Additional Coverage:
- ‘Pawn Stars’ boss Rick Harrison refused to buy Steven Tyler’s harmonica and for a good reason (marketrealist.com)
Headline: No Proof, No Deal: “Pawn Stars” Rick Harrison Turns Down Steven Tyler’s Harmonica
“Pawn Stars” patriarch Rick Harrison, known for his love of rare musical instruments, proved that sentimentality only goes so far in business. In a past episode, a guest strolled into the shop claiming to possess a harmonica played, and then flung into the crowd, by none other than Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler at the 2001 Indianapolis 500.
The guest, a former Purdue band member (the official band of the Indy 500), recounted his story: Tyler played the harmonica before launching into the national anthem, tossing the instrument into the air where it landed directly in the guest’s hands. Despite the compelling tale and the harmonica’s Hohner branding (a mark of quality), the $5,000 asking price was a non-starter for Harrison without proper authentication.
While the guest presented a printout of a Purdue band article mentioning the event, it wasn’t enough to sway the Harrisons. Corey Harrison, Rick’s son, compared the situation to having Britney Spears’s cell phone or Jim Morrison’s car keys – cool story, but not verifiable. He expressed belief in the guest’s account but emphasized the impossibility of reselling the harmonica without concrete proof.
Rick Harrison underscored the importance of provenance, citing a previous instance where a hat purportedly belonging to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant was authenticated by the singer’s name written inside. Without similar proof for the harmonica, Harrison stated he couldn’t risk his reputation, especially not for $5,000.
The guest left empty-handed, convinced the Harrisons had missed a golden opportunity. The episode serves as a reminder that in the world of pawn, a good story isn’t enough – cold, hard evidence is key.