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Colts’ Jim Irsay built one of the most impressive private music collections

BBG News

On Wednesday, Jim Irsay, proprietor of the Indianapolis Colts football team, passed away at the age of 65. During his tenure, he guided a relatively prosperous NFL franchise that clinched a Super Bowl victory. Prior to assuming ownership, Irsay’s father, Robert, held the reins, and Jim gained extensive experience working in various aspects within the organization.

It’s important to remember that people should never be solely judged by their actions. While it’s true that he was an owner who welcomed public attention, he was also candid about his struggles. Among these struggles, he openly addressed his battle with addiction. In the latter part of his life, Irsay faced numerous health challenges such as a severe respiratory disease, problems with his legs and back, which were caused by a fall.

As reported by the Colts’ Chief Operating Officer, Pete Ward, in an official announcement, Jim Irsay passed away “tranquilly” during his sleep.

Colts owner Jim Irsay’s music collection was impressive

Indeed, it’s worth noting that Jim Irsay transcended the role of an NFL team owner. Beyond that, he was deeply passionate about music and generously amassed a personal collection that would leave many music aficionados envious. His guitar collection stands out as particularly remarkable.

As per Jim Irsay’s collection website, it is known that Jim Irsay was the owner of the Stratocaster guitar which Bob Dylan utilized during his groundbreaking performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. At this festival, Dylan opted for an electric set, a choice that created quite a stir among the audience since they were accustomed to more traditional folk performances.

As a gamer, “I got my hands on George Harrison’s Gibson SG he used during the Beatles’ ‘Revolver’ recording sessions. The price tag? A cool $567,000. And guess what else I snagged? Nearly a million dollars’ worth of Bob Dylan’s guitar that was mentioned earlier.

In addition to his love for football, Irsay was also an admirer of the Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. He had in his possession not one, but two guitars that Gilmour had previously worked on: a Fender Stratocaster and a C.F. Martin & Company D-35 acoustic guitar.

Besides guitars, Irsay also acquired some unique musical instruments in his collection. He owned a 1966 Yamaha Nippon Gakki alto saxophone previously played by John Coltrane, as well as a trumpet from Miles Davis’ Martin Committee band. Moreover, he possessed two items of clothing that belonged to James Brown – a red stage cape and boots that Brown had worn on stage.

Essentially, Irsay wasn’t just the owner of an NFL team; he was similar to us. His passion lay in music, and he took care to support it financially. Here’s to hoping we all can be as fortunate.

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2025-05-22 19:00

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