A set of Bob Marley reel-to-reel analogue tape recordings from The Lyceum and Rainbow in London and the Pavillon Baltard in Paris in the 1970s is going up for auction. The tapes, dubbed The Lost Masters, were stored in cardboard box files in a damp room in a hotel for more than 40 years and was discovered in 2017.
The tapes were severely water damaged and had “gunk oozing from almost every inch” when they were found at the hotel in Little Venice, London. Sound technician Martin Nichols said:
The tapes were covered in mold and had clearly suffered massive water damage. This was without a doubt – one of the most difficult projects I’ve ever tackled – but it was also a labor of love.
The tapes were rescued by Marley fan Joe Gatt, who received a call from a friend saying he had found what appeared to be some old recordings. Auctioneer Paul Fairweather said:
These iconic recordings are from a point in time when Bob Marley was really at his peak and with him having such a huge fan base, we expect there will be worldwide interest.
The tapes are scheduled to go under the hammer at Omega Auctions in Liverpool on May 21 and are expected to fetch £50,000 per lot.
