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West Country resident musician Jo Burt, who played bass guitar for bands including The Troggs, Black Sabbath and Sector 27, along with working as a session guitarist with Freddie Mercury and toured with Elton John and The Police, has instructed Charterhouse in Sherborne to auction his personal collection of memorabilia on Friday 4th July.

“To say that Jo played bass guitar with and in some of the leading late 20th century bands and iconic artists would be an understatement.” Commented John Snape. “Perhaps his is most famous for playing bass guitar in Black Sabbath during their 1987 The Eternal Idol Tour from which we are selling two of his stage worn Le Rocka studded leather jackets.”

Jo in his studded leather sleeveless jacket in the Black Sabbath 1987 Eternal Idol tour £1,000-£1,500
Jo in his studded leather sleeveless jacket in the Black Sabbath 1987 Eternal Idol tour £1,000-£1,500
Jo in his studded leather sleeveless jacket in the Black Sabbath 1987 Eternal Idol tour £1,000-£1,500
Jo on centre stage in the HMS Ark Royal Rock Show in 1986 with the fretless bass guitar in the Charterhouse auction £5,000-£8,000
Jo on centre stage in the HMS Ark Royal Rock Show in 1986 with the fretless bass guitar in the Charterhouse auction £5,000-£8,000
Jo on centre stage in the HMS Ark Royal Rock Show in 1986 with the fretless bass guitar in the Charterhouse auction £5,000-£8,000
An Elton John 1984 European Express Tour, Access All Areas pass, inscribed and signed by Elton £100-£150
An Elton John 1984 European Express Tour, Access All Areas pass, inscribed and signed by Elton £100-£150
An Elton John 1984 European Express Tour, Access All Areas pass, inscribed and signed by Elton £100-£150

Jo Burt’s illustrious career extends beyond Black Sabbath. He’s toured with The Troggs (1977 US Tour), collaborated with Tom Robinson on Sector 27 (including memorable performances, opening for The Police at Madison Square Garden, and a final show at Wembley Stadium). Jo has also graced stages with Elton John, Bob Geldof, Kim Wilde and Brian Setzer. He even played on HMS Ark Royal for The Ark Royal Rock Show with Bob Geldof at Gibraltar in 1986 and also on Top of the Tops with Bob Geldof in 1988. He also contributed his skills to session work for Freddie Mercury, Melanie and The Bryan Adams Band, among others.

Items in the collection includes stage worn leather jackets from Black Sabbath concerts, a pair of stage worn Vivienne Westwood shoes from a Sector 27 tour, numerous Elton John, Kim Wilde, Black Sabbath, Queen and other stage passes along with his Schecter mahogany and maple Model P fretless bass guitar and two Fender precision bass guitars, all of which he played on tours and in sessions with many iconic bands.

The Jo Burt Collection is now up for auction, offering a unique opportunity to acquire significant memorabilia from the career of an acclaimed bassist as Jo says it is just gathering dust at his home.

The auction ties in with Black Sabbath’s final concert on July 5th, the day after the sale at Charterhouse in Sherborne.

Viewing at Charterhouse in Sherborne is from 30th June with the auction on 4th July. All the lots, with live internet bidding, are available on charterhouse-auction.com

For further information contact John Snape at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne on 01935 812277