November 2nd 2024.
Which Beatles item is worth over £500 these days?
Pop music and merchandise have always gone hand in hand. From limited edition tour T-shirts to rare vinyl LPs and novelty lunchboxes, the list of collectible items is endless. Over the years, merchandise for popular acts like The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, Spice Girls, The Rolling Stones, and Madonna have fetched thousands, if not millions of pounds. And what's surprising is that sometimes, everyday people like us may have valuable pieces of music history sitting in our own homes without even realizing it.
So, we're curious: could you be one of the lucky ones sitting on a goldmine? Perhaps you have some rare and valuable music merchandise tucked away in your wardrobe or up in the attic. We've enlisted the help of music merchandise experts to identify some of the most sought-after items that could be hiding in your collection. Let's take a closer look at a few of these rare gems.
Iron Maiden belt - £73
We won't start with the big bucks, but let's take a look at this Iron Maiden belt that's over 20 years old. In 2003, the British heavy metal band embarked on their Dance of Death World Tour, promoting their 13th album of the same name. As part of the merchandise collection, they released a leather belt featuring the band's logo and mascot in metal. Eddie, the band's iconic mascot, has been a staple in their live shows, album covers, and merchandise since his introduction in 1980. This belt is currently listed for almost $100 on MusicGoldMine and Iron Maiden belt buckles are selling for over £80 on eBay. Were you a dedicated Iron Maiden fan in the early 2000s? If so, you may have purchased this belt or had one gifted to you during the Dance of Death era.
Metallica beach balls - £230
Would you believe that a Metallica beach ball could fetch £230? The legendary heavy metal band is currently on their M72 world tour, promoting their latest album, 72 Seasons, which was released in 2023. This is Metallica's 11th studio album, named after the number of seasons one experiences before turning 18 years old. During their live shows, the band has been releasing giant beach balls into the crowd, much to the dismay of some fans who have been catching and deflating them for the purpose of selling online. If you were lucky enough to get your hands on one of these beach balls and haven't sold it yet, you may be able to make a handsome profit. Some eBay listings are asking for as much as $300 for a Metallica beach ball.
The Beatles lunchbox and Thermos - £800
Do you remember the height of Beatlemania in 1965? Back then, it seemed like John, Paul, George, and Ringo were everywhere - on TV, on the big screen, and on all types of merchandise, including this limited edition tin lunchbox set featuring a Thermos cup. Made by Aladdin, this lunchbox is currently listed for around £615 on MusicGoldMine, but it's being sold for almost £1,000 on eBay. The lunchbox features a cartoon drawing of the band performing live, while the Thermos cup showcases the faces of the band members and their printed signatures. Did you have one of these lunchboxes during the height of Beatlemania in the 1960s or even in the years that followed when the Fab Four embarked on their solo careers?
Cranberries tour T-shirt 1995 - £370
The Cranberries were a sensation in the early 1990s, thanks to hit songs like Dreams, Linger, and Zombie. Their second album, No Need to Argue, went triple Platinum in the UK, and their subsequent tour was a huge success. Today, merchandise from that 1994 tour is still in high demand, with a No Need to Argue T-shirt from 1995 selling for almost £400 on eBay. According to reports from music merch website Just Collecting, a similar Cranberries T-shirt went for over £1,900 at an auction in 2014. This particular T-shirt was bought during the American leg of the tour in August that year, making it a rare and valuable item for collectors.
AC/DC tour jacket - £615
Were you lucky enough to attend AC/DC's 1981/1982 For Those About to Rock world tour? If so, you may have gotten your hands on the ultimate rock and roll jacket. This jacket was not available to fans but was made for crew members assisting with the tour, making it a highly sought-after item. This particular jacket was made for the band's shows in Boston in December 1981 and is currently listed for £615 on MusicGoldMine. The 1981 tour was the last of the era to feature Phil Rudd on drums, and as many fans know, he later rejoined the band in 1994 and again in 2018.
Katy Perry signed One of the Boys album - £300
In 2009, Katy Perry was on top of the pop world, with hit songs like I Kissed a Girl, Hot n Cold, and Waking Up in Vegas dominating the airwaves. If you were lucky enough to get your hands on a special edition signed copy of her major label debut album, One of the Boys, you could be looking at a significant profit. These signed albums are fetching up to £300 on auction sites, with some listings even providing proof of Katy's autograph. If you happen to have the red and yellow vinyl version of the album from 2009 and can get Katy to sign it, you could make a nice profit. However, be careful when purchasing signed items online, as some may not be authentic.
The Beatles Sgt. Pepper official watch - £135
In the mid-1990s, Beatlemania experienced a resurgence with the release of two new songs and the Beatles Anthology. In the midst of this excitement, officially branded Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band watches were made in 1996. If you were lucky enough to get your hands on one back then, congratulations - you may be in possession of a valuable item worth over £130, or even £63 according to some eBay listings. This watch is a unique piece of Apple merchandise, predating the popular Apple Watches we know today. If you have this watch in your collection, it may be worth taking a closer look at its value.
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