He said: 'I am thrilled to preserve and protect another piece of American culture that changed the way we looked at the world.'. READARTICLE, For matters related to TJIC Exhibitions/Tour, For all media inquiries related to TJIC, For all other (non-tour matters) related to TJIC. Once Colts owner Jim Irsay's father, Robert, passed away in 1997, he began a unique collection that is now worth millions. In September 2022, Jim Irsay displayed his collection of rock 'n' roll, pop culture, and history memorabilia for the citizens of Indianapolis a homecoming of sorts. Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. In October 2022 at a National Football League owner's meeting, Irsay said he believed "that theres merit to remove Daniel Snyder as the owner of the Washington Commanders" amid calls for Snyder to sell the franchise. I try to go at the very best of the best.. George Washington to Bob Dylan. That changed music, that brought 'Rubber Soul' with the Beatles. Did we grant ourselves a moment of self indulgence and actually play Paperback Writeron one of the guitars it was recorded with? Obviously the collection would be impossible without Irsay's fortune, much of which comes from his family's heating and cooling (HVAC) empire, not to mention the Colts, a team his late father bought in Baltimore in 1972 before famously moving the franchise to Indianapolis nine years later. This is evidenced on day two of our stay in Indianapolis when the team puts together an impromptu concert performance in the grounds of a disused psychiatric hospital. Sometimes you might think Im coldhearted. The 1969 left-handed Fender Mustang guitarwith the brands Competition Lake Placid blue finish with matching headstockfar surpassed expectations, after being estimated by Juliens Auctions to sell for between $600,000 and $800,000. The event takes place from 6-11 p.m. Does Jim Irsay have a plane? [65] In 2023, Irsay acquired the saddle used by Secretariat when he won the American Triple Crown in 1973.[66][67]. Irsay's father, Robert Irsay, built a fortune estimated to be over $150 million through successful heating and air-conditioning companies.[1]. Though Irsay talked during his performance about the darkness that grips people in the throes of anguish or addiction, Tuesday night in Chicago was a festive occasion in homage to excellence. He described caressing Cobain's 53-year-old Fender, saying: 'With your fingertips, you try to sense its energy.'. And then we have access to other resources to help us with preservation, control and security factors. . Owner of the NFL Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay's passion for rock music, American history and pop culture has led him to assemble a. Martin & Co. D-35 guitar (Pink Floyd's David Gilmour - 'Wish You Were Here'), 1969 Fender Stratocaster guitar (Gilmour - 'The Black Strat'), 1939 C.F. For more travel news, check out these articles: Greg Robertson has worked as an editor and writer for some of the top newspapers and websites in the country, leading him to live all across the country. But its professional football. have each advocated for the initiative, among others. By Collection. He wrote Sgt. He would lift weights with Colts players and could squat over 700 pounds. $965,000. SEATING: This event will be standing room ONLY with LIMITED seating available on a first come, first served basis. The interesting thing about guitars is because of the heritage of these and the providence, theyre special, Irsay told Duthiers. The exhibit is at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum at The Lowell National Historic Park. We touch down in Indiana to pay him a visit. According to the AP, Irsay dealt with addiction using prescription drugs after his college football career at SMU was ravaged by injury. He predicted that future historians will look back on the century and pinpoint it as an outlier era of technological advancement. But on January 25, he showcased distinctive items hes been able to obtain as a collector. Buddy Guy, 86, Chicago legend, slaying at Jim Irsay event pic.twitter.com/xKO8ZXhXyy. The breathtaking collection has been estimated to be worth well north of 100 million dollars. Irsay has his own all-star band, The Jim Irsay Band, and has hosted free concerts across the country in Nashville, Tenn.,[68][69] Washington, D.C.,[70][71] Austin, Tex.,[72][73] Los Angeles,[74][75] New York City,[76][77][78][79] Chicago,[80][81][82] Indianapolis,[83][84][85] San Francisco[86][87][88] and eventually Las Vegas. Over the span of two decades, Irsay has acquired a vast collection of cultural memorabilia. We never put it in harms way. While Irsays Collection may be privately owned, he has been sharing it with the worldfor free. When you're worth more than $3 billion, you can acquire some cool stuff. . [14], Irsay came under scrutiny in November 2022 when he fired Colts head coach Frank Reich after a 351 start to the season and replaced him with former Colts player Jeff