Anyone who takes a look at our memorabilia website will quickly realize we love handwritten stuff. Lyrics, contracts, letters – they’re all so personal and affecting. While it’s easy to be blown away by something like an original Dylan manuscript or Lennon piece, sometimes we stumble across items that get so personal it’s almost voyeuristic to look at them. So let’s check some of them out! (To get a closer look at any of these letters, just click on the images, and we'll take you over to our interactive memorabilia website for an experience you'll tell all of your friends about. Believe it.)
This is a letter that Madonna wrote in 1991 to a guy named Steven while she was in Chicago filming A League of Their Own. In it, she manages to dis the city of Chicago, girls in general, all thespians, her director, and the lead actress. She manages to squeeze all this vitriol onto one page. She refers to the city as “double yuk” and claims that all the men who live there are ugly, she refers to Geena Davis as “a Barbie doll”, she calls director Penny Marshall “Lavern”, and sums up her feeling on actresses with the simple, elegant line, “I hate actresses”. Have a look for yourself:
In light of his murder conviction, this one is exceedingly creepy. It’s a card from Nancy Sinatra to Phil Spector. Nancy and Phil had an on-again/off-again relationship for a few years and this note contains a glimpse into the turbulent and dysfunctional pair. Check out where Nancy writes, “How happy you make me – also how miserable – I’ve never had anyone in such control before and it doesn’t feel very good.” She also attached a claim ticket with the number “69” on it. Make of that what you will.
Here’s a piece of correspondence between two '60s icons. It’s letter from Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones to Linda Keith. Linda was Brian’s (among many others) girlfriend and a bit of a muse to some of the greatest rock musicians in history (the Stones tune “Ruby Tuesday” is about Linda). Her most enduring contribution is, undoubtedly, her discovery of a young guitarist in a New York nightclub. His name was Jimi Hendrix. Linda brought Jimi to the attention of manager (and former Animals bassist) Chas Chandler and you know the rest. Unfortunately, Linda had a debilitating heroin addiction. That’s what this letter is about. With that in mind, read this. It’s incredibly emotional. The good news is that Linda cleaned up and is now an icon of the '60s counterculture.
This one is a bit less heavy, but tabloid-worthy nonetheless. Mötley Crüe drummer (and amateur videographer) Tommy Lee wrote this letter in the late ‘90s from jail to a pal named “Face” – who was also in jail at the time. In it, he complains about having to plead out yet another assault charge and being busy with “all the f***in’ lawyer visits.” With its teenage surfer-dude lingo, this is a pretty funny example of how rock stars often remain in a perpetual state of adolescence.
We’ve saved the best (worst?) for last. This is a letter to head Beach Boy Brian Wilson from his father Murry. Beach Boys fans are well aware of what a strange relationship Murry had with his sons (especially Brian). Murry was an extremely neurotic, insecure, and megalomaniacal man who visited his psychological issues on his sons regularly. This densely typed, 8-page letter is like a catalog of mental illness. It’s incredibly compelling, if a bit depressing. Below is only a snippet, so click the image, go to our interactive memorabilia website, and take a little time to read the entire letter. It will definitely freak you out.
