John Lennon’s Beatles‑era piano sells for record amount at auction

Memorabilia from Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain also went under the hammer, including the Fender Mustang guitar played in the 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', which became his most expensive item ever sold at auction at $6.9m

The Beatles in 1963: Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison. File picture

John Lennon’s piano which was used to compose songs for Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band has set the record for the most expensive piece of Beatles memorabilia sold, fetching nearly €2.9m at auction.

It was sold as part of The Jim Irsay Collection: Hall of Fame, with drumming equipment belonging to fellow Beatle Ringo Starr also among the record-breaking sales.

The collection consisted of music, film, and sports memorabilia and went under the hammer on Thursday at Christie’s New York auction house.

The piano which John Lennon used to compose songs for 'Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band'. Picture: Christie’s Images/PA)

Ringo Starr’s first Ludwig drum kit (Christie’s Images Ltd 2026/PA)

Among the items up for sale was a Broadwood upright piano belonging to Lennon, and used to write songs such as Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, A Day In The Life, and Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!, featured on the Beatles’ eighth studio album.

The instrument was estimated to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000 but instead sold for $3,247,000, setting the record as the most expensive object from the group to be sold.

Lennon died in 1980, aged 40.

Formed in the 1960s, the Beatles, the best-selling musical act of all time and made up of Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, achieved 18 UK number one singles and 15 number one albums.

The drum head used by Sir Ringo, which sold for more than two million dollars (Christie’s Images Ltd 2026/PA)

Items belonging to Ringo were also up for sale including his first Ludwig drum kit, which was used in live performances and studio sessions with the band in its early years from May 1963 to February 1964.

The three-piece drum kit sold for $2,393,000 and briefly broke the record for the most expensive drum set sold, until a drum head which was part of his second Ludwig kit sold in the next lot for $2,881,000.

The drum head was used during the Beatles’ first visit to the US when the group performed on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, and also set the record as the most expensive item belonging to Ringo to be sold.

A series of photographs, handwritten letters, and signed postcards from Lennon were also sold at auction, as well as an affidavit filed by his bandmate McCartney to break up the hit band.

Sir Ringo’s first drum kit (Christie’s Images Ltd 2026/PA)

Also among the items for sale was memorabilia from Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

The Fender Mustang guitar used in the music video for the group’s hit song Smells... Like Teen Spirit became the most expensive item belonging to the late singer to be sold, fetching $6,907,000 at the auction.

Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's Fender Mustang guitar used in the music video for 'Smells... Like Teen Spirit' sold for $6,907,000. Picture: Christie's/PA

A series of items belonging to The Doors late frontman Jim Morrison was up for sale, as well as handwritten lyrics for Bob Dylan’s hit track The Times They Are A-Changin’ — which sold for $2,515,000.

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour’s ‘Black Strat’ (Fender Stratocaster) was also among the record-breaking sales, fetching $14,550,000 and becoming the most expensive guitar sold.

The president of Christie’s Americas, Julien Pradels, said: “Lot after lot, we felt like we were making history.

“The Irsay sale did justice to the brilliance of the collector, and of the monumental pieces he brought together, iconic objects that tell the story of our culture and our times.

“The Irsay collection is singular, but Christie’s will have other amazing sales in this space moving forward.”