Saturday as interim head coach. Items on display ran the gamut from historical artifacts such as letters from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth and the Atlantic Charter signed by Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt to pop culture items such as Hunter S. Thompsons Red Shark 1973 Chevrolet Caprice convertible. But I can be a steward and a curator. Jim Irsay, the billionaire Colts owner, recently spent $4.4 million for a guitar (pictured) belonging to the late Kurt Cobain, Cobain's Fender Mustang was seen in Nirvana's the 1991 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' music video (left). The Jim Irsay Collection Susan B. Anthony to Prince. Linebacker Shaquille Leonard, actor Rob Lowe and interim head coach Jeff Saturday have each advocated for the initiative, among others. Ill never let that happen again.. And then theres John Lennons 1963 Gretsch. The lineup features a cast of leading local session pros led by guitar tech and record producer Marc Johnson, plus Irsay on vocals and the guest of honour, Kenny Wayne Shepherd. 'I have JFK, his rocking chair, Jackie Robinson's bat that he hit a homerun World Series with, Muhammad Ali's shoes from the Thrilla in Manila against Joe Frazier,' Irsay said. And regardless of your area of interest, there will be something there that will blow your mind." Smells Like Teen Spirit is credited with popularizing Nirvana and bringing the grunge genre as a whole into the mainstream. Irsay has been a very successful businessman and proprietor in his profession, and he has a net worth of $3 billion as of 2023. I was a Lennon man.. Irsay is an NFL owner of considerable wealth. Jim played linebacker for the SMU Mustangs football team as a walk-on, but an ankle injury ended his playing career. The collection is highlighted by musical instruments and items owned and used by the greatest artists in music history, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Prince, Eric Clapton, Sir Elton John, Jerry Garcia, Les Paul, David Gilmour, Jim Morrison, Pete Townshend, Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, The Edge, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and other icons, as well as signed photos, handwritten lyrics, and other historic music memorabilia. [38], In December 2021, the Irsay family donated $3 million to Indiana University to create a research institute dedicated to studying mental health and the stigma associated with it. [63] On May 23, 2022, Irsay paid a record $4.6 million for the 1969 Fender Mustang played by Nirvana's Kurt Cobain in the music video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit. We've received your submission. During the David Gilmour Guitar Collection auction at Christie's New York on Thursday, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay picked up a few . Items on display ran the gamut from historical artifacts such as letters from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth and the Atlantic Charter signed by Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt to pop culture items such as Hunter S. Thompsons Red Shark 1973 Chevrolet Caprice convertible." I have to look after the Horseshoe thats my job. In 2014, he was arrested for DWI and possession of prescription medications. It was on the stage at Madison Square Garden during John Lennons last live performance, a duet with John. [28][29][30][31], In late 2020, the Irsay family launched Kicking The Stigma, which is dedicated to "raise awareness about mental health disorders and to remove the shame and stigma too often associated with these illnesses. About The Jim Irsay Collection ABOUT THE JIM IRSAY COLLECTION Jim Irsay's passion for rock music, American history and pop culture led him to assemble a robust collection of historic and culturally-significant artifacts over several decades that together make up The Jim Irsay Collection. Irsay hopes that life experiences, ranging from outreach or a Jim Irsay Collection concert, can ultimately benefit those who are in need. An active philanthropist, Mr. Irsay hopes to establish a museum to share these treasures with the world. A personal friend of Irsays, Allen passed away in 2018 but could regularly be found bidding on many of the same celebrity-owned instruments as the Irsay team, including Ringo Starrs Beatles-era drums. To Irsay, his collection is more than just a hobby. Irsay, the eccentric owner of the Indianapolis Colts, had assembled an all-star band, including blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, R.E.M. [36] As of late 2022, Kicking The Stigma had committed more than $17 million (through action grants and personal donations by the Irsay family) towards its initiatives. In 2009, Irsay was vocal about preventing a group that included talk-show host Rush Limbaugh from purchasing the St. Louis Rams. I look at it (as if) I own nothing because you never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul, Irsay said. Nedd Guitars . Its the same as the Horseshoe [the Colts]. His collection debuts at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, which is also free to the public, along with guitars and musical instruments used by the Beatles, Prince and Kurt Cobain; 1823 edition of the . Here Are The Republicans Who Want Him Kicked Out, Rupert Murdoch Must Tell Fox News Hosts To Stop Spreading Election Lies, Congressional Democrats Demand, Trump Attacks Rupert Murdoch And Fox NewsAgainClaiming Destruction Of America Amid Defamation Lawsuit, These U.S.