December 8th, 2007: San Francisco, Calif.— The Cure will be auctioning a customised Schecter RS-1000 acoustic guitar to raise money for the defense fund of three wrongfully-imprisoned Arkansas men. Damien Echols (who is on death row), Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.—also known as the West Memphis Three—were convicted for murdering three elementary school children in 1994.
This special guitar was not only designed to lead singer and guitarist Robert Smith’s specifications—maple body with spruce top, maple and rosewood neck and specially designed white pearl moon and star inlays—but it was also used in the studio by the musician this year.
The guitar is signed by all four-band members—Robert, Simon Gallup (bass), Jason Cooper (drums), and Porl Thompson (guitar); and features a unique Cure logo drawn by Thompson, who is responsible for the majority of the band’s artwork down the years. It also includes a “Free the West Memphis Three” message written by Smith.
The auction will last for 14 days—from December 11 (Echols’s birthday) to December 25—one day for each year the West Memphis Three have spent behind bars.
The starting bid for the instrument has been set at $999.
“It is my hope that through Skeleton Key Auctions, both funds and awareness will be raised about the travesty perpetrated on these three innocent men,” said Anje Vela, president of Music4Life.“Cases like the West Memphis Three’sare a blemish to our justice system.No innocent man or woman should be left to rot in prison without recourse, just because they lack the financial resources for a fair fight. Skeleton Key Auctions is grateful for bands such as The Curewho have generously donated to this cause.”
Mark Kozelek Donates Autographed Items to Aid in Wrongfully Convicted Trio’s Defense Fund - 2008-12-07
For Immediate Release
Mark Kozelek Donates Autographed Items to
Aid in Wrongfully Convicted Trio’s Defense Fund
Alt-musician joins the fight to free the West Memphis Three
December 5th, 2008: San Francisco, Calif.— Mark Kozelek will be auctioning autographed items to raise money for the defense fund of three wrongfully-imprisoned Arkansas men. Damien Echols (who is on death row), Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.—also known as the West Memphis Three (www.wm3.org) —were convicted for murdering three elementary school children in 1994.
Mark Kozelek, of Sun Kil Moon and his earlier band, Red House Painters, has gained praise for his extraordinary songwriting. Following Kozelek’s April 2008 release comes his December 9th release of The Finally LP. Kozelek has been a long-time supporter of the West Memphis Three.
“I usually don’t get involved in a benefit unless the cause is really important to me. I’ve been following the case as much as I can since the HBO debut of Paradise Lost,” said Kozelek. “These guys are innocent, and unfortunately, represent just a few of many arrested, convicted, jailed, and sometimes executed for crimes they didn’t commit.”
The auctions will last until December 18th. You can bid on Kozelek’s Tiny Cities LP, April CDs, Ghosts of the Great Highway CDs, Little Drummer Boy CDs, Nights of Passed Over Lyric Books, rare 4-LP set White Christmas & Little Drummer Boy Live, European concert poster, and Japanese April CDs. All items are autographed by Mark Kozelek.
Skeleton Key Auctions raise money for West Memphis Three’s defense fund
December 28, 2007: San Francisco, CA — Skeleton Key Auctions recently auctioned off a specialized autographed Schecter guitar donated by THE CURE. The auction lasted from Dec. 11th (Damien Echols Birthday) until Dec. 25th, which accounted for each year the West Memphis Three have been behind bars for a crime they did not commit.
Skeleton Key Auctions is an auction site that raises funds for the West Memphis Three defense fund. The starting bid for the guitar was listed at $999 and the closing bid went at $6,150.00 to a lucky California resident.
“I am pleased with the amount of money raised by this guitar generously donated by The Cure,” said Anje Vela of Music4Life. “This is something I hope that has brought more attention to the auction site so that more monies can be raised for the defense fund for three men who remain behind prison bars even after DNA has proved their innocence. At such a crucial time in the case it is important to Skeleton Key Auctions to raise as much money as we can. To date Skeleton Key Auctions has raised over $10,000 for the West Memphis Three-defense fund.”
