Clinton’s sax goes for a song at auction

BILL CLINTON’S saxophone and Robert Pattinson’s lips have helped a star-studded charity event raise money to fight AIDS.

An alto sax signed and donated by the former US president was one of the star lots at the Cinema Against AIDS benefit on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival, selling for $180,000 (€130,000). There was also keen bidding on two kisses from Twilight star Pattinson, which raised $28,000 each.

Sharon Stone hosted the 16th annual event late on Thursday at the exclusive Hotel du Cap on the French Riviera with about 800 guests including model Claudia Schiffer, director Terry Gilliam, rapper 50 Cent and scientist James Watson, one of the discoverers of DNA.

“Looking down at the price of my own shoes, we in this room cannot pretend that we have nothing to give,” Stone said.

Proceeds from the event go to the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), a nonprofit organisation that supports HIV/AIDS research.

“Everybody knows there is a global economic slowdown of epic proportions,” said Bill Clinton, who supports AIDS research and treatment through his William J Clinton Foundation.

He noted that $30 trillion in wealth had disappeared around the world between September and March, “and a lot of it came out of some of your bank accounts”.

“I’m here with people who tell stories for a living,” said Clinton.

“You don’t need to read many novels or make many movies to realise that everybody has a story. Every time a child dies of AIDS somewhere in the world, the light goes out of a story.”

Items in the auction included a Fiat 500 car customised by Diesel, which sold for $110,000; tennis lessons from pros Monica Seles and Jelena Jankovic, which raised $42,000; and a handmade Karl Lagerfeld guitar case filled with Dom Perignon champagne, sold for $70,000.

A special screening of Quentin Tarantino’s World War II revenge caper Inglourious Basterds raised $84,000.

Annie Lennox entertained guests with songs including “There Must be an Angel” dedicated to amfAR supporter, the late Natasha Richardson.

Stone said amfAR was setting up a fund in Richardson’s memory for research on a cure for AIDS and donated $50,000 to help it along.

“Natasha said that she would go on until a cure was found for AIDS,” Stone said. “I believe she will.”