-Listed Stocks SurgeAlibaba, Baidu And MoreAfter Chinas Economic Rebound, Top NFL Prospect Jalen Carter Charged For Alleged Role In Fatal Street Race, Bite-Sized TikTok Poetry Blows UpAlong With Growing Claims Of Plagiarism, Rihanna Returns To Puma With New Fenty X Puma Line, AI Is The New Electricity: Bank Of America Picks 20 Stocks To Cash In On ChatGPT Hype, Hoda Kotb Absent From Today Show Because Of Family Health Matter, Eli Lilly Slashes Insulin Prices Up To 70% And Caps Out-Of-Pocket Costs At $35, TikTok Sets Default Daily Screen Time Limit For Under 18s, Kurt Cobains Guitar From Nirvanas Smells Like Teen Spirit Music Video Up For Auction. Thats how much one of Kurt Cobains guitarsa Martin D-18Esold for in 2020. Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, recently purchased the Boeing 737 plane. [62] On June 20, 2019, Irsay paid a record $3.975 million for a guitar, known as The Black Strat, formerly owned by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. And these will become not inanimate objects. "Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is displaying his world-renowned collection of historic memorabilia to the public for the first time in the Big Apple. Kurt Cobain's guitar from Nirvana's 1991 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' music video was up for auction in Las Vegas, where acolytes of the 62-year-old billionaire were ready spend as much as $3.75 million on the piece at Irsay's direction. Jim Irsay net worth: Jim Irsay is an American businessman who has a net worth of $2.7 billion dollars. He also draws parallels between trailblazers in music and creatives in business watching James Brown work is no different than Steve Jobs and over the years has found kindred spirits in the many musicians he counts as friends. Items that will be on display include: An eclectic collection of pop culture and sports memorabilia will also be on display, including: The evening will also include some live music, with Irsay taking the lead and an all-star band backing him. This was the piano he toured with for 20 years; it was also played by Paul McCartney and Freddie Mercury. Despite their extraordinary value, Irsay is relaxed when handling these historic instruments. Stone printing of the Declaration of Independence, considered one of the first exact facsimiles of the actual document. I dont have any ownership over it. As of January 25, Kicking the Stigma has raised. Gilmours Black Strat? [8][9] Indianapolis won 115 regular season games from 200009, which is the second-most in a decade by any NFL team. The event was topped off with a performance by the Jim Irsay band, a star-studded collaboration of music icons including Mike Mills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Kenny Aronoff. I've only owned two of them.'. READ ARTICLE, Smells like team spirit: Billionaire Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay shares his collection of rare guitars at a free exhibition after splurging $4.4 million on Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's Fender Mustang READ ARTICLE, "Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is displaying his world-renowned collection of historic memorabilia to the public for the first time in the Big Apple. [47][48] According to The Indianapolis Star sports columnist Bob Kravitz, Irsay had an ongoing drug problem. 'This once-in-a-lifetime auction has been one of the greatest privileges in my professional career and I'm duly pleased that the proceeds will also bring much needed attention to mental health awareness.'. While Irsay has collected items from across the spectrum of American history, there is a specific emphasis on the 20th century (We went from horse and buggies on the road to a man on the moon in 65 years, Irsay pointed out to The Post). Click HERE for more information. By Alex Raskin Sports News Editor For Dailymail.com, Published: 13:31 GMT, 3 June 2022 | Updated: 13:45 GMT, 3 June 2022. Today, the necks startling lustre and the overall originality of the instrument tell us little about its former owner and, perhaps fittingly, theres a frustrating and slightly icy sense of detachment that leaves us feeling no closer to rocks greatest poet and greatest enigma. And theres no sign of the pace slowing any time soon the collection continues to expand and the plans for it get more and more ambitious. ''', Irsay's collection also includes the robe Muhammad Ali wore before