John Lennon Sunglasses Auctioned in Hard Rock

Mon, 26 March 2007 12:00:00 ET

John Lennon's iconic blue sunglasses are expected to fetch up to $6,000 at auction next month.

The former Beatle's glasses will go under the hammer at the Icons of Music auction at New York's Hard Rock Café to raise money for the Music Rising charity.

The charity was co-founded by U2 guitarist The Edge in 2005 to replace instruments lost by musicians in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Over 200 items have been donated for the auction by stars including Madonna, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead.

The Edge, real name David Evans, has donated his well-used 1975 cream Gibson Les Paul, which is expected to fetch between $60,000 and$80,000.

Bono's Emporia Armani shades will go under the hammer for between $2,000 and $4,000 along with Adam Clayton's bass guitar ($20,000-$30,000) and Larry Mullen's tom-tom ($8,000-$10,000).

An early Elvis Presley recording contract is expected to raise $5,000.

Other lots include a seven-page love letter written by Janis Joplin to a former boyfriend, Kurt Cobain's MTV Video Music Award, Bruce Springsteen's handwritten lyrics, guitars from The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Sir Paul McCartney and former US president Bill Clinton's saxophone.

Donations from Coldplay, Eric Clapton, Lou Reed, Kiss and Cher, as well as belongings of the late Ray Charles, James Brown and Jim Morrison will also be going under the hammer.

Highlights will be exhibited in Los Angeles from tomorrow (27.03.07), then in Dublin and London before Julien's Auctions conducts the live sale in New York.

Fans may bid online or in person on April 21. Details can be found at U2.com, musicrising.org and juliensauctions.com.