Some of the biggest names in music, including Damon Albarn, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys and Glastonbury Festival, have come together to put on a special auction to raise funds for Oxfam’s emergency response in Haiti.
Amongst the exclusive items in the auction is an offer from Damon Albarn to record a specially written piece of music, the iconic blonde Fender Stratocaster played by Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner in their first video and Coldplay singer Chris Martin’s ‘Viva La Vida’ tour jacket, signed by the band. The auction is a rapid response from the biggest bands in the UK and beyond to the massive crisis in Haiti and Oxfam’s ongoing emergency response there.
The auction is live now AND RUNS FOR TEN DAYS, closing at 0900 on Tuesday 2 February. All proceeds from the auction will go to Oxfam’s humanitarian response in Haiti. More items will be added to the auction over the coming week, including items from the fashion and art world.
The full auction listing, organised by Glastonbury’s Emily Eavis and Oxfam, can be seen at www.oxfam.org.uk/haitiauction.
Highlights include:
A recording of a bespoke piece of music written by Damon Albarn.
The Fender Stratocaster played by Alex Turner in the Arctic Monkeys’ ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ video.
Chris Martin’s ‘Viva La Vida’ tour jacket, signed by all four members of Coldplay.
A rare Roland drum machine donated by the Chemical Brothers.
The Magic Numbers will come and play an acoustic set in the house/garden of the highest bidder, including never before heard songs from their new album
VIP tickets to Glastonbury, giving the winners access to the backstage areas and watching a band from the side of the Pyramid stage.
A linocut of ‘Fleet Street Apocalypse’ by Radiohead artist Stanley Donwood.
An exclusive playback of the brand new Gang of Four album for four people over a bottle or two of wine with Andy Gill in their studio in London, before anyone else hears it.
Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Yes’ bespoke boxed vinyl set. Only 300 were made by the Vinyl Factory. Designed with Farrow in close collaboration with the pop art duo. Voted No.1 21st Century Collectible Product in Record Collector Annual Roundup.
Framed, hand written lyrics for ‘Magick’ by Klaxons on the original board that was used to produce the single’s artwork.
An acoustic guitar signed by all four original members of The Kooks.
A guitar from Oxford art-rock outfit Foals.
One of Annie Lennox’s favourite paintings, an original canvas from South Africa.
A Technics SL-1200 Mk. 2 turntable donated by DJ Shadow.
Signed Mika artwork (framed).
Signed Pearl Jam single artwork.
Two complete signed vinyl album collections from Basement Jaxx.
A luxurious hot shower at the Eavis’ farmhouse during the Glastonbury weekend, for one festival-goer to wash away the festival excesses in style.
Says Emily Eavis¸ who travelled to Haiti with Oxfam in 2002 to meet coffee farmers supported by the charity: “Just like the millions of people who have already given so generously to the DEC appeal for Haiti, we felt it was important to do whatever we could to help as quickly as possible. We hope people will dig deep for some of these amazing auction prizes and help Oxfam to save lives in Haiti at the same time.
“I visited Haiti with Oxfam in 2002 and it's the poorest place I've ever been by a long way - it seems doubly unfair that it should be hit by such a devastating earthquake, especially after the hurricanes of the last two years. They do not have the resources needed to cope with a disaster of this scale - that is what makes this so much worse.
“I know how hard people there work to try to survive: they have an incredible spirit and face hardship head-on without self pity. I can't imagine how they are coping now.”
Chris Martin, who was in Haiti with Emily at the same time, says:
“I visited Haiti with Oxfam a few years ago. It's a country of extreme poverty and brutal living conditions. Most people in Port-au-Prince live in tin shacks. The earthquake that has struck Haiti will have turned the city into an unimaginable hell.
“The people of Haiti will be desperate for help and assistance.
"You can make a donation at www.oxfam.org.uk.”
Oxfam is one of the 13 member agencies currently taking part in the Disasters Emergency Committee Haiti appeal, which has raised more than £38 million so far.
To make a donation to the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk or call 0370 60 60 900, donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque made payable to ‘DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal’ to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA’.