his 1965 rematch with Sonny Liston inLewiston, Maine, Irsay told DailyMail.com that his favorite piece is John Lennon's piano: 'I'd say John Lennon's piano is probably my favorite thing that I have, musically. Nothing against Buzz Aldrin hes the only one who hit a six-iron on the moon but really if it was Neil Armstrongs suit, I probably wouldve been in on it, Irsay told reporters. As well as being used by Elton himself at sold-out Dodger Stadium shows in October 1975, the piano would go on to be played by Freddie Mercury during Queens A Day At The Racestour in 1977 and by Paul McCartney in front of a television audience over over one billion people during the Live Aid finale in 1985. Great Eastern FX Co. Focus Fuzz review: The best of all possible fuzz worlds in a single box? [41], Irsay has been a staunch supporter of former Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano, who beat acute promyelocytic leukemia after being diagnosed in September 2012. The manuscript is now part of the Jim Irsay Collection, which is currently touring the US, John Coltrane's saxophone is one of the more iconic pieces of the Jim Irsay Collection given its historical significance to jazz. When youre worth more than $3 billion, you can acquire some cool stuff. 'I've been doing it for 25 years, and I would say I'm one of the only people who can peg these things pretty close,' Irsay said. When you have a gene, thats a very difficult thing. READARTICLE, "To call Irsays collection breathtaking would not do it justice. In addition to the artifacts, The Jim Irsay Bandled by Irsay on vocalswill entertain guests. INDIANAPOLIS The pop culture memorabilia collected by Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay over the years is now on full display inside Lucas Oil Stadium! An 1823 William J. "I, myself, couldn't even consider voting for him," Irsay said at an NFL owners meeting. Irsay joined Cheddar News to talk about why he's bringing artifacts from the Beatles to Jerry Garcia to light now." WATCH VIDEO He talked about how much putting together a world-class collection costs and what it would take for him to part with it." Irsaywhose net worth is $3.5 billion according to Forbes' estimatessaid the guitar is the latest addition to his vast collection of memorabilia related to rock music, American history and . Shepherd may prefer heavier strings and an action with a little more fight but it doesnt stop him from sounding pretty spectacular with David Gilmours longtime number one plugged into a vintage 5E3 Deluxe. After his father suffered a stroke in 1995, Jim assumed day-to-day management with the role of Senior Executive Vice President, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer in April 1996. Our emotional and spiritual lives are so tied to the arts, so tied to music. After being separated since 2003, Meg filed for divorce on November 21, 2013. READ ARTICLE, "Irsay, who possesses one of the most impressive collections of musical, historical, sports and pop-culture memorabilia on the planet, is determined to showcase the artifacts while celebrating the music he reveres." Yet the 1964 Stratocaster Dylan played that day was soon left behind on a private aeroplane and he never looked back. Most of these artefacts currently reside either at Irsays home or in his office at the NFL teams headquarters and practice facility. In the interests of making the collection more accessible to the public, a series of pop-up exhibits and concerts in the USA and Europe are set to be the precursor to the opening of a museum akin to Seattles MoPOP, which was founded by Microsofts Paul Allen. There are also other forms of rare collectibles too, like one of Jackie Robinson's game-used bats and Jack Kerouac's 'On The Road' manuscript. Jerry Garcias Tiger? Former Colts players, including the uber-popular Pat McAfee, speak very highly of him. Specific piano movers that come recommended by Steinway. In November of the following year, the Gretsch was gifted to his cousin David Birch. The original 1777 Continental Congress proclamation designating Thanksgiving as a national holiday. The Jim Irsay Collection: $100 Million Traveling Museum Worth the (Free) Price of Admission. I get letters all the time, Please can I come on a pilgrimage, I just want to see Tiger, it means so much to me. Its way bigger than just saying, Oh, thats a nice song. On May 5, 2018, he purchased an original printing of the 1939 book Alcoholics Anonymous with notes handwritten by the author Bill Wilson, cofounder of AA, for $2.4 million at auction. When his father died in 1997 Jim engaged in a legal battle with his stepmother over ownership of the team, but later became the youngest NFL team owner at that time at 37. '''There was three of us bidding, going up in $250,000 increments. They become alive when theyre playing.. Im blessed. You may opt-out by. However, one item in particular means a lot to Irsay: an Alcoholics Anonymous manuscript that lists the 12-step program with handwritten notes. Thats why were especially excited to share this special evening with our friends, fans and neighbors right here in Indianapolis.. The list goes on and on. 