Genuine artifacts relating to Beatles band members are few and far between, making this lot, on offer in our upcoming Played, Worn, & Torn auction, exceptionally rare. As with John Lennon's iconic psychedelic Rolls-Royce, and George Harrison's psychedelic Mini, this incredible vehicle represents a moment in time, offering the same message of peace and love. A fully-restored 1953 Bristol double-decker bus used by Paul McCartney during the 1972 “Wings Over Europe” tour, is the largest surviving artifact of his post-Beatles career still in existence.

This bus played a vital part in the image of Wings in their formative years, which consisted of Paul and Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Henry McCullough, and Denny Seiwell. During the tour, this bus traveled over 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers) through nine countries across Europe, including France, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Paul McCartney stated in an interview, "We knew we were going to tour in Europe and that the weather would be nice, and the idea of being stuck in a bus all the time, going from city to city, hotel to hotel, wasn’t too appealing so we decided to travel around in an open-top bus and got some sunshine as we traveled from one place to another.” Paul continued, "We painted the outside psychedelic, like a magic bus. If you look at it very straight, very conventionally, it was quite a mad thing to do, to put a playpen on the top deck of the bus and put all the children in there while driving around Europe. It was not what you'd expect from a normal band. But we weren't a normal band."

From 2019 to 2022, the bus underwent an extensive restoration that included a complete reworking of the body, and restoration of the psychedelic paint job which had been removed when the bus returned to service after the tour in 1972. The bus today has been exhibited at multiple venues and shows, drawing a large amount of attention, including at the NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham, United Kingdom. At this automobile show, bands lined up to perform on the refinished upper deck of the tour bus, including the legendary saxophonist, Howie Casey, who had previously performed with Wings. BBC News wrote, "But there are some changes, as the upper deck, which featured blankets, beanbags, mattresses and a playpen for the children – now folds down to become a mobile stage."

Don’t miss your chance to own this legendary motor vehicle that help to bring Paul McCartney and Wings into the spotlight. Register and bid today.

MTV made its debut at 12:01 AM on August 1, 1981 and forever altered television with their unconventional approach: 24-hours of non-stop music videos.

Created by the small NYC graphic arts collective, “Manhattan Design,” the channel’s launch was a moment of sheer creativity and artistic expression; a debut that has become iconic in pop-culture history.

The sequence opened with a rocket launch and an image of an Apollo 11 astronaut planting an MTV flag on the surface of the moon, along with the now-famous words, "Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll." For the first five years, the moon landing scene was played at the top of the hour, every hour, becoming a symbol of MTV and its innovative spirit.

Within its first few years of airing, MTV had already revolutionized the music industry by making music videos a dominant medium, and in 1984 the Video Music Awards (VMA’s) were introduced. The awards were designed to honor the musicians and directors who were pushing the boundaries of music and shaping the new artform. The ceremony, conceived as an alternative to the Grammy’s, was a key move that helped to strengthen MTV's influence in the music world while cementing music videos as a legitimate form of expression. But there was just one thing missing: a trophy.

The task was once again put into the trusted hands of Manhattan Design, and in a fitting tribute to MTV’s conception, the "Moon Man" award was born. The award, designed as an astronaut holding an MTV flag, became a symbol of recognition within the industry. The award celebrated outstanding musical achievements and honored the artistic and visual innovation of music videos. Together, the astronaut imagery and the Moon Man award became lasting symbols of the MTV Generation.

And although music videos might not be as prominent on MTV these days, the Moon Man Award still remains a symbol of music video greatness. It's an emblem of the MTV revolution and an award that will continue to inspire for years to come. We’ve been lucky enough to have countless VMA’s pass through our hands; now it’s your chance. Currently up for bid is a 1987/1988 Moon Man Award (now referred to as the Moon Person Award) for George Michael’s video for his hit song, “Father Figure.”

Johnny Cash might be one of music’s quintessential icons, but make no mistake – the country star was much more than just a grand voice and consummate showman. In fact, when it came to performing, Cash relished the spotlight and made every attempt to give the fans just what they wanted – his authentic self – and rarely if ever did he disappoint.

Part of Cash’s allure was his ability to connect with fans from all walks of life, and the “Folsom Prison Blues” crooner accommodated the common man with intense relatability while stretching the notion that he and the blue-collar listener were more one-in-the-same than dissimilar in their existence.

Cash’s formula was easily digestible and rang tried and true to his style, all the way down to his regular television appearances on hit shows such as Hee Haw (Gaylord Entertainment, 1982-1993), in which Cash graced the popular country-themed variety series with his presence four times – with his foray coming in 1974 – before returning to the show in 1975, 1986, and 1988.

Currently available in our “Played, Worn, and Torn” music highlights auction are Cash and June Carter’s signed 1986 Hee Haw contracts. Straight from the Johnny Cash Estate and The Cash Family, and on sale to benefit the Johnny Cash Archive, the pair of Standard AFTRA Engagement Contracts are dated June 27, 1986 for Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash to appear as Principal Performer - Guest Co-Host for the television variety series Hee Haw, and are signed respectively John R. Cash and June Carter Cash in blue ink.

For centuries businesses have relied heavily on advertisements as a way to draw attention to the products they sell. Short-term marketing campaigns, known as “promotional advertising,” took off in the 19th century and evolved steadily over the years.

Standees (printed figures of popular entertainers) were often used to catch the attention of consumers, and Elvis Presley, one of the hottest entertainers of all-time, was a perfect subject for a life-sized cutout. Presley had already conquered the stage, when in 1956 he broke into the films with his first feature length movie, Love Me Tender. In an effort to draw in large crowds, theaters began using Elvis standees out front. The eye-catching figures were fan favorites, but unfortunately very few survived the years intact, and they are now extremely scarce.

Coming up for auction at Julien’s is an original 1956 standee of Elvis Presley, in character as “Clint Reno,” from his classic film debut, Love Me Tender.