AN iconic
artwork collection paying homage to one of Britain's biggest 1960s rock bands
is being displayed at a historic gig.
Sixties
legends The Who were at the forefront of the Rock n Roll culture and the
swinging sixties.
Their
seminal 1973 album Quadrophenia formed the unforgettable soundtrack of the hit
film of the same name featuring epic battles between the infamous Mods and
Rockers.
Now a
Hampshire man who owns a £1.8million collection featuring rare paintings
inspired by their music and original merchandise from the film is exhibiting
artefacts in London.
The
paintings, along with antique Vespa scooters, Mod suits and a parka coat signed
by one of the cast, are currently on show at two landmark gigs by the band at
the O2 Arena last night and today Paul Kelly, from Southampton, is exhibiting
his entire Whofreak Artwork at what is the band's 50th anniversary tour.
The Who
Turns 50 tour initially launched last year but the final shows were postponed
when singer Roger Daltrey fell ill with a throat infection. Now diehard fans
have a fresh chance to watch the rock legends and see the exhibition.
Mr Kelly,
51, initially inherited the paintings - which feature Egyptian motifs and
abstract designs - after his best friend the artist John Davis died in 2006.
Mr Davis,
originally from Shirley, was commissioned in 1969 by the Who to do the artwork
for their first book 'A Decade of the Who', eventually released in 1977.
The
illustration collection was valued at £500,000 in 2008 and last year Mr Kelly
signed a deal with the band's official merchandising company Bandmerch to
create limited edition and order versions of them.
This,
along with a collection of scooters, clothing and limited edition records,
means the whole collection is worth an estimated £1.8m.
It comes
after he initially tried to sell the paintings for £165,000 on global internet
auction site in 2009 but received no takers.
Mr Kelly,
who has often displayed the merchandise at The Who conventions, said: “It's an
opportunity for people to see some rare merchandise, items from the film and
1960s culture representative of Britain in 1964.
“It's part
of the British culture and they can reminisce about things that happened those
days.”
Haling Mr
Davis who he met at a history re-enactment society in Fordingbridge in 1991, he
said: “Pete was a very close friend and the band all knew him well.
“By
leaving me the artwork I am keeping his name alive and all the Who fans really
appreciate what I've done.
“Lucky
they didn't sell and I've been able to do this over the last eight years.”
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