<\/p>\n
Iconic ’80s Rocker’s Guitar Expected to Sell at Auction for Over $2 Million<\/a> originally appeared on Parade<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n A legendary piece of rock history is hitting the auction block \u2014 and it\u2019s expected to sell for a jaw-dropping price.<\/p>\n A Kramer guitar once owned by Eddie Van Halen<\/strong>, and later played by M\u00f6tley Cr\u00fce\u2019s Mick Mars<\/strong>, will headline Sotheby\u2019s Rock & Pop auction on October 24, according to Ultimate Classic Rock<\/a>. The instrument, modeled after Van Halen\u2019s iconic Frankenstein guitar with its red, black, and white design, is estimated to sell for between $2 million and $3 million.<\/p>\n Van Halen used the guitar extensively during the band\u2019s 1982-1983 Hide Your Sheep Tour, taking it to stages across the world. According to the outlet, the guitar features a personal inscription from the late guitarist to his longtime technician, Rudy Leiren, that reads: “Rude – Its Been a Great Ten Years \u2013 Lets Do Another Ten. Eddie Van Halen.”<\/p>\n RELATED: <\/strong>\u2018<\/strong>80s Rocker Details Ozzy Osbourne\u2019s \u2018Very Beautiful\u2019 Private Funeral Service<\/a><\/p>\n After its years on tour with Van Halen, the guitar landed with Mars, who purchased it from Leiren. Mars went on to use it during the recording of M\u00f6tley Cr\u00fce\u2019s 1989 album Dr. Feelgood. The auction lot includes its original factory case and a letter of authenticity from Mars, in which he wrote: “\u2026Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Also it’s a great piece of history.”<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the first time a Van Halen guitar has commanded a staggering sum at auction. In 2023, the custom Kramer guitar he played in the \u201cHot for Teacher\u201d music video sold for $3.9 million.<\/p>\n Sadly, Van Halen died<\/a> on October 6, 2020 due to complications from throat cancer at 65 years old. His son, Wolf Van Halen<\/strong> broke the news on X at the time with the following statement: \u201cI can\u2019t believe I\u2019m having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n