A custom mirror-tiled Gibson Les Paul owned and stage-used by U2 guitarist The Edge has gone up for auction, with bidding currently at $75,000 (£55,000) and an estimated final sale price of up to $150,000 (£110,000).
The guitar, being sold by Gotta Have Rock and Roll, is one of the most recognisable instruments from U2’s experimental Pop era. It appeared in the band’s 1997 “Discotheque” music video and featured on artwork connected to the landmark album Pop.
The Edge’s iconic U2 guitar from the Pop era
Finished in a distinctive reflective mirror-tiled design, the Les Paul became one of the defining visual symbols of U2‘s late-1990s reinvention.
The Edge played the guitar during a period that saw the Irish rock band embrace dance, electronic and club influences, marking a significant departure from the sound that had shaped their earlier records.
After its time on stage and screen, the guitar was signed on the back by all four members of U2 and later auctioned for charity in 1999.
Why the guitar is significant to U2 history
Released in 1997, Pop represented one of the most ambitious and divisive chapters in U2’s career.
The album reached No. 1 in more than 25 countries, while the accompanying PopMart Tour became one of the world’s highest-grossing tours of the year.
The mirror-tiled Les Paul sits at the centre of that era, serving both as a working instrument and as a key piece of the band’s visual identity.
According to the auction listing, the guitar remains in good condition, with the mirror-tiled finish, custom features and band signatures all well preserved despite signs of use from its stage and studio life.
Auction house expects six-figure sale
The instrument carries a pre-sale estimate of $100,000 to $150,000 (£74,000 to £110,000).
Dylan Kosinski, CEO of Gotta Have Rock and Roll, said:
“Instruments like this one are rare because they carry the whole story at once, the music, the video, the album cover, and the signatures of the entire band.
“It is the visual signature of U2’s most daring period, and it is the kind of piece that defines a sale.”
Bidding on the guitar remains open until 17 July.
