Jo Burt, renowned bassist for iconic bands such as Black Sabbath, is putting his extraordinary personal collection of music memorabilia up for auction. Beyond his legendary stint with Black Sabbath, Burt has played with The Troggs and Sector 27, served as a session guitarist for Freddie Mercury, and toured alongside Elton John and The Police.
The collection features a variety of prized items including leather jackets worn during Black Sabbath concerts and a pair of Vivienne Westwood shoes worn on stage during Sector 27 tours. Also included are numerous stage passes from Elton John, Kim Wilde, Black Sabbath, and Queen, alongside Burt’s cherished Schecter mahogany and maple Model P fretless bass and two Fender precision bass guitars—all instruments he played on tours and recording sessions with some of the biggest names in music.
The auction will be conducted by Charterhouse in Sherborne on Friday, July 4, the day before Black Sabbath’s final concert. John Snape from Charterhouse highlighted Burt’s impressive career: “To say Jo played bass guitar with some of the leading bands and iconic artists of the late 20th century is an understatement. Notably, we are selling two of his stage-worn Le Rocka studded leather jackets from Black Sabbath’s 1987 Eternal Idol Tour.”
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Based in the West Country, Burt’s extensive touring includes The Troggs’ 1977 US tour, performances with Elton John, Bob Geldof, Kim Wilde, and Brian Setzer. Notably, he played at the HMS Ark Royal Rock Show with Bob Geldof in Gibraltar in 1986 and contributed to sessions for Freddie Mercury, Melanie, and Bryan Adams’ band.
The collection is available for viewing at Charterhouse from June 30, with live internet bidding on July 4 at charterhouse-auction.com.