WATCH: Colts Owner Jim Irsay Sings Pink Floyd’s ‘Comfortably Numb’ While Kenny Wayne Shepherd Play’s David Gilmour’s Guitar

Last week I interviewed Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, about his extensive guitar and memorabilia collection. Irsay’s collection is estimated by some to be worth over $100 million. It features iconic instruments like Bob Dylan’s “going electric” Fender Strat from the Newport Folk Festival in 1985, along with Kurt Cobain’s 1969 Fender Mustang guitar and Jerry Garcia’s Tiger guitar, played from 1979 – 1989.

On Saturday night, Irsay invited the public to see his massive collection at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco – all for free. Over 30 guitars were on display, along with items like Abe Lincoln’s walking cane and Muhammad Ali’s championship belt.

The evening was coupled with a show featuring some of Irsay’s rock ‘n roll friends. The free show was a proverbial who’s who of rock legends: Chicago blues icon Buddy Guy, Stephen Stills from Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and John Fogarty, of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame. Also joining the stage: Ann Wilson from Heart, blue rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and bassist Mike Mills of R.E.M, along with Kenny Aronoff (of Chickenfoot fame with Sammy Hagar) and Tom Bukova, a session guitarist who’s played on over 500 albums.

Irsay joined the band a number of times throughout the evening, belting out Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves Of London” and Rolling Stones “Gimmie Shelter.” The wildly outspoken NFL owner also discussed issues important to him, including about addiction, noting that he was donating $25,000 each to two San Francisco-based charities: Project Night Night and Ohlhoff House Addiction Recovery.

“I’m an ex-junkie… some people like Jerry Garcia and Kurt Cobain, they didn’t survive the onslaught,” Irsay told the crowd. “No man or woman can survive that opiate train. It’s a downbound. But hey, if you like to party, we love to people who party. But it crosses the line when it gets into addiction and alcoholism.”

Two notable moments occurred featuring items in his collection. First, Kenny Wayne Sheperd performed the Grateful Dead’s West LA Fadeaway while playing Jerry Garcia’s Tiger guitar. You can click here and watch the video on my Twitter, but note that it features me singing it in the background. Whoops!

Secondly, Irsay sang Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb off 1979’s The Wall. What makes the moment especially cool is that Kenny Wayne Sheperd is playing David Gilmour’s Black Strat. Irsay bought the Black Strat in June 2019, when Gilmour put it up for auction to raise money for charity. Irsay paid $3,975,000 for the guitar – a record at the time.

Watch: Jim Irsay Sings Pink Floyd’s ‘Comfortably Numb’

Interestingly enough, Irsay briefly mentioned his love for Pink Floyd in my conversation with him the other week. When I asked him about going to Grateful Dead shows, he offered:

I wasn’t a Deadhead and my acid trips seemed to be tied more to Pink Floyd than the Grateful Dead, but I went to shows. Bob Weir is a friend. 

Read the full interview here.

Here are a couple of other videos, including one shared from the Irsay Collection: