Classic Rock News Roundup

When Robert Zimmerman scribbled 16 pages of poems back in 1960, they weren't worth much to anyone but the young college student himself. 45 years later, Bob Dylan's early work is worth $78,000 to the collector who bought "Poems Without Titles" at Monday's (November 21) auction of rock memorabilia at Christie's auction house in New York.

Also at auction was an electric guitar played by Eric Clapton. It was expected to bring $3,000 to $5,000. The winning bidder added a zero and paid $36,000 for the Fender composite Stratocaster.

Also notable are some items that failed to attract any bidders: Jim Morrison's handwritten lyrics for the Doors' "Not to Touch the Earth" and the medallion Jimi Hendrix wore during his breakthrough performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.

The last time we saw Pink Floyd in a live performance was at Live 8 in July. Not counting a one-song set at their 1996 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, you have to back to 1994 and their landmark Division Bell tour for a live Floyd performance. In January, Columbia is releasing a two-DVD homage containing the band's entire performance at Earls Court in London during that final 1994 tour. The set includes the first ever filmed performance of the entire Dark Side Of The Moon album. Backstage footage and other extras are included. Scheduled release date is January 19.

Link Wray, whose electric guitar experimentation provided the basis for heavy metal and punk, has died at his home in Denmark. Pete Townshend (The Who), Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie are among those who credit Wray as a significant force in their own musical development. At his request, Wray's death on November 5 and burial late last week weren't widely publicized. Learn more at the Link Wray website ...

David Bowie's last starring role in a feature film was in "Basquiat" portraying Andy Warhol. That was in 1996, the same year that Christopher Priest's novel about rival magicians seeking the ultimate magic trick was published. Shooting begins in January on "The Prestige" and Variety reports that Bowie will star as inventor Nikola Tesla. Christopher Nolan ("Batman Begins") will direct.