Bill auctions off Sticky Fingers memorabilia

Memorabilia from the walls of Bill’s legendary Sticky Fingers restaurant, which sadly closed its doors in June 2021 due to the covid pandemic, were up for auction with Julien’s Auctions in May.

The auction included guitars from iconic performances, tours and recording sessions, such as Bill’s 1965 Framus Star Bass, 1969 Fender Telecaster, and 1978 custom Travis Bean bass, as well as gold record awards, tour posters, rare photos and much more. Bill opened Sticky Fingers in May 1989 to display part of his memorabilia archive to the public, and to provide a fine and decently priced American style menu.

Bill says of Sticky Fingers:

“Every year we celebrated the restaurant's anniversaries, and Halloween, with wonderful parties. The restaurant was also host to annual visits by numerous American Radio Stations, and thousands of fans from every corner of the globe. I would take great pride in reading the fan letters that would arrive at the restaurant thanking me for the wonderful food and service, and the experience of looking at the mass of memorabilia and instruments displayed on the walls.”

The restaurant was also popular with a number of celebrities who visited over the years, including Princess Diana and Princes William and Harry, who told Bill it was their favourite place to eat. Bob Dylan, Alice Cooper, Mick Fleetwood, Ronnie Wood, and Mick Ronson were all fellow musicians who visited frequently, and Gary Brooker, Stevie Van Zandt, Steve Stills and Don Was, would come to eat after their shows in London. Jerry Hall would regularly visit with her children, while Twiggy and actors Dennis Hopper, Jeremy Irons, Leslie Nielsen, Lionel Bart, Gina Lollobrigida, Herbert Lom and Bob Hoskins all dined there.

The auction was part of Julien’s annual ‘Music Icons’ auction, which was held on May 20th, 21st and 22nd, and offered bidders a chance to own a piece of Sticky Fingers history for themselves.

by admin