Fleetwood Mac Rumours LP Cover Art

It might not be the most attainable purchase, but for rock and roll fans and collectors of its relics, a new opportunity has opened to obtain a Stevie Nicks-owned Grand Hamilton piano. The instrument’s history extends back to making tracks such as “Songbird” and “Sara ” and was used by heavyweight musicians such as Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Christine McVie, and more. Bidding is underway via Gotta Have Rock and Roll. 

The minimum bid for the Grand Hamilton piano is currently set at $50,000. It comes from the collection of English singer-songwriter Robbie Patton, who opened for Fleetwood Mac in the late 1970s and remained a lifelong friend of Nicks. According to the backstory, the two musicians met in 1975, “One day, I’m in the house of Stevie and she has two pianos, one of them was this black Grand Hamilton Piano where she wrote most of her songs on. She wrote everything on the Piano, she really cherished it as her own.”

In addition to writing highly-regarded compositions cozied up at the keys, Nicks brought the Grand Hamilton on tour, adding more lore to its saga. Patton adds, “Then in 1979 Fleetwood Mac took the piano on the road. Christine used it on tour. She played it all over, she even composed Songbird from the album Rumours on this piano.”

According to the auction site, Nicks’ bandmate McVie used the piano extensively from 1982 to 1983 before returning it to its owner. Eventually, Patton offered Nicks a trade—one song for the piano—and thus, she gifted him the historic piece. 

Under the ownership of Patton, he lent the use of the piano to other artists who entered his studio. “I used to work for all the big musicians, Elton John, for four and a half years. John Reid managed Elton John and then Queen. Freddie Mercury even came by for a recording session and used the piano. Elton John used the piano. The people who have touched this piano are crazy,” he exclaimed. 

The instrument has been refurbished and lacquered, though the keys remain original and dripping with history. For more information or to place a bid, visit gottahaverockandroll.com.