Important Rock and Pop Memorabilia Sure to be a Number 1 Hit
On Tuesday May 11th Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers are delighted to be offering some extraordinary pieces of music history.
Mark Brzezicki is one of the UK’s finest drummers having found fame with the band Big Country in the early 1980s. His stellar career of forty years in the music industry has seen him perform with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
He has worked with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Elton John, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, The Bee Gees, Ben E King, Procol Harum, Midge Ure, The Cult, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Howard Jones, Bill Medley, Brian Adams, Brian May, Roger Taylor, Frida (ABBA) Joan Armatrading, Paloma Faith, Alison Moyet, and Jamie Cullum to name just a few, and he is as busy as ever recording new material for artists all over the world. He has now decided that it is time to thin down some of his vast collection, and Adam Partridge Auctioneers are assisting with this. His 1983 Pearl BLX birch 7-piece drum kit is iconic in the world of music having featured on Big Country’s three huge albums – The Crossing, The Seer, and the massive number 1 hit Steeltown, but its fame does not stop there. Mark has used the kit on numerous other recordings including Nik Kershaw’s album “Radio Musicola”, Frida (ABBA) album Shine, Ultravox U-Vox album, and many others.
As one of two drummers for The Princess Trust All Star Band (along with Phil Collins), the kit has also been seen at numerous charity concerts and in 1987 was played by Ringo Starr at a Princess Trust Rock Gala performance. The drum kit is a piece of music history connected to dozens of the biggest acts in the world and owned and played by one of the finest drummers of his, or any, generation.
The estimate is £6,000-£10,000 and is sure to bring back memories of four decades of rock and pop.
Mark and his fellow Big Country members performed on the Band Aid single “Do They Know It’s Christmas” and are one of only a handful of acts asked to provide dialogue for the B-side. It is with his connection to this record breaking single as well as playing for The Princess Trust that the BBC contacted him ahead of surprising Phil Collins for This Is Your Life in 1988. Mark was asked to appear with Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and Mark King playing his snared Premier side marching drum for the grand reveal. He then used it on Big Country’s number 1 album “Peace in Our Time” Video and has since played it on numerous other recordings. This guide here is £700-£1,000.
In August 1994 Big Country toured with the legendary group The Rolling Stones, supporting them on the Voodoo Lounge Tour and the Bridges to Babylon tour. The success of this tour and album was incredible and Mark was presented with this poster signed personally by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts & Ronnie Woods as a memento. “It is wonderful when rare items have both history and provenance” said Adam Partridge. “Not only have we got a piece of Mark’s personal collection, but to know it was given to him by The Rolling Stones themselves on tour adds something very rarely seen at auction which is bound to get collectors excited.” Hopes are pitched at £1,000-£1,500 for this unique item.
The most unusual item on offer is a montage of bank notes and an unused cheque. One of the perks of being an International music star is that you get to meet celebrities and heroes on your travels. In 1983 Mark met Muhammad Ali in America and with nothing for him to sign, he quickly pulled a $1 bill from his wallet and asked the great man to sign it. The theme continued a year later when he met the legendary jazz drummer Buddy Rich and this time, he got the autograph on a £1 note. In 1985 Mark then met Hughie Green, and with no bank notes in sight he asked the TV presenter to sign one of his personal cheques! Framed together this talented trio carry a guide of £300-£500.
Mark’s contribution and importance to rock and pop music cannot be underestimated with the list of acts he has performed with reading like a who’s who from the music hall of fame. He simply has too vast a hoard to keep it all so has begun the task of thinning the collection down.
Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers are holding the specialist auction of musical instruments and memorabilia at their Cheshire Saleroom in Macclesfield on Tuesday May 11th. For further details please call 01625 431788 or email chris@adampartridge.co.uk.