To donate to Skeleton Key Auctions contact: questions at skeletonkeyauction dot com
Tattoo Artist Sean Herman Donates Tattoo to Support Wrongfully Convicted Trio - 2009-03-04
For Immediate Release
Tattoo Artist Sean Herman Donates Tattoo to Support Wrongfully Convicted Trio
Tattoo Artist/Activist joins the fight to Free the West Memphis Three
March 3, 2009: San Francisco, CA.—On April 3rd, 2009, auction for tattoo artwork by Sean Herman (www.seanherman.com) will end to raise money for the defense fund of Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Jr., and Jason Baldwin. The three Arkansas men, dubbed the West Memphis Three, were convicted of the 1993 murders of three elementary school children. Since their trials were chronicled by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky in the HBO documentary, Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, a groundswell of support has formed around the Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin—support that includes a wide array of artists such as Metallica, Henry Rollins, Eddie Vedder, Tom Waits, Winona Ryder, South Park creator Trey Parker, and Jello Biafra.
Tattoo artist and activist, Sean Herman (www.seanherman.com) / (http://www.myspace.com/seantattoos) is donating time/work for a politically charged tattoo regarding the West Memphis Three. As a supporter, Sean Herman (http://www.seanherman.com/) / (http://www.myspace.com/seantattoos) is offering work to the highest bidder. Herman’s work goes for $160 an hour. This auction will go to highest bidder for 5 (five) hours of work at a value of $800.00. Starting bid will start at $500.00. Herman is located at Royal Street Tattoo (110 N. Royal Street – (251) 532-4772) in Mobile, Alabama.
Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin—all teenagers at the time—were convicted in 1994 for the brutal murders of three eight-year-old boys (Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers) in West Memphis, Ark. Despite flimsy circumstantial evidence—the bulk of which centered on the trio’s alleged involvement in a Satanic cult—and a questionable and factually-inaccurate confession extracted from mentally-challenged Misskelley—the three have been serving stiff prison sentences for over a decade. Misskelley was sentenced to life plus 40 years, Baldwin is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, and Echols—who was deemed the ringleader of the attacks thanks to his love of black clothing and Metallica—is currently on death row as he waits for the outcome of his appeals.
For more information about the tattoo, please contact Sean Herman at seanaerochild @gmail.com.
Supersuckers Donates Autographed Item to WM3 Defense Fundraiser - 2009-07-09
For Immediate Release
Supersuckers Donates Autographed Items
to
Aid in Wrongfully Convicted Trio’s
Defense Fund
CowPunk band continues to join the fight to free the West Memphis Three
July 9, 2009: San Francisco, Calif.— Supersuckers and
Nashville Pussy will be auctioning autographed items on Skeleton Key Auctions (www.skeletonkeyauctions.com)
designed to raise money for the defense fund of Damien Echols, Jessie
Misskelley, Jr., and Jason Baldwin. The three Arkansas men, dubbed the West
Memphis Three (www.wm3.org), were convicted of the 1993 murders of three
elementary school children. Since their trials were chronicled by Joe Berlinger
and Bruce Sinofsky in the HBO documentary, Paradise
Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, a groundswell of support has
formed around the Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin—support that includes a wide
array of artists such as Metallica, Henry Rollins, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder,
Tom Waits, Winona Ryder, South Park
creator Trey Parker, Will Ferrell, Johnny Depp, and Jello Biafra.
Supersuckers have been staunch supporters of the West
Memphis Three over the years.
They have always been gracious in donating items to folks
around the world to raise funds for the WM3 Defense Fund. The items you will be
bidding on are from their tour stop with Nashville Pussy in Dublin, Ireland.
Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin—all
teenagers at the time—were convicted in 1994 for the brutal murders of three
eight-year-old boys (Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers) in
West Memphis, Ark. despite flimsy circumstantial evidence—the bulk of which
centered around the trio’s alleged involvement in a Satanic cult—and a
questionable and factually-inaccurate confession extracted from
mentally-challenged Misskelley—the three have been serving stiff prison
sentences for nearly two decades. Misskelley was sentenced to life plus 40
years, Baldwin is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole,
and Echols—who was deemed the ringleader of the attacks thanks to his love of
black clothing and Metallica—is currently on death row as he waits for the
outcome of his appeals.
