Legendary Rarities from the Rock'n'Roll Scene

A Legend in White – Fender "Stratocaster" 1962 with Fascinating Provenance

One of the auction highlights is a Fender 'Stratocaster' with an exciting provenance from Bjarne Möller, Lee Kings, and Hansson and Karlsson. Bjarne Möller, or Bjärne as many of his friends new him, must be described as something of an obscure legend within the Swedish music scene. This despite a past in The Lee Kings, known for several hits and extensive tours with accordingly substantial fees, played on the same stages as The Rolling Stones and The Who, or, what was left of the amplifiers after Pete Townshend's harsh treatment of the equipment. With his white Fender Stratocaster, Bjarne played with The Lee Kings on the more or less demolished setup. Or, in Bjarne's own words: “Pete Townshend drove the entire neck of the guitar into the speaker and ended the show by throwing the guitars. Then we had to go on and play on the setup. It was crackling…”.

The white Fender followed Bjarne from Lee Kings to the legendary Hansson and Karlsson outfit, as a somewhat inofficial member, third member. The group existed for only three years, 1966 – 1969, but made a strong impression on subsequent bands. Their psychedelic, improvisational jazz with its both playful and chaotic expression became incomparably influential, not least on the following Swedish Progg movement.

Psychedelic Aesthetics and Iconic Concert Posters – Wes Wilson and the Visual Revolution of the 60s

Among the highlights of the auction are several iconic concert posters, including works by Wes Wilson. Heavily influenced by stylistic elements from Art Nouveau and with psychedelic's melting typography, Wes Wilson left an unmistakable mark on the aesthetics of the late sixties. With adjacent complementary colours and expansive compositions, his works become a kind of popular culture's equivalent to the older art history's horror vacui. This is particularly evident in record covers, or, as in the auction's concert posters, promotional material for Bill Graham's various events at, among others, San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium – where bands like The Velvet Underground, Doors, and Jimi Hendrix Experience performed. Or, the Grateful Dead, who between 1965 and 1969 played over fifty shows at the venue. His influence affected contemporary artists such as Rick Griffin and Stanley “Mouse” Miller and helped establish a style that remained highly vital into the following decade.