The Indianapolis Colts have been struggling this season, but at least owner Jim Irsay has a lot of really cool stuff.
Irsay recently purchased former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr’s 1963 Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl three-piece drum kit, which he used on recordings of “Can’t Buy Me Love” and other hits, for a cool $2.2 million at an auction. Irsay also purchased a Rickenbacker guitar that bandmate John Lennon gave Starr and one of the drummer’s pinkie rings, and he talked to Rolling Stone about how much the instruments mean to him.
“I was 11 years old when the Beatles broke up,” Irsay said. “I was a Lennon fanatic — I mean, I loved Paul (McCartney), too, but Lennon was the guy — and there was always this dream of the Beatles getting back together; there was always this hope.
“It took over $4 million and 45 years, but we finally got them back together. I know it’s a symbolic thing, but it really means a lot to me.”
Irsay has a huge collection of significant instruments, and it’s not just limited to those owned by The Beatles. He also has Bob Dylan’s 1965 Newport Folk Festival guitar, Lennon’s “Paperback Writer” Gretsch guitar and Les Paul’s “Black Beauty.” Irsay told Rolling Stone that he plans to throw a party where artists play Beatles songs on the band’s instruments.
“I feel I’m just a curator of history,” Irsay said. “I’m going to pass this thing on as time goes along. It’s just a privilege and an honor.”
Forbes estimates Irsay is worth $2.3 billion, so these purchases aren’t exactly hurting the Colts owner’s wallet. Still, Indy fans probably wish he’d spend a little more money on the offensive line rather than collector’s items.
Thumbnail photo via Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports Images