The auctions will last until August 10th. You can
bid on items autographed by recording artists, Supersuckers, Nashville Pussy,
Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon), actor/filmmaker Norman Reedus,
famed skateboarder Tommy Guerrero to name a few. All items are autographed.
Royal Street Tattoo Donates Tattoo’s to Support Wrongfully Convicted Trio - 2009-08-11
For Immediate Release
Royal Street Tattoo Donates Tattoo’s to
Support Wrongfully Convicted Trio
Tattoo Artist’s
joins the fight to Free the West Memphis Three
August 10, 2009: San Francisco, CA.—On September 18, 2009,
auctions for tattoo artwork by CW, Sean Herman, Pony and Pete from Royal Street
Tattoo (www.myspace.com/royalstreettattoo) in Mobile, AL will end to raise
money for the defense fund of Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Jr., and Jason
Baldwin. The three wrongfully-imprisoned Arkansas men, Damien Echols (who is on
death row), Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.—also known as the West
Memphis Three (www.wm3.org) —were convicted
for murdering three elementary school children in 1994.
“As a shop, we have all taken interest in taking action
within our community, and outside,” said Sean Herman (donated tattoo in
March). “We do whatever we can to help with different charities and
organizations, including these tattoos to support the West Memphis 3.”
The auctions will go to highest
bidder for 5 (five) hours of work. Starting bids will start at $350.00.
CW, Herman, Pony and Pete are located at Royal Street Tattoo (110 N. Royal
Street – (251) 532-4772) in Mobile, Alabama.
Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin—all
teenagers at the time—were convicted in 1994 for the brutal murders of three
eight-year-old boys (Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers) in
West Memphis, Ark. Despite flimsy circumstantial evidence—the bulk of which centered
on the trio’s alleged involvement in a Satanic cult—and a questionable and
factually-inaccurate confession extracted from mentally-challenged
Misskelley—the three have been serving stiff prison sentences for over a
decade. Misskelley was sentenced to life plus 40 years, Baldwin is serving a
life sentence without the possibility of parole, and Echols—who was deemed the
ringleader of the attacks thanks to his love of black clothing and Metallica—is
currently on death row as he waits for the outcome of his appeals.
Skeletonkeyauctions.com is in place to raise money for the
West Memphis Three’s defense fund. For more information on this event, and the
West Memphis Three’s case, log on to http://www.wm3.org/,
http://www.myspace.com/royalstreettattoo
For more information about the tattoo auctions, please
contact Royal Street Tattoo at 251.532.4772 or Sean Herman at www.seanherman.com or seanaerochild
@gmail.com.
Alkaline Trio Autographed Guitar to Aid in Defense Fund of West Memphis Three - 2010-03-09
For Immediate Release
Alkaline Trio Autographed Guitar to
Aid in Defense Fund of West Memphis Three
Alternative punk band continues to join the fight to free the West Memphis Three
March 8, 2010: San Francisco,
Calif. — Alkaline Trio will be auctioning an
electric guitar used in recording their latest album to raise money for the
defense fund of three wrongfully-imprisoned Arkansas men. Damien Echols (who is on death
row), Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.—also known as the West Memphis
Three (www.wm3.org) —were convicted for
murdering three elementary school children in 1994.
This special Japanese manufactured guitar is a black 2009
Fender HH Jaguar with a Gibson '57 Humbucker in the bridge — used on most of
the recording of THIS ADDICTION and
is featured in the photos within the album and has been used (until now) at
almost every show thus far on Alkaline Trio's THISADDICTION tour.
The guitar is signed by all three-band members—Matt Skiba
(vocals, guitar), Derek Grant (drums), Dan Andriano (vocals, bass).
The auction will last for 17 days—from March 22 to April 8th—one
day for each year the West Memphis Three have spent behind bars.
June 3, 2010
will mark the 17th year anniversary that Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin have been
behind bars for a crime they did not commit.
The starting bid for the instrument has been set at $999.
