INXS’s Kirk Pengilly gear generates bidding of almost $230k at auction

INXS saxplayer and occasional guitarist Kirk Pengilly’s auction of his music gear generated $228,323 in Sydney.

143% sold by value, said auction house Sothesby’s.

Many of the 43 items went under the hammer for much more than Sothesby’s predictions.

The 1975 French made Selmer MK‐VI baritone saxophone, used on ‘Bitter Tears’ and ‘All Around’ went for $21,960, almost three times the $8,000‐12,000 estimate.

A 1968 Gibson ES‐335 ‘Cherry’ electric guitar, brought almost double, with bids rising to $12,200 and well past the expected $5,000‐8,000.

Pengilly’s favourite guitar, a 1964 Fender L‐Series Stratocaster ‘Candy Apple Red’ which he first started using during the recording of X – and which he described as “my favourite guitar in the collection. – a truly great sounding instrument” was picked up by a telephone bidder for $42,000.

The 1986 Westone Pantera X300 electric which provided the riff on ‘New Sensation’ went for $8,540, double its expected outcome.

The Ibanez AE405 used in the 1980s onstage and in the studio can be seen in the ‘Burn For You’ clip.

But Pengilly stressed that he was not selling the items because he needed the money.

But with INXS no longer on the road, they were taking up too much space.

“The money side I haven’t really thought about, I’m really just trying to de-clutter. It is that simple,” he said.

Before the auction he hoped they would be snapped up by musicians who would give them good homes.

Geoffrey Smith, chairman of Sotheby’s Australia commented: ‘We were honoured to auction this magnificent collection of Australian music history.

“Kirk Pengilly is one of our most renowned contemporary musicians and contributed significantly to the Australian music industry and taking the sound of Australia to the world.”