Posted on March 16, 2010 - by Editor

Alkaline Trio Autographed Guitar to Aid in Defence Fund of West Memphis Three

Alkaline Trio

Press Release:

Alkaline Trio will be auctioning an electric guitar used in recording their latest album to raise money for the defence fund of three Arkansas men. Damien Echols (who is on death row), Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.—also known as the West Memphis Three (www.wm3.org) —were convicted for murdering three elementary school children in 1994, many believe wrongfully so.

This special Japanese manufactured guitar is a black 2009 Fender HH Jaguar with a Gibson ‘57 Humbucker in the bridge — used on most of the recording of “This Addiction” and is featured in the photos within the album and has been used (until now) at almost every show thus far on Alkaline Trio’s THIS ADDICTION tour.

The guitar is signed by all three-band members—Matt Skiba (vocals, guitar), Derek Grant (drums), Dan Andriano (vocals, bass).

The auction will last for 17 days—from March 22 to April 8th—one day for each year the West Memphis Three have spent behind bars

Alkaline Trio Guitar on auction

and June 3, 2010 will mark the 17th year anniversary that Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin have been in jail.

The starting bid for the instrument has been set at $999.

“It is my hope that through Skeleton Key Auctions, both funds and awareness will be raised about the travesty perpetrated on these three innocent men,” said Anje Vela, president of Music4Life.  “Cases like the West Memphis Three’s are a blemish to our justice system.  No innocent man or woman should be left to rot in prison without recourse, just because they lack the financial resources for a fair fight. Skeleton Key Auctions is grateful for bands such as Alkaline Trio who have generously donated to this cause.”

For further information about the guitar and to place a bid, log on to www.alkalinetrio.com or www.skeletonkeyauctions.com.

Alkaline Trio  wrote a song ‘Prevent This Tragedy’ about the WM3 on their previous album “Crimson”.