A 1.5-inch dreadlock from the late Bob Marley has gone up for auction in the UK, where it is estimated to make up to £25,000, or $33,120.25.
According to JC Auctions, the dreadlock is the first “genuine example” of the reggae pioneer’s hair to come up for auction in 20 years. As the story goes, a then-teenage fan named Andrea requested the piece of Marley’s hair during his appearance on the BBC’s live performance program Top of the Pops on June 22nd, 1978, when he and the Wailers performed “Satisfy My Soul.”
“Back in the day you were permitted to get on stage at Top of the Pops with the bands. After Bob Marley had finished singing, myself and a friend went up onto the platform where he was performing,” Andrea recalled. “He was chuckling away and I asked if I could take off a piece of his hair. He just kept nodding and chuckling and appeared amused by it so I twisted a piece of his dreadlock off. And he of course gave me his autograph as well. I’ve kept it in my autograph album ever since.”
In addition to the personalized autograph, the auction winner will receive Andrea’s Top of the Pops promotional flyer, which she inscribed on the back with the wrong date. “Andrea and Melanie went to Top of the Pops on 2/6/78, we saw Kid Jensen [presenter], Black Sabbath, Showaddywaddy, Heatwave, Bob Marley, Thin Lizzy and unfortunately Legs + Co,” it reads.
The online auction closes on Thursday, April 9th at 2:00 p.m. BST. Make your bid here.
Revisit Marley’s Top of the Pops performance and check out photos of the dreadlock and other included items below.
Photo courtesy of JC Auctions
Photo courtesy of JC Auctions
Photo courtesy of JC Auctions
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