Gerry Rafferty’s guitars fetch £25k at auction

THE guitar played by Gerry Rafferty on his classic song Shipyard Town, and three others owned by the late icon fetched £25,000 at an auction today in London.
A number of Gerry Rafferty's guitars and belongings went under the hammer in London. Picture: GettyA number of Gerry Rafferty's guitars and belongings went under the hammer in London. Picture: Getty
A number of Gerry Rafferty's guitars and belongings went under the hammer in London. Picture: Getty

The Fender Esquire guitar, made in 1954 and in which Rafferty can be seen playing in the 1988 video for the song was sold for £10,000 when it went under the hammer at Bonham’s sale of entertainment and memorabilia.

The iconic instrument was also said to have previously belonged to ex-Beatle George Harrison.

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Among the other Rafferty guitars that went under the hammer was the Fender Mustang which sold for £3,125 - over one thousand pounds more than Bonham’s had expected.

The Gibson ES345TD guitar was also sold for £6,250 and the Don Musser 12-string acoustic for £5,625.

The Scottish singer-songwriter is probably best known for hits Baker Street, Night Owl and Right Down The Line.

Following lack of commercial success in his early career as a solo act, Rafferty joined old school friend Joe Egan in the band Stealers Wheel - which led to fame with the huge hit Stuck in the Middle With You.

The duo disbanded in 1975, but due to legal disputes, Rafferty was unable to release any material for three years.

Upon going solo again, Rafferty achieved his biggest hits, most notably Baker Street, which he released in 1978.

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Rafferty himself said this was his first taste of proper success.

The Paisley-born star died in 2011 due to liver failure, following a long and highly publicised battle with alcoholism in the latter years of his life.

Another item of Rafferty’s that sold in the Bonham’s auction included an Ivor Novello Certificate of Nomination for Baker Street that sold for £162.

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