The owner of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts also happens to be one of the leading collectors of iconic rock instruments. Ones in his possession when they're not on display include a 1964 Gibson SG guitar owned by both George Harrison and John Lennon, David Gilmour's 1969 black Fender Stratocaster, Jerry Garcia's custom made Tiger guitar , Jimmy Page's 1959/60 Gibson Les Paul, the 1964 Fender Stratocaster Bob Dylan played during his first electric concert set at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, Kurt Cobain's 1969 Smells Like Teen Spirit Fender Mustang guitar, Ringo Starr's 1963 Ludwig drum set, and numerous other high-ticket collectibles he prizes much as he does his team's 2006 Super Bowl victory.

 

Many owners of high value instruments owned and played by music legends limit who gets to see them to a very few people, but Irsay has loaned many of the ones in his collection to museums and even financed a tour including a good number of them that went to several cities.

 

This year, the Colts owner's fan friendly gesture will be to celebrate his team's return to the field with a free concert at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 9th that will include a set of rock classics with Irsay himself on vocals, Mike Mills of R.E.M. on bass, Kenny Aranoff behind the drums and Kenny Wayne Shepherd on guitar.

 

The drummer will also perform that night with the lead vocalist

he regularly backs on tour and in the studio, John Mellencamp, as well as doing sets with Buddy Guy, John Hiatt, and Heart's Ann Wilson.

 

Aranoff, who has known Irsay more than 30 years, says his love of rock music is intense and genuine. According to the drummer, the billionaire is "...listening to music 24/7. It's not a hobby, It really touches him, and he relates to the spirit and the lyrics of what these musicians have done."