Jim Irsay, owner & CEO of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, showcases items from The Jim Irsay Collection – a traveling museum of rock music, American history and pop culture – in Boston for one night only, July 15, 2023 from 6pm-11pm at TD Garden.
The Collection highlights instruments and items owned by some of the greatest artists in music history, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Prince, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain, as well as autographed photos, handwritten lyrics, and other historical music memorabilia. It also includes U.S. Presidential artifacts, important original documents from American history and unique items, such as a 1953 Jackie Robinson bat, Muhammad Ali’s 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” championship belt and the original scroll of Jack Kerouac’s seminal novel, On the Road.
The evening culminates with a concert by The Jim Irsay Band, featuring Irsay on vocals,
- Kenny Aronoff drums (Sir Paul McCartney, John Mellencamp, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan)
- Billy Branch harmonica (three-time Grammy ® nominee)
- Tom Bukovac guitar (played on more than 700 albums with major artists)
- Mike Mills bass & vocals (founding member of R.E.M.)
- Danny Nucci guitar & saxophone (actor, Titanic, The Rock)
- Michael Ramos keyboards (Mellencamp, Patti Griffin, Paul Simon)
- Carmella Ramsey violin, mandolin & vocals (Reba McEntire, Olivia Newton-John)
- Kenny Wayne Shepherd guitar & vocals (five-time Grammy® nominee)
- Mike Wanchic, guitar (Mellencamp).
>>>The band will be joined in Boston by KEVIN CRONIN of REO SPEEDWAGON, country music star VINCE GILL and legendary singer of the J. Geils Band & Boston favorite PETER WOLF.<<<
Colts and Patriots legends Adam Vinatieri, Edgerrin James, Joe Andruzzi and others to be announced will also attend and participate in the event.
*Note: This once-in-a-lifetime event is FREE and open to the public but tickets are required and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
To register for a spot at the event click HERE
The following items from The Jim Irsay Collection will be on display in Boston, July 15, 2023 at TD Garden:
GUITARS
- 1969 Fender Stratocaster (David Gilmour – “The Black Strat”)
- 1969 C.F. Martin & Co. D-35 (David Gilmour – “Wish You Were Here”)
- 1979 Doug Irwin “Tiger” (Jerry Garcia)
- 1939 C.F. Martin & Co. Style 000-42 (Eric Clapton – “MTV Unplugged”)
- 1969 Fender Mustang (Kurt Cobain – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”)
- 1964 Gibson SG Standard (George Harrison/John Lennon)
- 1963 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 (John Lennon)
- 1964 Rickenbacker Rose Morris 1996 (John Lennon / Ringo Starr)
- 1964 Fender Stratocaster (Bob Dylan – “Dylan Goes Electric” at Newport Folk Festival)
- 1992 Gibson Hummingbird (Bob Dylan)
- 1954 Gibson Les Paul Custom (Les Paul – “Black Beauty”)
- 1964 Fender Jazzmaster (Jimi Hendrix)
- c. 1995 Andy Beech Custom Cloud (Prince – “Yellow Cloud”)
- 1995 Epiphone Casino Reissue (Steve Earle)
- 1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro-Deluxe (Neal Schon / Journey – “Don’t Stop Believin'”)
- 1956 C.F. Martin D-21 (Johnny Cash)
- 1963 Maton MS-500 Mastersound (George Harrison)
- 1964 Gibson SG Special (Pete Townshend)
- 2003 Fender Danny Gatton Telecaster (Lou Reed – “Goldie”)
- 1976 Gibson Explorer (The Edge / U2)
- 1979 Yamaha BB-1200 Bass (Paul McCartney)
- 2002 DeArmond by Guild M-75T (Jimmy Page)
- 1953 Gibson J-45 (Janis Joplin)
- 2004 Charvel EVH Art Series ’78 (Eddie Van Halen)
- 1966 Vox Kensington (John Lennon)
- 1968 Harptone L-6s 12-String (George Harrison)
- 2006 Gretsch 6138 guitar Bo Diddley Signature Model (Bo Diddley)
- 1976 Alembic Series 1 Custom Bass (John McVie / Fleetwood Mac)
- 1961 Gibson Les Paul Junior (Billie Joe Armstrong / Green Day)
- 1969 C.F. Martin & Co. 00-21 (Don McLean – “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night”))
MUSIC
- Ringo Starr’s 1963 Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl Drum Kit and Snare drum
- The Beatles “Ed Sullivan Show” Bass Drumhead
- John Lennon’s “Sgt. Peppers Piano,” c. 1869 John Broadwood & Sons Upright
- Sir Elton John’s c. 1970s Steinway & Sons Model D Grand Piano
- Jim Morrison’s Paris Notebook
- Jim Morrison’s Performance Microphone
- Bob Dylan’s Working Lyrics for “The Times They Are A-Changin'”
- Paul McCartney’s Studio Lyrics for “Hey Jude”
