Rock history heads to the world stage: Kiss, Metallica and Johnny Cash up for auction

The last weekend of May - Friday the 29th and Saturday the 30th - will see one of the biggest music auctions of the year take place in New York City. The collection of iconic instruments will be presented by Julien's Auctions, one of the most renowned auction houses based in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, often referred to as "the auction house to the stars." The company specializes in legendary memorabilia from the worlds of music, film, fine art, and fashion.

The event, titled Music Icons, will feature instruments tied to legendary names such as Kiss, Metallica, and Johnny Cash, while also showcasing pieces connected to contemporary and lesser-known artists. The auction will take place at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York, though fans and collectors will also be able to follow it online. Selected items will be on public display at the venue ahead of the auction beginning May 14, 2026, giving visitors the chance to see these rare pieces up close.

The undisputed centerpiece of the auction is the 1975 Gibson Les Paul "Ace #1," the main guitar used by Ace Frehley during the most celebrated era of Kiss. Experts estimate the instrument could sell for somewhere between $400,000 and $600,000.

Among the other standout items heading under the hammer are:

• The first guitar used by Kirk Hammett (Metallica) throughout the 1990s
• A 12-string Guild guitar owned by American blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Johnny Cash's 1956 Martin D-18 guitar
• Additional memorabilia connected to bands such as The Beatles, Sex Pistols, and many more

Julien's Auctions is no stranger to record-breaking sales either. The auction house previously handled the sale of what became the world's most expensive guitar - Martin D-18E, played by Kurt Cobain during MTV Unplugged. The guitar sold in 2020 for an astonishing $6 million. Another historic sale followed in 2022, when the Fender Mustang from the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video fetched $4.5 million.

For anyone interested in taking part in the auction and potentially walking away with one of these legendary pieces of music history, bidding will be available both in person and online through the auction house's website after registration. We've included a selection of photos from the auction in this article, while the full catalogue and detailed information can be found directly on the auction's official pages.

We wish the best of luck to both the sellers and the future owners of these iconic artifacts - objects that continue to carry the legacy of music history.

Šári