You might be wondering why we’re posting news about Northern Irish rock band Ash here on Fantha Tracks. Well, there are numerous reasons. They played the wrap party for The Phantom Menace, had their track Clones used on 2005’s Republic Commando (where they also played the launch party in Leicester Square), not to mention plenty of GFFA shoutouts including the B-side of Girl From Mars being ‘Cantina Band’ and being the headline act alongside Blues Harvest and Darth Elvis and the Imperials at #CANTINA back at Celebration Europe 3 in 2016.
In addition to all of that, bass player Mark Hamilton is a lifelong Star Wars fan and a serious collector with some incredible stories (which you can hear on this Bonus Track episode of Desert Planet Discs as he is interviewed by Carl and Greig) and he is auctioning off his Epiphone Thunderbird Bass guitar to help raise funds for friend John Magee. The auction currently sits at £2050.00, and with six days still to go shall hopefully rise even higher.
Mark Hamilton from ASH’s (band) signed Epiphone Thunderbird Bass Guitar – Fundraiser
This auction is for a fundraiser for a friend (John Magee) who is looking to get expensive stem cell treatment in Switzerland.
Find his story at: gofund.me/20d7eb03
This Thunderbird is one I’ve used at home throughout lockdown for the past two years. It was signed by all of ASH last week at the Supergrass / Ash Brixton Academy show. (See pics)
There is a moderate reserve price set, lower than what this would cost new.
As shipping internationally is now so prohibitive and with unfortunate Brexit implications the auction is only open for UK and Northern Ireland bids as the Bass is located inside the UK.
We’ll bring you the final auction details, and in case you’ve not seen it for a while (or indeed ever seen it) here’s that track from Republic Commando, ‘Clones’.
