The grand piano that was used to write some of Fleetwood Mac‘s biggest hits is going on auction.
READ MORE: Stevie Nicks interview: “In Fleetwood Mac, Christine McVie and I were a force of nature”
The black Grand Hamilton piano, which was once owned by Stevie Nicks, has been listed for auction by Gotta Have Rock And Roll. The minimum bid for the legendary instrument is currently US$50,000, with the auction estimating that it will go up to $100,000 or even $200,000. The auction is due to close on December 6.
The storied piano, which was put up for auction by English singer-songwriter Robbie Patton, was first owned by Nicks in the 1970s. Later in that decade, she brought it on tour with Fleetwood Mac, with Christine McVie playing the instrument until 1983 before it was retired.
Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie playing the piano live in 1975. Credit: Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images
Patton also claims McVie wrote 1977’s ‘Songbird’ off Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ and 1979’s ‘Sara’ off ‘Tusk’ on the same piano. Patton – who co-wrote ‘Hold Me’ with the band in 1982 – later requested for the piano as payment, which he was granted.
Following that, he began working with the likes of Elton John and Queen: “Freddie Mercury even came by for a recording session and used the piano. Elton John used the piano. The people who have touched this piano are crazy!”
Patton said that the piano has since been “refurbished and lacquered, but the keys have never been changed. The keys are all original and are the exact keys of which Stevie Nicks used for countless years to compose some of her biggest songs, the same keys that Christine McVie used on stage for Fleetwood Mac during their golden years touring. Even the same keys that Freddie Mercury, Elton John and many more artists used in the studio.”
READ MORE: Christine McVie, 1943-2022: an eternal songbird
He also added that the instrument “has an unbelievable history that needs to be displayed in a museum.”
In other news, Fleetwood Mac have recently announced a “fully authorised”, “definitive” documentary to chronicle the history of the legendary band. While the documentary has yet to receive a release date, it is set to premiere on Apple TV+, and will for the first time ever see them “share their extraordinary story in their own words”.
Apple has also confirmed that the documentary will consist of new interviews with the band’s surviving members, never-before-seen footage, and archival interviews with the late Christine McVie.
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