By Tim Saunders on
Eric Clapton will sell a selection of his guitars and amplifiers for charity next year.
Over 70 instruments will go under the hammer, including the guitar he played at the Cream reunion concerts in 2005 and amps from his days with Derek and The Dominos. Guitars from Jeff Beck, JJ Cale and others will also be put up for auction.
“I am very happy that Bonhams have agreed to host my third guitar auction in aid of The Crossroads Centre, Antigua, the drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre I founded in 1998,” said Clapton.
Stephanie Connell, head of entertainment memorabilia at Bonhams, added: “We are delighted to be offering such a fantastic collection of guitars and amps from such an iconic musician and hope the auction will raise a lot of money for this worthwhile cause.”
Throughout the 1990s, Clapton worked quietly to help others who had fallen into the dark world of addiction. In 1998, he opened the doors to the Crossroads Centre, a facility located on the beautiful Caribbean island of Antigua, dedicated to helping those who suffer from chemical abuse.
“My vision was to create a centre of the highest caliber to treat people of the Caribbean and throughout the world,” he said. "The centre would be staffed with experienced and internationally recognized professionals. The cost of treatment would be held to the lowest possible level, ensuring affordability and accessibility. And most importantly, this non-profit centre would provide treatment scholarships for people of the Caribbean region and around the world.
“Crossroads is like no other treatment centre. It is the perfect place to begin the road of recovery and utilizes a combination of effective therapies to address addiction and recovery, while capturing the spiritual serenity that many have found unique to Antigua. Within the serene, healing atmosphere individuals participate in a structured 29-day residential 12 step based program that allows clients to experience a whole person wellness approach to recovery.”
The guitars will go on display at Bonhams 101 New Bond Street in London from January 23 to 26.
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