Here’s the perfect opportunity to splash out on some rare music memorabilia guilt free! The Who, R.E.M. Patti Smith & the Pretenders are among the many artists auctioning off setlists from classic shows for charity. Organised by authors Dave Eggers and Nick Hornby (High Fidelity), Setlists For Young Voices benefits international youth writing and activism centres, including the Ministry of Stories, and The International Congress of Youth Voices.
Setlists from a host of revered musicians were posted for an online auction on Tuesday, April 23rd, and will be open for bidding until Thursday, May 2nd.
“We’re hoping to raise about $50,000,” Eggers said in a statement [via Pitchfork]. “That will have a powerful impact on more than 150 student writers at the Ministry of Stories and writing centers worldwide.”
“One of my friends used to stand at the front of the show so he could read the setlist and call out the name of the next song. It really used to annoy the band,” Said Hornby. “So, this is a way to satisfy your music-geek side without aggravating your favorite musicians.”
The Setlists for Young Voices initiative features some notable setlist, including R.E.M.’s 1989 Wembley Arena show, The Who’s 2016 Mexico City performance (signed by Pete Townshend), and five hand-written setlists from Patti Smith.
Patti Smith’s handwritten lists are expected to be some of the most sought after, the most expensive of which currently sits at $405.00. R.E.M.’s setlist from the Shoreline Amphitheatre (1989), however, is currently the priciest, sitting at $560.00 (US). If you're looking for something a little less expensive, but no less treasurable, there's a Pretenders setlist form Philidelphia that hasn't crossed the $100 mark ... yet.
A full list of items – which also includes setlists from Nine Inch Nails, Dixie Chicks, Mitski, Death Cab For Cutie, and Janelle Monáe’s recent Coachella appearance – along with all the auction details can be viewed HERE.
Don't miss the opportunity to own an original piece of music history! For a little musical inspiration while you're scrolling through the options, check out our I Like: Pretenders playlist on Spotify, featuring all their biggest hits you'll find on the setlist.
Listen to all the Pretenders Essentials on Apple Music:
