Dave Grohl, Chris Cornell Personal Items Repurposed for Charity
Dave Grohl and Chris Cornell are just two of the big name artists whose personal items have been recycled in a unique way for a charity dedicated to addiction recovery treatment. The items, which range from pieces of clothing to what the late-Soundgarden frontman donated before his death this past May -- a guitar strap -- have now become part of a one-of-a-kind capsule collection of watches. An old flannel of the Foo Fighters leader will be made into a watch band.
The California-based watch and accessory brand Nixon has fashioned the items into the Rock LTD Collection, which will available in time for the holidays. The assemblage of 25 to 30 pieces have prices ranging from $1,200 to $1,800 -- except for the Cornell piece which will tour around to each of Nixon’s flagship locations in New York, London and Paris in the spring of 2018 before being auctioned off at a MusiCares benefit in May 2018.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit MusiCares MAP Fund, a charity arm of the Recording Academy dedicated to addiction recovery treatment. Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares, praised Cornell as "legendary, unique, iconic, thoughtful, provocative and the penultimate musical artist," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"Addiction is a disease, and we lose far too many loved ones to the illness each day," Cornell's widow, Vicky, says in a statement. "MusiCares is a crucial organization and the MusiCares MAP Fund 100 percent supports the music community in its fight to protect those battling this affliction."
Nixon launched the collection as a benefit for MusiCares in 2005, and this year marks the seventh Rock LTD line. Other artists who have donated items include Iggy Pop, Elton John and former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic.
Cornell had long been dedicated to MusiCares, having been honored alongside promoter Jeff McClusky at the MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert in 2007 with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for his support of the organization and his efforts in helping other addicts. Nixon CEO Chad DiNenna says Cornell agreed to donate the guitar strap before his death and that his family was consulted on how to move forward now that he's gone. "This is what he would want," DiNenna says.
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