Gabriel Ansah or better known as Red Ronnie, is Italian lover of rock, especially punk rock and alternative who promoted this music as radio DJ in 1970’s. While many radio stations broadcast mainly in Italian music or disco music, Red Ronnie insisted on Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Led Zeppelin, the Doors and the Sex Pistols. His collection of music memorabilia, which he started collected in 1990 is really enviable. And now, some 60 items from his diverse collection will be offered at Christie’s Pop Culture sale on 26 June 2013.
“I always like to say that music saved my life from loneliness. I never imagined that one day I would meet and talk with almost all of my heroes, nor that I would become the guardian of a so many of their hand written documents, memorabilia, drawings and possessions. I first started collecting in 1990, since then I have always tried to collect items which tell the rockstars’ own stories such as the letter in which John Lennon indicates the end of the Beatles or the unpublished Woodstock poem which was probably composed by Jimi during the Festival at which Hendrix’s legendary performance became a defining moment of the 1960s.”
Among many items relating to some of the most famous names from Rock and Roll history including the Beatles, John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix, the highlight is certainly the complete and handwritten lyrics for the song Night Bird Flying by Jimi Hendrix which appears on The Cry of Love LP, released posthumously in 1971, estimated: £25,000 – £35,000 ($38,400 – $53,740) and a page of notes in Jimi Hendrix’s hand titled An Unfinished Rough Sketch of Woodstock Festival, estimated: £25,000 – £35,000 ($38,400 – $53,740). This unfinished composition represents Hendrix’s initial impressions of Woodstock and was probably composed during the historic festival in 1969.
One more interesting item is a rare and important set of complete handwritten lyrics in Jim Morrison’s hand for the Doors song L.A. Woman, also estimated: £25,000 – £35,000 ($38,400 – $53,740).
