Divorce is never a happy thing, but Rolling Stones fans and memorabilia collectors are definitely going to benefit from the split of Ronnie Wood and his his now-ex-wife Jo Wood, who have decided to sell off their joint possessions at auction. These possessions include some items that will no doubt be very interesting to Stones fans in general, as well as some items that may be of more specific interest to fans of Wood.
Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills will be hosting the auction on October 27 and some of the most highly anticipated items up for auction are several of Ronnie Wood’s custom-painted Stratocaster guitars, Rolling Stones tour memorabilia including clothing and backstage passes, and portraits that Wood himself painted of legendary artists like Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton.
In addition to personal items, Wood has also been a keen art collector and is auctioning off several high-value items of British sporting artwork. There is also some furniture and antiques up for sale.
Ronnie Wood and Jo Wood have decided to give some of the proceeds to Grammy-run charity MusiCares, which helps musicians and other professionals in the music industry seek recovery and rehabilitation options.
Darren Julien, the owner of the auction house, estimated the value of the auction items to be between $300,000 and $500,000 in total, with items like leather jackets worn by Wood during a Rolling Stones tour valued at approximately $6,000.
According to Julien, Ronnie and Jo Wood are still good friends, and the decision to auction off these items came out of a desire to simplify their joint possessions and move on from their divorce. The two split in 2008 when Ronnie Wood had a much-publicized affair with a young cocktail waitress, and their divorce was finalized early last year.