£10 000 Album

Would you pay £10 000 to hear Elton John read out his shopping list? Musician Steven Wilson is selling a one off box set edition of his new album, featuring an unusual collaboration with the rock legend, for a heavyweight price. Just one copy of "The Future Bites", the prog guitarist’s 6th album, has been manufactured as an “ultra deluxe music product”.

Alongside hand written lyrics and personal items, including Wilson’s Grammy award certificate and medal, the album includes a track called "Personal Shopper", in which Sir Elton, famed for his extravagant tastes, reads a list of his essential luxury items.

The monologue includes “teeth whitener, volcanic ash soap, anti ageing cream, designer trainers, fake eyelashes and diamond cufflinks”.

Wilson, an acclaimed songwriter and producer who sold out 3 nights at the Royal Albert Hall on his 2018 tour, said, "this edition takes the whole notion of deluxe limited editions to its logical and fairly extreme conclusion, as the ultimate limited edition will obviously end up being just one copy".

Wilson added, "in many ways, this edition is more analogous with the world of art than with those of music or luxury branding. Only one persno can own an actual painting with the artist's brush strokes on it".

All proceeds from the box, should it be sold, will go to the music Venue Trust to help save grassroots venues across the UK that have been hit by corona virus.

Wilson's box will be sold in January. "In 2021 what better way is there to show off your impeccable music taste than to buy your favorite album in a huge box set that will take up 10 times as much space on the. shelf?," he asked.