Published: January 9, 2024

JULIEN’S AUCTIONS

THE ICON NEWSLETTER

6.10.23

In the endlessly replayed 1985 music video “Take On Me” by A-Ha, a woman experiences the thrill of a lifetime when her favorite comic book character enters the real world. Collectors often experience a similar rush when they get the opportunity own an iconic item that actually appeared on screen in one of their favorite music videos.

Our recent “Music Icons” auction brought many treasures out of the screen and into the hands of real world collectors, including sunglasses worn by Freddie Mercury in Queen’s 1989 video “The Invisible Man,” the costume worn by Janet Jackson in her rageful 1995 collaboration with her brother Michael, “Scream,” and a dress worn by Amy Winehouse in the video for “F*ck Me Pumps,” from her first solo album, Frank (Island Records, 2003).

Other unique items included a decorative wooden sun from the front doorway of the actual “Love Shack” where The B-52’s shot their 1989 video (who knew that the Love Shack was actually somebody’s house!) and a leopard print baby grand piano used by Josh Homme in the Queens of the Stone Age video “The Vampyre of Time and Memory.”

Over the years, Julien’s has sold many of the most important and highly valued music video collectables, including the 1969 Fender Mustang guitar played by Kurt Cobain in the influential music video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” the red jacket worn by Michael Jackson as a zombie dancer in “Thriller,” one of the most famous garments of the 20th century, and the ensemble worn by Madonna in “Material Girl,” which was made for a 1976 TV movie about Marilyn Monroe, but would become forever associated with the queen of pop.

So stay tuned to our upcoming auctions — your favorite video may be next!