4 days ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Handwritten ‘Don't Stop Believin' lyrics up for auction as part of Steve Perry's new charity effort
The former Journey frontman is auctioning off more than 50 items from his personal collection, including handwritten 'Don't Stop Believin' lyrics, vintage tour merchandise, signed guitars, test pressings, and gold and platinum records.
'Every item in this collection comes directly from my personal archive,' Perry said in a statement. 'These pieces have been carefully stored for many years, and now I feel it's the right time to pass them on from my hands to yours, to be enjoyed, remembered and treasured in your own personal collections.'
Fans can bid on the rare items online now through noon on June 13. The auction is a partnership with Darkives Collectables, a new archival memorabilia site helmed by Dhani Harrision, the son of the Beatles' guitarist George Harrison, and Dark Horse Records.
All proceeds are expected to benefit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a nonprofit providing financial assistance to musicians and other music industry workers. The organization will help distribute funds to victims of the devastating fires that swept Los Angeles in January.
'We're excited to have Steve Perry as our inaugural partner on the brand-new Darkives Collectables auction site,' Harrison said in a statement. 'His continued generosity makes him the perfect artist to help launch this platform, and we're honored to support the causes that matter most to him.'
In another return to his former San Francisco rock band, Perry recently rerecorded its 1983 ballad 'Faithfully' for the first time in three decades with country music star Willy Nelson. The collaboration, released in May, celebrates the 40th anniversary of Farm Aid, Nelson's nonprofit that raises funds to support family farmers.
Perry first joined Journey as lead singer in 1977, helping the group sell nearly 100 million albums worldwide, but he took a brief hiatus in 1987 before reuniting with the band from 1995 to 1998. Since then, his public appearances have been few and far between.
