album Help! sold for a record-breaking amount at auction. In the film, Lennon famously played the Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar on "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and also used it in Help! studio recordings of "It’s Only Love" and "I’ve Just Seen A Face." George Harrison also recorded Rubber Soul's "Norwegian Wood" and "Girl" with the 12-string.
The guitar sold for $2.9 million at a Julien's Auction event in New York City's Hard Rock Cafe after being estimated to go for $600,000-$800,000. The impressive sale makes it the most expensive Lennon guitar to be sold at auction, surpassing the former record of $2.41 million in 2015.
The Framus was thought to be lost for 50 years and was recently found in a UK attic. David Goodman, chief executive of Julien’s Auctions, believes this to be the most important Beatles guitar to ever come to market. “This guitar is not only a piece of music history but a symbol of John Lennon’s enduring legacy," he said (via BBC News). “Today’s unprecedented sale is a testament to the timeless appeal and reverence of The Beatles’ music and John Lennon.”