You don’t need a rock star’s bankroll to collect pop music memorabilia. But when Madonna’s stage-worn pointy bras are selling at auction for the price of a new Cadillac, it certainly helps.
From concert posters and handwritten song lyrics to one-of-a-kind treasures owned by famous musicians, we dove deep into the lucrative business of rock collectibles and curated a list of pricey artifacts that even includes mass-market novelties like pinball machines and toy microphones. What you won’t see at this gig are vintage vinyl records and star-owned musical instruments (think Hendrix guitars), which are largely considered their own collecting genres.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, in the words of Jack Black in “School of Rock,” “You just sit back and enjoy the magic of rock!”
17. KISS Wireless Microphone
Value: $3,400
In the late ’70s, competing for toy store shelf space with Star Wars action figures was a KISS-merch juggernaut that spawned everything from school lunchboxes to radio-controlled vans. To date, it’s estimated the band has licensed its name to more than 3,000 different products.
15. KISS Radio-Controlled Van
Value: $5,000
There isn’t much KISS didn’t put its name on, and the band’s memorabilia from the 1970s can be extremely valuable. This remote-controlled van dates back to 1978 and features imagery of the original members.
This toy made by Aucoin has stayed in its packaging since the beginning and has been in storage for most of the past 44 years. It sold for nearly $5,000 on eBay in September 2022.