The guitar Bob Dylan played at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 is to be sold at auction.
The 1964 sunburst Fender Stratocaster will be auctioned later this year after Dawn Peterson, who has owned the guitar for 50 years, decided to part with the iconic musical memorabilia. Peterson appeared with the instrument on US TV show History Detectives earlier this year and has been informed that she is likely to make a minimum of £333,000 from the sale.
Following Peterson’s TV appearance there was dispute between herself and Dylan as to who was the legal owner of the guitar. However, the legal dispute has since been settled though it is not known if the singer will make any money from the proceeds of the sale. “One term of the agreement that I obviously can disclose is that Mr. Dylan will participate in the sale to the extent that he will be signing off on any ownership interest after the sale,” Peterson’s lawyer Christopher DeFalco said. “The person who buys it will receive a bill of sale that will be signed both by the Petersons and Mr. Dylan or his representatives.”
Peterson herself hopes the guitar will find a home which allows the public to view it, telling Rolling Stone; “I would have to pay to keep it locked up, and I want somebody else to enjoy it. I’m hoping it goes to a museum so it can be shared with everybody.”
In addition to the guitar, the auction lot will also will include handwritten Dylan lyrics found hidden in the guitar case. These lyrics, which show the early stages of songs including “Just Like A Woman“, “Temporary Achilles” and “Medicine Sunday” are expected to raise a further £25,000.
Meanwhile, Bob Dylan has announced a string of UK tour dates set for this November. He will play three shows at Glasgow Clyde Auditorium, three at Blackpool Opera House and three at London Royal Albert Hall, starting on November 18 in Scotland.
Bob Dylan will play:
Glasgow Clyde Auditorium (November 18, 19, 20)
Blackpool Opera House (22, 23, 24)
London Royal Albert Hall (26, 27, 28)