$25,000
A 1967 Coral Hornet, Vincent Bell Signature Model, Serial No. 823044, in flame red finish, double-cutaway body, two pickups, two rotary controls, four switches, jack input and pearloid white pickguard; a simulated tweed rectangular hardshell case with claret-coloured plush lining. Accompanied by various documents concerning the provenance from members of the punk band The Skunks including a note from Frank Cornelli, the band’s lead guitarist which states that Pete Townshend gave him this guitar in 1978 "...after signing to his Eel Pie label and releasing a single I wrote called ‘Good From The Bad’ which was a feature single on the John Peel Radio One Show…he [Townshend] told me that the Hornet had been used on the Who’s first American Tour…We changed our band name to CRAZE when we later signed to EMI (Cobra then Harvest labels)…we…recorded an album on EMI called CRAZE on which I used this guitar..." According to an interview with Franck Cornelli and Gerry Lambe of The Skunks in 2002, Pete Townshend first met the band when they were supporting Billy Idol’s Generation X at the Vortex club in 1978. Townshend, accompanied by Keith Moon and Alex Harvey, went back stage after the gig and told the band he thought they were really good, and that he had enjoyed Cornelli’s guitar work which reminded him of a young Ritchie Blackmore. He signed the band to his Eel Pie label shortly after seeing them. Categories:
Auctioneer:
Juliens Auctions
Date:
2008-05-31
