Jerry Garcia’s legendary “Wolf” guitar is going to be auctioned off by Guernsey’s in New York City later this year. The Brooklyn Bowl has announced that on May 31st, the Wolf will be auctioned off to benefit the Southern Poverty Law Center. But first, according to the event page, the guitar will be played by “celebrated musicians” before being handed do its new owner.
Garcia played with Wolf during the course of two decades of continent-spanning touring with The Grateful Dead. The beautiful guitar, which made its debut in 1973 during a Grateful Dead performance for the Hell’s Angels, was crafted by luthier Doug Irwin. After Garcia’s death, the instrument returned to Irwin, and in 2002, it was sold for $700,000, at that time breaking the record for most expensive guitar sale.
The current owner of Wolf is putting the historic instrument back on the market. However, the anonymous owners are ensuring that all of the proceeds from the auction go the Southern Poverty Law Center, a non-profit organization that fights bigotry through education, litigation, and advocacy. As the current owner said of the auction and of the guitar: “I’ve been a fan of The Dead since I was a kid, and playing this iconic guitar over the past 15 years has been a privilege. But the time is right for Wolf to do some good. My wife and I have long supported the efforts of the Southern Poverty Law Center, and if ever we needed the SPLC, we sure do need them now.”
Those interested in bidding on Wolf, or attending the auction and preview events should visit Guernsey’s or contact the auction house in New York at 212-794-2280. More information can be found on the Brooklyn Bowl website.
