16/11/05 - TSUNAMI CHARITY GALA DINNER, RITZ-CARLTON, DOHA

Guitar fetches $1.6m for charity

Bryan Adams broke a Guinness World Record this week by auctioning off the most expensive guitar in history for 1.6 million dollars. After last year's tsunami in southeast Asia, the Canadian started getting musicians to sign the white Stratocaster in hopes of raising money for relief efforts. Just in the last year, it has been signed by nearly 20 legends, including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, Mark Knopfler, Ray Davies, Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis, Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi, Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC, Paul McCartney, Sting, Ritchie Blackmore, Def Leppard and Adams himself. The guitar, which was donated by Fender, was auctioned off earlier this year for more than $150,000. It was re-auctioned this week and bought for more than $1.6 million. All proceeds will go towards the Reach Out To Asia Foundation.

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Outlook India.com:
Canadian rock star Bryan Adams, who has consistently been associated with raising funds for victims of last year's tsunami, enthralled audiences with a few of his songs at the gala dinner, part of the 'Reach out to Asia' campaign. Spearheaded by the Qatar Foundation, Qatar Airways and the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee, the 'Reach out to Asia' charity drive besides raising funds for tsunami and quake-hit people of Asia aims at providing succour to the poor and underprivileged of the continent.

Adams' performance was followed by an auction by Sotheby's in which items from the world of sports and music were put up for bidding.

A guitar owned by Adams and signed by leading personalities from the international music circuit like Mick jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, was auctioned off earlier in the year and the money from the same was donated to the cause.

"Proceeds from the guitar will go towards building a new school in Thailand, one of the countries affected by the tsunami," the rock star said.

The charity dinner was attended among others by the ruler of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, politicians from the country and international Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge.

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The Peninsula Newspaper:
International rock star Bryan Adams, who is lending his full support to the campaign, expressed delight that $270,000 had been raised from the auction of an electric guitar signed by music legends from the world of rock and pop in aid of those in need.

The Canadian singer said that the white stratocaster donated by instrument specialist Fender, was auctioned off earlier this year. Proceeds form the guitar will go towards building a new school in Thailand, one of the countries affected by tsunami.

Over the past few months, the guitar has been signed by music legends — Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Mark Knopfler, Ray Davis, Liam Gallagher, Ronnie Wood, Tony Lommi, Angus and Malcolm Young From Ac/Dc, Paul Mccartney, Sting, Ritchie Blakmore, Def Leppard and Bryan Adams himself.

Setlist:
Tears Are Not Enough
Conspiracy Of Hope (speech?)
The Wall
On A Day Like Today

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The guitar signed by Bryan and many other rock stars that was auctioned off to help fund a new school. Bryan broke the Guiness World record and sold it for $1.6 million... THE most expensive guitar in hostiry!