After collecting a win over Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay went on to add to his impressive collection of Beatles gear with the $2.125 million acquisition of Ringo Starr’s famed Beatles logo “drop-T” drum head.
The drum head Isray just bought, one of the most recognizable instruments in rock-n-roll history, millions of Americans first saw when the Fab Four first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964.
The Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan’s popular show essentially launched the “British Invasion” period of rock music and introduced American audiences to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
Isray bought the drum head last weekend at a Julien’s auction in Los Angeles. The piece of Beatles history, number two of the seven drum heads created for the famed band, was expected to fetch at least one million dollars. Paul McCartney owns number one in the series.
“Mr. Irsay is thrilled to be able to bring this special piece of music history to Indianapolis,” Chris McKinney, curator of Irsay’s rare guitars and collectibles, said last weekend. “One of the largest television audiences ever watched the lads for the first time and had that logo etched into their minds forever.”
The bass drum adds to an already impressive collection of high-dollar Beatles memorabilia as Isray owns three guitars once owned by members of the band.
The Colts owner already has an orange 1963 Gretsch hollow-bodied model once owned by Lennon. Irsay paid $530,000 for the piece earlier this year. Isray also acquired a custom 1966 Vox played by Lennon and Harrison for $408,000 in 2013 and a 1964 Gibson SG once owned by George Harrison for $567,000 in 2004.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com
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