Exhibition of Iconic Bass Collection from U2's Adam Clayton

The exclusive three-week exhibition celebrating the U2 bassist and this collection of 18 iconic bass guitars is open to the public at The Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Co Kildare, Ireland from today until November 9th.

Following the exclusive three-week exhibition run in Ireland, the collection will head to Nashville where it will be auctioned at the industry’s most anticipated music memorabilia event of the year “PLAYED, WORN, AND TORN,” taking place over two days - Thursday, November 20th and Friday, November 21st 2025 - at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in the historic Municipal Auditorium and online at juliensauctions.com.

Experience the legendary bass-playing journey of Adam Clayton as Julien’s, the industry-leading music memorabilia auction house, in partnership with the bass icon and co-founding member of one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time, U2, brings together 18 phenomenal axes from his personal collection at The Museum of Style Icons, home to the world’s finest collections of style, fashion and pop culture artifacts. For the first time ever, the largest curated collection of Clayton’s guitars will be exhibited in U2’s native Ireland.

Adam Clayton said – “I’m fortunate enough to have owned many wonderful instruments in my life and I have amassed a very personal collection of basses over the last 40 years. They have all become favourites for one reason or another, a reminder of a particular tour or recording session. I return to them time and time again, it’s a very special relationship, I can’t really explain it…

My only regret is that I don’t get to play them all as often as I would like, a musical instrument needs time and attention… I’ll be sad to see these basses go but this is an opportunity to give each and every one of them a new home in the care of a new owner. And maybe they can become someone else's favourite.”

This remarkable collection of Adam Clayton's illustrious basses, stage-played through the different eras and continents of U2's record-breaking globe-spanning tours, is set to make history once again in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to potentially own a piece of the 22-time Grammy Award-winning artist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s legacy. Over 20 items from Adam Clayton’s personal collection, including music instruments, gear, memorabilia and more, will be offered for the first time at auction, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting MusiCares, the leading music charity supporting the health and well-being of the music community.

Highlights include: Clayton’s 2014 Sherwood Green Fender Adam Clayton signature Jazz Bass, played during U2’s Innocence + Experience tour stops in 2015, notably in Dublin, Belfast, Paris, Glasgow, London, Koln, Antwerp, Barcelona, Berlin, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Turin, NYC, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Montreal, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, and Vancouver (estimate: $40,000-$60,000); his 200 Lakland Joe Osborn J sunburst bass, played during the U2’s Vertigo Tour for their classic hit “One,” notably in Dublin on August 27th, 2005 (estimate: $20,000-$40,000); a 2010 Gold Sparkle Fender Adam Clayton Precision Bass deemed a “mistake” by Clayton’s guitar technician due to the Jazz Bass decaled headstock (estimate: $40,000-$60,000); Clayton’s stunning U2 360 Tour 2010 Warwick Gold Reverso electric basses (estimate each: $20,000-$40,000); Clayton’s prized Fender Jazz Basses ranging from 1960s to 1970s models in Sunburst, Ice Blue Metallic, Lake Placid Blue; and more!

Exhibition:

When: October 20th – November 9th, 2025

Where: The Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre, Athgarvan Rd, Kilbelin, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Opening Times: Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday & holidays 10am-5pm

Information: https://visitnewbridgesilverware.com/about-the-museum-of-style-icons

LIVE AND ONLINE AUCTION

Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum 401 Gay Street Nashville, Tennessee 37219

“Played, Worn, & Torn”

Thursday, November 20th

Session: 10:00 a.m. Central Time

Friday, November 21st

Session: 10:00 a.m. Central Time

For more information please email - info@juliensauctions.com or call 310-836-1818.

Registering to Bid

Registration is required to bid in this auction and can be done in person on the day of the auction, or online before the sale at the Julien's Auctions.

For inquiries, please email info@juliensauctions.com or call 310-836-1818.

Placing Bids

There are four ways to bid in Live Auctions:

• Bid with Julien's Auctions online.
• Bid over the telephone through an auction house representative.
• Bid in person in the room at our auction events.
• Bid in advance by absentee bid. Absentee bid forms are available by calling 310-836-1818