'It's so eclectic because it's everything.'" In fact, Cobain's family donated a portion of the proceeds to the organization, which has already raised more than $16 million since 2020 to help fight the stigma of mental illness. [45], Irsay married Meg Coyle in 1980, and the couple have three daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, as well as 10 grandchildren. Last year, Rolling Stone ranked the song fifth on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Jack Kerouac to Jackie Robinson. I LOVE WHAT I DO. This is my effort to make the world a better place. pepper's on it. The Jim Irsay Collection includes some of the most treasured artifacts in sports, music, and literary history. It changed and saved hundreds of millions of lives, Irsay said. $6 million. There was also sports memorabilia, such as a bat used by Jackie Robinson and the belt won by Muhammad Ali in his famous bout with George Foreman in Zaire, which Irsay recently bought at auction for $6 million (even though, as Irsay revealed to the media, the belt was not adorned with real gold). In 2014, he was arrested for DWI and possession of prescription medications. Martin & Co. "NFL Team Owner Profiles: Jim Irsay, Indianapolis Colts", "The Colts' Jewish roots - Israel Culture, Ynetnews", "Ex-Gator Roommates Own Four of Last Five PGA Titles,", "Colts vs. Bears - NFL Game Recap - February 4, 2007", "Remembering Colts' 2006 season, Super Bowl XLI: Tony Dungy", "Decade of Dominance | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site", "Years | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site", "Colts owner says he's against Rush Limbaugh buying Rams", "Irsay: There's 'merit' to remove Snyder as owner", "Colts Name Jeff Saturday Interim Head Coach", "NFL execs bewildered by Colts' hiring of Jeff Saturday: 'Crazy,' 'Never seen anything like it', "The Jeff Saturday Hiring Is a Crushing Defeat for Many Coaches", "Colts' Jim Irsay defends Jeff Saturday hire: 'Fully capable', "Jeff Saturday Was 'Shocked' When Colts' Jim Irsay Offered Him Coaching Job", "Colts owner Jim Irsay to give millions to YMCA", "Irsay Family YMCA At CityWay | YMCA Of Greater Indianapolis", "Irsay gift expands behavioral health program", "Irsay family donates $650K to Riley children's mental health program", "Irsay family contributes to Wheeler Mission campaign to expand Center for Women and Children", "Colts owner donates $1 million to Indianapolis Zoo", "Colts owner Jim Irsay makes $1 million donation to Indianapolis Zoo", "Irsay donates $1M to Indianapolis Zoo for welcome center", "The Official Website of the Indianapolis Colts", "Bring Change to Mind - Let's Talk Mental Health", "Colts owners announce $1.4 million in Kicking The Stigma grants", "How Colts, Irsay Family's 'Kicking The Stigma' Is Impacting Mental Health Organizations In Indiana Through Action Grants", "Irsays to donate $3M to create IU research institute on mental health, stigma", "Irsays to donate $3 million to create IU research institute on mental health, stigma: In the News: About IUF: Indiana University Foundation: Indiana University", "Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center", "Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala raises more than $2 million, marking a decade of dedication to IU cancer research", "Former Colts head coach Pagano returning to Indy to celebrate 10 years of Chuckstrong", "Must-see free throw by Chuck Pagano at Irsay's house for $1M for cancer research", "Wife of Colts owner Jim Irsay files for divorce", "Kravitz: Jim Irsay fighting for his life, needs help", "The first look at the association between Jim Irsay and Kimberly Wundrum", "Ex-mistress overdose in background of Colts owner's pill arrest", "Report: Jim Irsay's daughter, Carlie, to take over Colts' day-to-day operations", "NFL suspends Colts owner Jim Irsay for 6 games", "Jim Irsay: The 'fat kid with glasses' turned power lifter who squatted 725lbs as Colts GM", "Alcoholics Anonymous founding document sells for $2.4M", "The greatest guitar collection on Earth", "Irsay Can Get Satisfaction as the Laid-Back Owner of the Colts", "Meet Jim Irsay, the Man Who Bought Les Paul's Black Beauty", "Bob Dylan's Electric Guitar Back at Newport Fest for 50th Anniversary", "Colts Owner: Why I Paid $2.2 Million for Ringo Starr's Drum Kit", "Jim Irsay sets auction record by spending $3.975 million for David Gilmour guitar", "Kurt Cobain's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' Fender Guitar Sells for $4.6 Million", "Jim Irsay pays $6M for Muhammad Ali's 'Rumble in the Jungle' belt", "Irsay Collection acquires Secretariat's saddle from 1973 Triple Crown", https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/266759/irsay-buys-saddle-used-in-secretariats-triple-crown, "The Jim Irsay Collection: Nashville Event", "Colts owner Jim Irsay to display artifacts from Bob Dylan, The Beatles ahead of Titans game", "Jim Irsay hosting reception to showcase collection in Washington, D.C. Nov. 2", "The Jim Irsay Collection visits Washington D.C.", "The Jim Irsay Collection Visits Austin, TX", "Jim Irsay: The NFL owner marching to his own beat", "Exclusive: Jim Irsay To Celebrate Jack Kerouac's Hundredth Birthday In L.A. With Cameron Crowe, R.E.M. 