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The Eric Clapton Crossroads 25th Anniversary Auction Happens December 8

6 Dec 23

There’s still time to get in on the auction action!

Sixty-five lots in The Eric Clapton Crossroads 25th Anniversary Auction benefitting Crossroads Centre Antigua will go under the hammer on December 8 via Heritage Auctions. There are  items to interest every music fan from one-of-a-kind stage-played and signed guitars, to signed box sets, signed lyrics, rare limited edition posters from past Crossroads Guitar Festivals,  the out-of-print Jeff Beck signed “Beck 01 Hot Rods and Rock ‘N’ Roll” donated by Genesis Publications, an Axe Heaven Miniature Fender “Crash” Stratocaster with case signed by John “Crash” Matos, plus many more treasures and experiences. The online catalog can be viewed here.

One of the auction’s highlights is Eric’s 2019 Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster, a singular instrument built by renowned Custom Shop luthier Todd Krause and hand-painted by John “Crash” Matos. Eric played this guitar on stage at the American Airlines Center in Dallas during Crossroads 2019 while collaborating with John Mayer (on Derek and the Dominos’ “Layla”) and Peter Frampton (during the George Harrison tribute “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”) and honoring Prince with “Purple Rain.”

Also available in this auction is another Fender Custom Shop beauty, the Metallic Blue Stratocaster that Eric played throughout the 2023 Crossroads Guitar Festival at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles this past September. Signed and dated by Eric, this guitar was also built by Krause.

Another highlight is “A Tribute To Jeff Beck” signed Fender Jeff Beck Signature Model Stratocaster. On May 22-23, 2023, Eric Clapton and Sandra Beck put on the tribute concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall. This guitar was signed over those two nights by Eric, Doyle Bramhall, Gary Clark Jr., Johnny Depp, Billy Gibbons, Imelda May, John McLaughlin, Robert Randolph, Olivia Safe, Rod Stewart, Joss Stone, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and Ronnie Wood.

Additional centerpiece offerings include three very special instruments signed by Eric and multiple artists who performed at this year’s fest, including the “Blackie” Stratocaster built by the Fender Custom Shop in December 2007 to commemorate that year’s festival in Chicago. This limited-edition guitar features the sunshine logo Eric drew for Crossroads Centre Antigua. This coveted guitar trio also includes a Gibson 70th Anniversary Les Paul and a Martin LX1 Natural Acoustic.

All three guitars are signed by the guitar legend and more than three dozen Crossroads 2023 artists, among them: Sheryl Crow, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Stephen Stills, John Mayer, Carlos Santana, Gary Clark Jr., Jakob Dylan, the Byrds’ Roger McGuinn, H.E.R., Jimmie Vaughan, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal, Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas, Joe Bonamassa, Robert Randolph, Albert Lee, Sonny Landreth, Marcus King, Pedro Martins, Daniel Santiago and a cast of many more all-stars.

Other unique items include a Marshall 1962 model Bluesbreakers replica amp re-screened with the Crossroads 2023 Crash graphics, signed by Eric and fellow Bluesbreaker John Mayall; Vince Gill’s handwritten and signed lyrics for his first country chart-topper “I Still Believe in You”; and a one-of-a-kind 2019 Gibson “Flower Power” Master Artisan Collection Les Paul, which was custom-built, hand-carved and spirit-varnished by The Gibson Custom Shop and Master Artisan Rickie Hinrichsen, who began building this guitar at his luthier’s bench in the backstage Gibson Artist’s Lounge at Crossroads 2019 in Dallas.

There is a “Blues Breakers – John Mayall with Eric Clapton” vinyl record autographed by both John and Eric, several vinyl box sets autographed by Eric including the “Crossroads 2019,” and “The Definitive 24 Nights” as well as Eric-signed lyrics to “Change The World,” “Let It Rain,” and “Presence Of The Lord.”

There are also signature models and other personal guitars from John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Carlos Santana, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., Vince Gill, John McLaughlin, Albert Lee, Steve Vai and others who have performed during Crossroads’ historic run, which began in 1999. Many others were donated by friends of Clapton’s who want to help continue the good work done by the Crossroads Centre.

Bluegrass legend Del McCoury pitched in, as well, offering a pair of deluxe VIP tickets to DelFest 2024 in Cumberland, Md., while Sierra Hull is donating a VIP Tour Package that’s good for any stop along her 2024 tour and includes a meet-and-greet and signed merchandise.

And, finally, included in this auction are some beautiful signed guitars and artistic creations from friends near and far who have never played the Crossroads main stage but want to support Eric, Crossroads Centre Antigua and the recovery community. Former Eagles guitarist and “Hotel California” co-writer Don Felder, who played the Crossroads 2023 welcome reception, signed and donated a double-necked 2023 Epiphone EDS-1245 Don Felder Signature Model. Stray Cat Brian Setzer and KISS’ Paul Stanley also donated signed signature model instruments to the auction.

The auction takes place at Heritage Auctions’ Dallas, Texas headquarters on Friday, December 8 from 6PM CT. Bids can be placed live on the floor or by telephone, HERITAGELive!®, internet, fax, and mail.

All proceeds will benefit Crossroads Centre Antigua. Founded in 1998, the Centre provides treatment and education to chemically and alcohol dependent persons, their families and their significant others. Treatment is provided through residential care, family and aftercare programs. The pathway to recovery is founded on the 12 steps and a change in lifestyle. The Crossroads Centre Antigua also operates a halfway house in Antigua called Bevon House and facilitates various ongoing recovery initiatives on the island of Antigua and in the Caribbean.

CLICK HERE to view the online auction catalog

CLICK HERE for auction bidding information, including how to register

CLICK HERE to learn more about the work of Crossroads Centre Antigua