Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay buys the Steinway Piano Elton John Played When He traveled the World for $915,000.

BY KAZAD

DALLAS, TEXAS-The Steinway Piano Elton John played during his travel around the world has sold for $915,000 at Heritage Auctions.  The singer-songwriter used the piano during legendary shows at Dodger Stadium and Live Aid and on tour with Queen in 1977.

Interest in the Steinway Grand Piano began immediately news broke that the musical instrument was going on auction. All the anticipation came to a climax when the action opened on Saturday afternoon at $240,000. Bidders on the phone aggressively competed against those on the internet bidding through Heritage online auction.  Clearly, the bidders wanted the befitting instrument used by the Rocket Man himself for their collection.  In the end, the piano went to the Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay for $915,000.

The piano set an auction house record as the most expensive musical instrument Heritage has ever sold.

Sir Elton John playing the Steinway Grand Piano

The piano has a long provenance that made it admirable to collectors. It was the touring piano John took with him on the yellow brick road throughout the 1970s through 1994. In addition to traveling the world, the piano also shared stages with two Beatles: John Lennon and Paul McCartney who used the Steinway during “Let it Be,” the Live Aid finale witnessed by some billion viewers worldwide in 1985. It was also used by Freddie Mercury during Queen’s “A Day at the Races” tour in 1977. The piano was first consigned by Sir Elton John and sold through Bonham’s, London, Knightsbridge on June 18, 2008.

A personal favorite, Sir Elton John signed the piano on the gilded cast-iron frame. In permanent black ink, he wrote, “Enjoy this as much as I have, Elton John.”

The Secret of Elton John’s Piano Revealed

Longtime music engineer Curtis Schwartz put the Steinway Grand Piano up for auction.  Schwartz’s name appears on albums by Siouxsie and the Banshees, Lush, Cutting Crew, the Bee Gees, and Yes.  The engineer did not know the jewel he had in his collection until a decade after he bought the piano.  Schwartz recalls a phone call from an attorney who identified himself as John’s archivist. He said the archivist wanted to know if he owned the Steinway bearing the serial number 426549. When Schwartz said yes, he was informed that the piano was the very one Sir Elton John used during tours in the 1970s well into the 1990s.

The revelation was important news for the music engineer who thought the singer-songwriter used many pianos during his tour. “I just assume Elton John would have a piano in every city, and this was just one of his, like, 122 pianos,” he said. Curious to get more information about Steinway Model D Grand Piano, the piano, Schwartz began asking questions. He found out that piano was initially a loaner for one the Steinway’s most famous clients.

Additionally, Schwartz discovered that three years after its completion and delivery, John bought it and finalized the piano’s customization. According to David Widdicombe, Steinway & Sons London Technical Services Manage, the customization was a “re-weighting the keys to provide a very light and responsive touch.”

Schwartz put the piano up for sale because of his divorce. However, he did not hide his love for the musical instrument. “I love playing it. It is like driving a Bentley,” he said.  “I was only happy it was a great piano,” he added.

What do you think about Elton John’s perfomances and the sale of his Steinway Grand Piano? Share your thoughts. Leave a comment.