'When it got to over $4 million, it was crazy. Darren Julien, chief executive officer of Julien's Auctions, said: 'To have this legendary guitar, one of the most culturally significant and historically important guitars of Kurt Cobain and in all of rock music history to return to Indiana to be part of Jim Irsay's renowned memorabilia collection is a great honor and personal highlight of my life. My grandfather died of alcoholism in 1927; even my father died of alcoholism, Irsay told Duthiers. In 2022, his collection of guitars was highlighted as The Greatest Guitars on Earth by Guitar Magazine. Though Lennons time with the guitar was relatively brief, the double-cutaway 6120 featured on the groundbreaking Paperback Writer and Rain sessions in April 1966. According to Pro Football Reference, the 258 wins are the fourth-most in the NFL over that time frame. READ ARTICLE, Smells like team spirit: Billionaire Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay shares his collection of rare guitars at a free exhibition after splurging $4.4 million on Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's Fender Mustang READ ARTICLE, "Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is displaying his world-renowned collection of historic memorabilia to the public for the first time in the Big Apple. READ ARTICLE, "Irsay, who possesses one of the most impressive collections of musical, historical, sports and pop-culture memorabilia on the planet, is determined to showcase the artifacts while celebrating the music he reveres." . The blue 1969 Mustang Fender guitar used by rock icon Kurt Cobain in the 1991 Nirvana music video [+] "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is displayed by Julien's Auctions CFO Martin Nolan. Owner of the NFL Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay's passion for rock music, American history and pop culture has led him to assemble a collection of iconic arti. , Irsay dealt with addiction using prescription drugs after his college football career at SMU was ravaged by injury. [52] On September 2, 2014, shortly after pleading guilty to OWI and being sentenced to one year of probation, Irsay was suspended by the NFL for six games and fined $500,000.[53]. There was an event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City earlier this year; a date is set for Indianapolis next month. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. It's also an excuse for Irsay to immerse himself in the lives of his heroes, like the evening he spent with Lennon's dear cousin in London. A guitar formerly owned by Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain that was featured in the music video for the bands hit song Smells Like Teen Spirit sold for $4.5 million on Sunday, after billionaire Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay made the winning bid. Since 2012, the galas have raised more than $12 million for research at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center,[42] where Pagano received treatment. I dont really have a job. Its not just guitars, either. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has spent 25 years assembling the worlds leading collection of rock n roll, American history and pop culture artefacts. It was a lot of adrenalin.'. READ ARTICLE, "The list of items [in The Jim Irsay Collection], spanning centuries, is extraordinary. Speaking between drags of his cigarette from a midtown-Manhattan hotel room, Irsay was preparing to exhibit his extensive collection of rare music memorabilia in New York on Friday. For the small audience in attendance, its a thrill to hear such a storied guitar played at close quarters in a different musical context. READINTERVIEW, "The focus [of the collection] is on powerful people who changed the world. Would love your thoughts, please comment. [7] The team has won 10 division titles, made the playoffs 18 times, appeared in two Super Bowls and won Super Bowl XLI. Items on display ran the gamut from historical artifacts such as letters from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth and the Atlantic Charter signed by Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt to pop culture items such as Hunter S. Thompsons Red Shark 1973 Chevrolet Caprice convertible." Preventing a group that included talk-show host Rush Limbaugh from purchasing the St. Louis Rams to call Irsays collection would... Cotton Mills Museum at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City earlier year. 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