An auction of exclusive personal items and memorabilia donated by EMI artists and songwriters has raised $940,000 in funds to help the Red Cross support people affected by last month’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the company announced in a statement Tuesday (April 26).
The charity auction, which launched on eBay’s worldwide sites on April 5, attracted bids totaling $470,000 from music fans around the world. All the money from winning bidders will be doubled through a donation by EMI.
EMI Group CEO Roger Faxon commented: “What a wonderful result!! It was made possible by the extraordinary generosity of so many members of the EMI family, artists, songwriters, friends and staff alike. It has been a privilege for all of us at EMI to have participated in this effort to raise money to help the people of Japan who have suffered so much.”
An original Birkin handbag, donated by Jane Birkin and used by the actress and singer for many years, raised more than $163,000 at the auction. A 1987 Ferrari, owned by Daft Punk and used in their movie ‘Electroma’ raised almost $42,000, while a diamante costume head used by DJ and producer Deadmau5 was won with a bid of more than $19,000.
Other items sold at the auction also included a Steinway grand piano used by artists including Bono and Eric Clapton ($14,878), a jacket worn by Chris Martin onstage during Coldplay’s Viva La Vida world tour ($14,060), a private dinner with Herbert Grönemeyer ($10,792), signed copies of David Bowie’s entire catalogue ($10,138), handwritten lyrics by Brian Wilson to ‘God Only Knows’ and a platinum album for the Beach Boys’ ‘Pet Sounds’ ($7,643), a day on tour with Simple Minds ($6,891), an original handmade “ZERO” shirt worn by the Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan ($6,744), an original painting from Iron Maiden ($6,466), a cupcake trampoline used onstage on Katy Perry’s current ‘California Dreams’ tour ($5,075), and a signed guitar offered by Japanese musician Miyavi ($8,992).