The Morbid Economics of Celebrity
“It’s better to burn out,” as the song goes, “than to fade away.” From John Lennon to Kurt Cobain, the mortality of rock stars are as much a part of their musical legacy as their music itself. For many, their death cements their handprints on the walkway of public affection for all time. The catalog of psychedelic superstar Jimi Hendrix and rap legend Tupac Shakur both boast more posthumous releases than were published during their short lifetimes, the latter lending support to the (false) rumors that reports of his death were untrue.
Recently, I saw a still-living B.B. King, who suffers from arthritis and other medical conditions that affect his ability to play; nevertheless, he remained seated while he offered his traditional blues-crossover sets as if it were 1990. Of all the members of the archetypal rock band, the vocalist is perhaps the most transient. Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page will continue to play guitar past traditional ages of retirement, but a vocalist can only suck down cigarettes and scream out rock tunes with any credibility for a relatively shorter period. If you go see Robert Plant live, you’ll see a much more subdued set than Led Zeppelin concertgoers were entertained with in the early 70’s.
When I heard the news that rock vocalist Ronnie James Dio had died of stomach cancer earlier this month, my heart went out to his family and loyal fans. It’s a rough way to go, reminding us that fading away can be more painful than merely losing the spotlight as one ages.
No doubt, however, others were privately rejoicing, as the market for Dio memorabillia has exploded. This is common when celebrities die, as Zippycart eCommerce news reports. Auctions on eBay for a variety of related articles, many autographed by the rock star. Because he will not be around to sign any more items, it’s no surprise that their value has instantly risen with the news of his passing.
The most expensive items are autographed guitars, which are always a hot-ticket item even if the person signing did not play guitar. Complete sets of autographs from the post-Ozzy Black Sabbath lineup will also no doubt fetch a small fortune. Photographs and box sets make popular items for autographing, as do concert tickets/programs or shirts from their many years of touring. The article mentioned above reports that over a thousand items including “Ronnie James Dio” in the auction title have recently been added as of May 18, with many more lacking this specificity no doubt being added since then.
Dio will be best remembered for being Ozzy Osbourne’s replacement as the vocalist and frontman of metal pioneers Black Sabbath. He also was the first to popularize the “devil horns” gesture, extending the index and little fingers, which is now as ubiquitous as a raised cigarette lighter among concertgoers across all genres. Dio’s legacy also includes his work with other lesser-known metal bands, and his solo career with his own eponymous group, Dio.
Profiting on the death of celebrities can seem distasteful, as our culture tens to regard death as a sad and sacred event. I believe, however, that there’s a profound respect among the resurgence of interest found after celebrity deaths. Every person, famous or otherwise, will die someday. For every person who decides to hold onto an item until death increases its value, there is another who benefits from purchasing an item to help them remember a fallen hero.
Though many Texans burned their Black Sabbath items when Ozzy Osbourne was banned from playing in Texas for disrespecting the Alamo, there is likely a gold mine of Black Sabbath and Dio goods in garages and boxes across the state. Interested in getting rid of your Dio-related stuff? Contact an Easysale representative today to find out if your forgotten treasure can make a mourning fan happy and earn some cash for you.
Email
Leave a Comment