This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2024
Stevie Nicks Owned & Played Baby Grand Hamilton Piano, Used to Compose “Songbird” & More - Also Used by Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Christine McVie & More (Stevie Nicks & Christine McVie) LOA)
Offered here is debatably the most important piano ever offered for public auction, with an incredible history and chain of ownership.
It started in 1975, when Robbie Patton first met Stevie Nicks. Robbie Patton was just starting out his career as a musician and was trying to start a relationship with Stevie. Their friendship became a lifelong one. When Robbie first went to Stevie’s home, he noticed this grand black Hamilton piano and was mesmerized by it. Per Robbie, “One day, I'm in the house of Stevie and she has two pianos, one of them was this black Grand Hamilton Piano where she wrote most of her songs on. She wrote everything on the Piano, she really cherished it as her own.”
Stevie composed and wrote many songs on this piano, including her hit song "Sara". Robbie eventually landed the opening act for Fleetwood Mac in 1979 and that’s when the Piano went on tour with Fleetwood Mac.
Per Robbie, “Then in 1979 Fleetwood Mac took the piano on the road. Christine used it on tour. She played it all over, she even composed Songbird from the album Rumours on this piano.”
The piano was then used by Christine McVie on stage until around 1982-1983. At this point the piano is returned to Stevie in her home. Robbie was still writing music for Fleetwood Mac and for one song he wrote, as payment he requested the piano. Stevie had no problems doing this, so she gifted him the Piano, the one Robbie was after for over 10 years.
Once Robbie got the piano, he started to use it with all the musicians in the studio. Per Robbie, “I used to work for all the big musicians, Elton John, for four and a half years. John Reid managed Elton John and then Queen. Freddie Mercury even came by for a recording session and used the piano. Elton John used the piano. The people who have touched this piano are crazy!”
The piano has been refurbished and lacquered, but the keys have never been changed. The keys are all original and are the exact keys of which Stevie Nicks used for countless years to compose some of her biggest songs, the same keys that Christine McVie used on stage for Fleetwood Mac during their golden years touring. Even the same keys that Freddie Mercury, Elton John and many more artists used in the studio.
This piano has an unbelievable history that needs to be displayed in a museum.
Provenance: From the collection of Robbie Patton.
Authentication: Stevie Nicks Letter of Authenticity, a Christine McVie Letter of Authenticity, a Roger Epperson (REAL) Letter of Authenticity (For the authentication of the Stevie Nicks & Christine McVie signatures), a Notarized letter of provenance and a Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity.