Jim Irsay, Owner & CEO of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, will exhibit items from The Jim Irsay Collection – his renowned assemblage of historic and iconic artifacts from rock music, American history, and pop culture – in San Francisco next month. Join Irsay and the all-star Jim Irsay Band from 6-10 p.m. on December 10 along with special guests Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Buddy Guy, John Fogerty and Ann Wilson at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco for a night full of music, history and community.
The exhibit and concert are free and open to the public, but guests must first register for a free ticket at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jim-irsay-collection-john-fogerty-buddy-guy-ann-wilson-san-francisco-tickets-444720800887.
“San Francisco has a special place in rock & roll history, so I’m excited to bring this musical collection, as well as other unique and historic artifacts, to the Bay Area for all to experience,” Irsay said. “I’m just a steward of these artifacts, so it’s my dream to share this important history with as many people as possible and to inspire them to go on and accomplish great things in life.”
The evening also will feature a concert by The Jim Irsay Band, led by Irsay on vocals. Band members include Kenny Aronoff on drums (Sir Paul McCartney, John Mellencamp, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson), Tom Bukovac on guitar (played on more than 700 albums with major artists), Mike Mills on bass and vocals (founding member of R.E.M.), Danny Nucci on guitar and saxophone (actor from Titanic, The Rock), Carmella Ramsey on violin, mandolin and vocals (Reba McEntire, John Hiatt, Olivia Newton-John), Michael Ramos on keyboards (Mellencamp, Los Lonely Boys, Patti Griffin, Paul Simon), Kenny Wayne Shepherd on guitar and vocals (five-time GRAMMY® nominated), Mike Wanchic on guitar ( Mellencamp).
More than 30 iconic guitars will be on display, as well as an array of other music memorabilia, including:
Jerry Garcia "Tiger" guitar (Doug Irwin/1979)
David Gilmour "The Black Strat" Fender Stratocaster (1969);
Janis Joplin Gibson J-45 (1953)
Eric Clapton "MTV Unplugged" C.F. Martin & Co. Style 000-42 Guitar (1939);
Bob Dylan "Dylan Goes Electric" Fender Stratocaster (1964);
Prince "Yellow Cloud" guitar by Andy Beech (1995);
Kurt Cobain “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Fender Mustang (1969);
John Lennon “Sgt. Peppers Piano”, c.1869 John Broadwood & Sons;
Sir Elton John's Steinway & Sons Model D Grand Piano;
Bob Dylan's working lyrics for "The Times They Are A-Changin';"
Paul McCartney's studio lyrics for "Hey Jude;"
The Beatles / Ringo Starr drum set and original bass drum head from The Ed Sullivan Show; and
Jim Morrison Paris notebook.
Outside of music, the collection includes such historic items as:
The original 1777 Continental Congress proclamation designating Thanksgiving as a national holiday;
An 1823 William J. Stone printing of the Declaration of Independence, one of the first exact “facsimiles” of the final signed document;
Artifacts and signed documents from numerous U.S. Presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and others;
An original reward poster for John Wilkes Booth issued the morning after President Lincoln's April,1865 assassination;
Handwritten documents and artifacts from women’s suffrage pioneer Susan B. Anthony;
The original hand-notated manuscript for Alcoholics Anonymous’ “Big Book,” the organization’s founding document;
Renowned American author Jack Kerouac’s original 119-foot scroll of the iconic novel, “On the Road”;
A Jackie Robinson game-used bat from 1953;
Muhammad Ali’s 1965 first walkout robe that bore his new name and boxing shoes from the 1975 “Thrilla’ in Manilla” vs. Joe Frazier; and
Sylvester Stallone’s original handwritten outline and screenplay for “Rocky.”