Jello Biafra, Other Artists Donate Autographed Items to Aid WM3 Defense Fund - 2010-03-25
For Immediate Release
Jello Biafra,
Other Artists Donate Autographed
Items to Aid WM3 Defense Fund
Artists join the cause to free the West Memphis Three
March 24, 2010: San
Francisco, Calif. — Jello
Biafra and other artists will be auctioning selected autographed items to raise
funds for the West Memphis Three (www.wm3.org) -- Damien
Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin. Having no physical evidence, the
three teenagers were pinpointed, harassed and accused of murdering and
mutilating three elementary school children. Damien Echols sits on death row,
Jason Baldwin was sentenced to life without parole, and Misskelley got life
plus forty. In July 2007 DNA evidence proved these three young men should never
have been convicted.
The auctions will last for 17 days—from March 31 to April
16th—one day for each year the West Memphis Three have spent behind bars. June
3, 2010 will mark the 17th year anniversary that Damien Echols,
Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin have been behind bars for a crime they did
not commit.
A guitar used by Michale
Graves in the recording of the album Illusions
with songs written by Damien Echols including the album art on the guitar, a pressing
of Dead Kennedys 2nd album, Plastic
Surgery Disasters vinyl signed by Biafra.
Boondock Saints’ Norman Reedus
auctioning off his photography. CDs & posters signed by Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters/Sun
Kil Moon). George Clayton Johnson
(author of Twilight Zone/Ocean’s Eleven – 1960s) signed book, Counting Crows signed CDs & promo
pic, Chris Cornell signed CDs, Matisyahu signed CDs & promo pic, portrait
of Debbie Harry by Mick Rock (“The
Man Who Shot the 70s”).
All auction proceeds go to the WM3 defense fund via ATA, a
tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
For further information about these items and to place a
bid, register and log on to www.skeletonkeyauctions.com.
Revolver Golden Gods Awards and Epiphone Aid West Memphis Three Defense Fund - 2010-04-27
Revolver Golden Gods Awards and Epiphone Aid West Memphis Three Defense Fund Second Annual Hard-Rock and Metal Awards Show Donates Autographed Guitars for Skeleton Key Auctions
Revolver’s Golden Gods issue—featuring an exclusive interview with Damien Echols—hits newsstands on May 11
April 26, 2010: San Francisco, Calif. — America’s premiere hard-rock and heavy-metal awards show, the Revolver Golden Gods presented by Epiphone, has donated two guitars, signed by the event’s winners, performers, and presenters, to raise money for the West Memphis Three defense fund. The WM3 are wrongfully-convicted Arkansas men—Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, who are currently serving life sentences in prison, and Damien Echols, who is on death row (find out more at wm3.org). They were arrested in June 1993 and convicted of murdering three elementary school children in 1994. In July 2007 the results of DNA testing, which was not available at the time of their trials, proved the three should never have been convicted of these heinous crimes.
The first guitar is a Zakk Wylde Graveyard Disciple, designed by the Black Label Society frontman and former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist, who was awarded the Best Guitarist Award at the 2010 Revolver Golden Gods. It features a coffin-shaped body, mother-of-pearl “cross” inlays on the headstock, block fingerboard position markers, contoured double pin-stripe edges, ebony finish, and black hardware. Signatures on the Graveyard Disciple include those of Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, Kerry King of Slayer, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Zakk Wylde, and Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson of Testament.
The second guitar, a Les Paul Prophecy Custom, features the signatures of Slash, Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, Kerry King of Slayer, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Zakk Wylde, Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson of Testament, and Ben Weinman of the Dillinger Escape Plan.
The auction will last for 17 days—from May 24th to June 10th —one day for each year the West Memphis Three have spent behind bars. June 3, 2010, will mark the 17th anniversary of when Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin were placed behind bars for a crime they did not commit.
All auction proceeds go to the WM3 defense fund via ATA, a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
The starting bid for each instrument has been set at $999.
Revolver’s Golden Gods issue of the magazine hits newsstands on May 11. It features an exclusive interview with Damien Echols and excerpts from Marilyn Manson’s speech on his behalf at the award show. Highlights from the REVOLVER GOLDEN GODS presented by Epiphone will air on VH1 Classic on May 22, 2010.
For further information about Revolver magazine and the award show, visit www.revolvermag.com. For info on how to register and bid on these guitars, please log onto www.skeletonkeyauctions.com.
