Fans of Duane Allman in Macon, Georgia, say they didn’t expect the late musician’s old guitar to sell for $1.25 million at a recent auction. (Source Billboard)18
The gold-topped guitar is the one Allman played in the hit song “Layla,” where he performed with Eric Clapton, The Telegraph reported .
Until recently, the guitar affectionately called “Layla” had been on display at The Allman Brothers Band museum at The Big House in Macon.
“I don’t think anybody expected that,” Museum Director Richard Brent said of the amount. “The history of it is what sold it.”
Brent said the man who bought the guitar at the auction is an out-of-town collector who wishes to remain anonymous.
The buyer has agreed to share the instrument with the museum during certain times. That means it will be coming back to the museum in late November, Brent said.
“It will be coming back to The Big House in late November,” Brent said. “We couldn’t ask for more than that.”
Duane Allman played the guitar on the first two Allman Brothers records, and in “Loan Me a Dime” with Boz Scaggs, Brent said. The recording “Layla” with Derek and the Dominoes is among the last times Allman played that guitar.
Rounder Records announced they will be releasing Gregg Allman’s final studio album, Southern Blood,
Southern Blood is a farewell album featuring the first new recording from Allman since 2011’s Low Country Blues, as well as a collection of songs written by Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Jerry Garcia, Willie Dixon, and more. Before his death in May, Allman spent his last years working on the project, collaborating on it with his friend and manager Michael Lehman, and producer Don Was.
Southern Blood Tracklist:
01. My Only True Friend (Gregg Allman-Scott Sharrard)
02. Once I Was (Tim Buckley-Larry Beckett)
03. Going Going Gone (Bob Dylan)
04. Black Muddy River (Jerome J. Garcia-Robert C. Hunter)
05. I Love the Life I Live (Willie Dixon)
06. Willin’ (Lowell George)
07. Blind Bats and Swamp Rats (Jack Avery)
08. Out of Left Field (Dewey Lindon Oldham Jr.-Dan Penn)
09. Love Like Kerosene (Scot Sharrard)
10. Song for Adam featuring Jackson Browne (Jackson Browne)
RELATED Cher honors ex-husband Gregg Allman at rocker’s funeral
Gregg Allman’s manager and friend Michael Lehman has spoken about Gregg’s upcoming posthumous solo album. “It was my goal to make sure it would be a big, special album,” says Lehman. “Even though that it became clear that Gregg wasn’t necessarily going to be able to promote it, even if he was here, and that was something we were going to be prepared for.”