In this August 2021 photo provided by Boston-based auction house RR Auction, the 1965 Mosrite Ventures II electric guitar being played by Johnny Ramone.
BOSTON –
The guitar that Johnny Ramone played on the Ramones’ 15 albums and nearly 2,000 live performances by the rock band sold at auction over the weekend for more than $ 900,000, RR Auction reported Monday.
The 1965 Mosrite Ventures II electric guitar was purchased by a collector in the United States who wishes to remain anonymous, the Boston-based auctioneer said in a statement.
Ramone, whose real name was John Cummings, bought the guitar to replace his original blue Ventures II after it was stolen, according to RR Auction.
He played it at each of the Ramones’ concerts from November 1977 until his retirement in August 1996, RR Auction said. The guitarist died in 2004.
The guitar, along with other Ramones collectibles, came from the collection of Daniel Rey, a musician and producer who was also a long-time collaborator of the band.
Some others sold include the signature Ramone Mark-2 guitar, for almost $ 50,000, and the Shure microphones that Joey Ramone used at the last Ramones concert, for more than $ 13,000.
The auction began on August 24 and ended on Saturday.