- Natalie Merchant’s Handwritten “Hey Jack Kerouac” lyrics
- “The Day the Music Died” Concert Poster
- John Lennon’s Sunglasses
- Paul McCartney’s Affidavit Filed to Break Up The Beatles
- 1965 Newport Folk Festival Poster
- 1965 Newport Folk Festival Program
- John Coltrane’s 1966 Yamaha Prototype Alto Saxophone
- Miles Davis’s Martin Committee Trumpet
- Jimi Hendrix’s Moroccan chest
- James Brown’s “Godfather of Soul” Stage-Worn Cape
- James Brown’s Stage-Worn Leather Boots
POP CULTURE
- Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky Balboa” Boxing Shoes
- Steve Jobs’ Signed and Inscribed Apple II Manual
- Steve Jobs’ Letter Handwritten Letter to Childhood Friend Tim Brown, 1974
- Muhammad Ali’s Fight-Worn Shoes from the “Thrilla in Manila”
- Muhammad Ali’s Walk-Out Robe from First Fight After His Name Change
- Muhammad Ali’s WBC Heavyweight Championship Belt
- Screen-Used “Wilson” Volleyball from Castaway (2000)
- Screen-Used “Golden Ticket” from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
- Secretariat’s Saddle, Used during 1973 Triple Crown
AMERICAN HISTORY/FINE BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS
- Original Typescript Scroll of “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac
- Original Draft Manuscript of the Alcoholics Anonymous “Big Book”
- William Stone’s 1823 Engraving of the Declaration of Independence
- John Hancock Signed Lottery Ticket for Faneuil Hall Fundraiser, 1765
- John Hancock Thank You Note to Anthony Wayne, 1774
- The First National Declaration of Thanksgiving, 1777
- George Washington Autograph Letter Signed to Brig. Gen. Alexander McDougall, 1777
- George Washington Autograph Letter Signed to Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 1780
- George Washington Autograph Letter Signed to Thomas Jefferson Regarding the Constitution, 1787
- Thomas Jefferson Autograph Letter Signed to Amos Cook, 1816
- Thomas Jefferson Autograph Letter Signed to Thomas Paine, 1808
- Abraham Lincoln’s Pocket Knife and Presentation Box, Presented to Him at the 1864 Philadelphia Great Central Fair
- Abraham Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed Regarding the Pocket Knife, 1864
- Abraham Lincoln’s Fence Rail Presentation Cane, c. 1860
- Abraham Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed for a Stay of Execution, 1863
- Abraham Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed for Job Recommendations to the U.S. Postmaster General, 1864
- Abraham Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed Requesting A Prisoner Exchange, 1862
- National Union Ticket Campaign Poster for President Abraham Lincoln and Vice President Andrew Johnson, 1864
- “The Murderer” Wanted Poster for John Wilkes Booth, 1865
- “THE PRESIDENT IS DEAD!” Broadside Poster, 1865
- U.S. Army Civil War-era Miliary Snare Drum
- Susan B Anthony Autograph Signed Letter, 1892
- Original Photograph of Susan B. Anthony, 1905
- “I Want You” Poster by James Montgomery Flagg, 1917
- $10,000 Federal Reserve Note, 1934 (New York)
- $10,000 Federal Reserve Note, 1934 (Chicago)
- $5,000 Federal Reserve Note, 1934 (Dallas)
- Jackie Robinson’s 1953 Game-Used Baseball Bat
- Jackie Robinson’s 1953 Topps Baseball Card
- President John F. Kennedy’s White House Rocking Chair
- Stetson Hat Intended for President John F. Kennedy from Texas Gov. John Connally, 1963
- Welcome Dinner Press Ticket for President Kennedy Event, 1963
- President John F. Kennedy’s Cigar box and 1901 Half Dollar Coin
- NASA Official Photos of the First U.S. Spacewalk, taken by James McDivitt (Gemini IV)
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, First Edition, First Printing, 1876
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, First Edition First Printing, 1885
- The Fun of It by Amelia Earhart, 1932
- Hunter S. Thompson’s Personal Copy of The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac
- HOWL and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg, First Edition Review Copy and Accompanying Letter
- Ernest Hemingway Autograph Letter Signed, 1932
- The Atlantic Charter, signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill
- Winston Churchill Autograph Letter Signed Regarding Hitlerism, 1942
- President Harry S. Truman’s Top Hat, Worn at the 1949 Presidential Inauguration
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy Signed Baseball
*Exhibit subject to artifact additions/subtractions.