Michael Jackson's iconic black moonwalk hat sells for over Rs 68 lakh

Six women rescued from refrigerated truck in FranceMichael Jackson's iconic black Fedora hat, famously worn during his debut of the moonwalk dance in 1983, was sold for 77,640 euros (approx. Rs 67,92,257) at an auction in Paris on Tuesday.

The black Fedora was presented for auction at the Hotel Drouot auction house and had initially been valued at an estimated price range of 60,000 to 100,000 euros.

This Fedora holds a special place in music history, as Michael Jackson, during the peak of his fame, electrified audiences when he first performed his iconic moonwalk while wearing the hat during "Billie Jean" at a televised Motown concert in 1983. It was at this very moment that he casually removed the Fedora, captivating the world.

The auction featured a curated selection of approximately 200 rock memorabilia items, with the top bid going to a guitar previously owned by the legendary bluesman T-Bone Walker, which sold for an impressive 129,400 euros.

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The thriving market for music memorabilia has been making headlines lately. Lemon Auction, one of the co-organizers, made waves last year by auctioning off a guitar that had been famously smashed by Noel Gallagher on the night Oasis disbanded in Paris, following a heated altercation with his brother, Liam. The guitar fetched a staggering 385,500 euros.

More recently, a series of auctions featuring items associated with the iconic Freddie Mercury, including the very piano on which he composed the timeless masterpiece "Bohemian Rhapsody," raked in a remarkable total of 46.5 million euros for Sotheby's. These auctions attracted bidders from an astounding 76 countries, underscoring the enduring allure of music memorabilia.

Michael Jackson's Famous Shoe Auction:

The black loafers that Michael Jackson used to perform his signature moonwalk for the first time on stage were auctioned for $10,000 in 2018. The star owned the Florsheim Imperial leather shoes and wore them while rehearsing his performance of “Billie Jean” for the “Motown 25” TV special in 1983.

Michael Jackson's socks auction:

In 2019, Bill Whitten's custom-designed crystal socks that were gifted to his manager Frank DiLeo during the 1984 Victory Tour were auctioned at $100,000.

His musical journey: Jackson started his musical journey at the age of 5, joining forces with four of his five siblings to form the famous group, The Jackson Five. In 1979, he made his debut as a solo artist with the album "Off the Wall," which achieved remarkable success, selling over 20 million copies and spawning four Top 10 singles.

The superstar died in 2009 at the age of 50, from a cardiac arrest at his home near Los Angeles.

Here are some of Michael Jackson's famous pop songs:

• Billie Jean: This song, with its unforgettable bassline and iconic music video, is a timeless classic. It's one of Michael Jackson's signature songs.
• Thriller: The title track from his landmark album, "Thriller," is known for its eerie music video and catchy chorus.
• Beat It: Featuring a memorable guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen, "Beat It" is a high-energy, rock-influenced pop song.
• Smooth Criminal: Known for its catchy melody and the famous "hee-hee" vocalization, this song is a fan favorite.
• Black or White: This song carries a message of unity and is known for its groundbreaking music video that featured groundbreaking special effects.