X Japan Leader Yoshiki Launches Celebrity Auction to Benefit Japan's Earthquake Recovery

By Niki D'Andrea Thu., May 12 2011 at 10:00 AM

Categories: News

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Photo by Nishioka

Yoshiki

To a music fan, there's nothing like having a unique piece of memorabilia from their favorite artist -- for example, an autographed guitar, or maybe the mandolin that Ministry used on three world tours, or Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis' MTV Europe Award. To a music fan and humanitarian, it's good to know these items will be for sale soon, and that proceeds benefit a great cause -- the ongoing earthquake relief for Japan.

This celebrity auction fundraiser was launched by Yoshiki, leader of platinum-selling Japanese rock band X Japan. He was in Tokyo recording the band's next album when the 9.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the Oshika Peninsula on March 11. The band put the release of their new single, "Jade," on hold to focus on helping with the recovery of their home country.

In a press statement, Yoshiki said, "I am so grateful to everyone who has donated these very special items for this auction, including some of the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. There are nearly 140,000 people who are still living in shelters,so much needs to be done to help the Japanese people return to their normal lives. What we raise from this auction will help the victims."

Read about more awesome items up for auction after the jump...

The auction web site, yoshikifoundation.org, starts accepting bids Monday, May 16, and new items will be added every week. Items up for auction soon include a limited edition, signed print of the artwork for Marilyn Manson's Lest We Forget album. There are autographed guitars from Scott Ian (Anthrax) and Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit). Two tickets and a meet-and-greet to any 30 Seconds to Mars show on the band's 2011 tour will also be up for grabs, along with front row tickets to a taping of the TV show Chelsea Handler Live, an Amazing Spiderman comic book signed by Stan Lee, a T-shirt signed by Johnny Deep, and a Clint Eastwood DVD collection autographed by the Hollywood legend.

Yoshiki's Yoshiki Foundation is spearheading the auction in collaboration with Yahoo! Japan. All proceeds will benefit the Japanese Red Cross.

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