Photo credit: Kevin Mazur/SiriusXM
On Tuesday, March 24, Julien’s Auctions will present an exclusive UK exhibition of marquee auction opening at the Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus, London. The event offers a sneak peek before bidding opens, then moving on to Japan and New York City. Find out more below.
Meet Julien’s Auctions executives and experience or film the highlights before the exhibition debuts at Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus and before the “MUSIC ICONS” auction hits the stage later this spring. This year’s collection celebrates the enduring power of heavy metal and marks the 50th Anniversary of KISS in London. Following the UK stop, the installation will travel to Japan from April 28 – 29 and then arrive in New York City on May 13.
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Media check in: 10:00am
Interviews/b-roll: 10:15 a.m.-Noon
Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus
Criterion Building 225-229 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HR
Julien’s Auctions, the industry-leading music memorabilia auction house, unveils an extraordinary collection of some of the most powerful and influential guitars ever to hit the auction stage — instruments played by rock legends including Ace Frehley, Billy Duffy, Izzy Stradlin, Kirk Hammett, Mick Mars, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
At the centerpiece of the collection is Ace Frehley’s 1974 Gibson Les Paul, one of the most historically significant guitars in rock and roll. From the very beginning of his career, this instrument was Frehley’s constant companion, accompanying him on stage and in the studio with KISS more than any other guitar in his arsenal. His longtime use of this Gibson Les Paul has earned Frehley a place on nearly every “Top 10 Les Paul Players of All Time” list ever published.
Julien’s press preview and only UK exhibition of “MUSIC ICONS” offers media and fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to view these extraordinary artifacts before their historic sale. On view March 24 thru April 13 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Piccadilly Circus, the highly anticipated assemblage features nearly a dozen pieces of rock and roll history. The showcase will take center stage at Julien’s Auctions’ two-day event “MUSIC ICONS,” taking place Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30 live at Hard Rock Cafe New York and online at juliensauctions.com
Highlights Include:
Ace Frehley:
1974 Gibson Les Paul Ace #1 in Sunburst Finish
1977 Tour Jacket – Ace Frehley’s Personal 1977 Rock & Roll Over Tour
Kimono – Full Length Black Kimono with Red Lining Embroidered with Golden Dragon from Rock & Roll Over Tour Era
Ace Frehley/Arthur Kane Stage Worn Jumpsuit – Purple Velour One Piece Jumpsuit with Asymmetric Chest Zipper and Black Armbands. The jumpsuit was originally Silver/White, worn on stage by Arthur Kane of The New York Dolls. Kane gave the Jumpsuit to Frehley, who dyed it purple before wearing it on stage.
Guitars & More:
Billy Duffy| 1976 Gibson Les Paul Custom Billy Duffy. This guitar was also used for the cover image of The Cult‘s 1989 fourth studio album, Sonic Temple
Black Sabbath | Bill Ward stage used Zildjian gong
Black Sabbath | Bill Ward RIAA Platinum Record Award to commemorate sales of more than 100,000 copies of The Black Sabbath Story Volume One and gold sales of more than 50,000 copies of the DVD and VHS The Black Sabbath Story Volume Two
Izzy Stradlin |1987 Gibson HR Fusion 1 Izzy. Gibson gave the guitar to Stradlin in 1987 when the band was recording Appetite for Destruction. It was prominently used in the “Welcome To The Jungle” music video
Mick Mars|1984 Gibson Explorer Mick Mars Theater. Owned by and played by Mick Mars of Motley Crue
Metallica | Kirk Hammett stage- and studio-played, signed, very first Ouija ESP custom guitar — inscribed by Hammett, “The very first Ouija guitar – 0001! This was one of my main touring + recording guitars throughout the ’90s.”
Stevie Ray Vaughan|1969 Guild F-412 Twelve String. Stevie played this guitar during his January 30, 1990 performance on MTV Unplugged
The exhibition of “MUSIC ICONS” KISS highlights will be on display in the window of Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus in London on March 24 at 1pm until April 13th. The ‘MUSIC ICONS’ exhibition will be on display in the Rock Shop window at Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus from March 24 at 1 PM through April 13. The exhibit is free and open to the public daily.
Love It Loud — Hard Rock x KISS Has Arrived. Hard Rock’s electrifying new KISS retail collaboration is here— Built around the tours, and imagery that made the story of legends. Shop the collection in store today and take home a piece of music history.
Turn Up the Flavour. With Hard Rock’s Legendary Dining Experiences —bringing bold tastes, big energy, and a whole lot of rock ’n’ roll to the table.
For more information or reservations at Hard Rock Cafe, visit: https://cafe.hardrock.com/piccadilly-circus/