- Title: Rock on - heavy metal memorabilia on offer at Julien's 'Music Icons' sale
- Date: 24th March 2026
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 24, 2026) (REUTERS) VARIOUS LOTS FROM UPCOMING JULIEN’S AUCTIONS “MUSIC ICONS” SALE ON DISPLAY AT HARD ROCK CAFE PICCADILLY CIRCUS VARIOUS OF KISS ORIGINAL LEAD GUITARIST ACE FREHLEY’ #1 “BUDOKAN” 1975 TRIPLE PICKUP GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM, CHERRY SUNBURST GUITAR ON DISPLAY (ESTIMATE $400,000 - $600,000) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUND
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: "Music Icons" sale Ace Frehley Billy Duffy Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus Julien's Auctions Kiss Metallica auction music memorabilia
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: UK
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA001660623032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: From an array of guitars to stage-worn costumes, memorabilia from the world of heavy metal is on offer in Julien's Auctions upcoming "Music Icons" sale and on display in London over coming weeks.
Items belonging to Ace Frehley, the original lead Kiss guitarist, are among the highlights, including a 1977 tour jacket. The star lot is the 1974 Gibson Les Paul Ace #1, used widely on stage and in the studio by Frehley, who died last year.
"He was tremendously attached to this guitar... it’s part of his history, it tells so many stories," Martin Nolan, executive director and co-founder of Julien's Auctions, told Reuters at a press preview on Tuesday (March 24).
"And sadly, he's no longer with us. So the guitar and the items of clothing that he wore are the conversation pieces that keep that legacy alive, keep that memory alive."
Guitars played by the likes of Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Motley Crue co-founder Mick Mars among others are also on offer in the auction.
A selection of the lots are on display at London's Hard Rock Cafe in Piccadilly Circus until April 13, before heading to go on show at Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo on April 27.
The "Music Icons" auction, which Nolan said features more than 700 items across genres, will take place May 29-30 at Hard Rock Cafe Times Square in New York.
(Production: Will Russell, Marie-Louise Gumuchian) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None