Shane Evans, former drummer of the platinum selling rock group Collective Soul, and Barbara Minty McQueen, the King of Cool's down-to-earth widow, are kicking off MidAmerica Auction's 22nd Annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction and Races to be held during Jan. 10-12. More than 600 antique and classic motorcycles will be up for sale at The South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., the perfect one-stop destination for the festivities.
The groove-centric percussionist will serve as the musical guest at the Jan. 10 Children’s Hospital Benefit Dinner Auction featuring 75 premium motorcycles. A mini-concert with a live band, featuring a handful of Collective Soul's greatest hits, is scheduled to take place. Evans will also sign CDs, photos and memorabilia as well as greet fans throughout the weekend. It will be the musician's first public appearance in seven years.
As a co-founding member of the 2009 Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductees, Evans drummed on seven No. 1 radio hits (e.g. “Shine”, “The World I Know”, “Heavy”), 19 Top 40 singles, and sold more than 10 million albums worldwide.
“I’m looking forward to playing music again for a cool crowd in a fun city,” said Evans from his Georgia residence. “I hope to visit with a lot of fans and let them know how much I have appreciated their support over the years.”
Author's Note: In anticipation of Evans' appearance at MidAmerica Auctions, on Jan. 9 the musician will perform a just-announced free concert at Alice Cooper's youth community center, The Rock at 32nd Street, in Phoenix, Ariz. Dash Cooper, son of the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is providing musical accompaniment with his band, CO-OP. The "Rock, Recovery & Redemption" event begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes free pizza along with what is sure to be an inspiring speech from Evans about the lonesome valleys associated with drug addiction and his hard-earned path to sobriety.
MidAmerica Auctions will be featuring several exciting private motorcycle collections available for auction, including three motorcycles owned by legendary actor and biking enthusiast, Steve McQueen.
McQueen will share memories of her famous husband and sign copies of her 2012 book, “Steve McQueen: The Last Mile...Revisited.” Joining her will be McQueen biographer Marshall Terrill, who’ll also sign copies of his two books on ‘The King of Cool.’
“Steve loved collecting antique motorcycles and these were the types of bikes that were in our garage and hangar,” said Barbara McQueen. “He loved kicking back with a couple of brews with like-minded people, trying to talk somebody out of a bike or part. I find it humorous and a tad ironic that I am doing the same thing almost three decades later.”
The life and career of Steve McQueen is a classic example of the American dream made real: of a small town boy from a broken home triumphing over adversity to become one of the richest and most sought-after superstars in the world. McQueen lived every day as if it were his last, and by doing so he lived an extraordinary life, both on screen and off.
On display and for sale will be McQueen's 1941 Indian 741 military Scout, which comes with a 1976 photo of McQueen with the bike on the set of his movie “An Enemy Of The People” as well as a signed check with the power of attorney.
Since then the rare bike has been featured in military parades, museum displays and mock warfare. Two other Steve McQueen motorcycles – a 1938 Triumph Speed Twin and a 1940 Indian Four Cylinder – are also on the auction block.
MidAmerica Auctions is also proud to announce the offering of the world renowned MV Agusta Collection. Formerly offered as a single lot, motorcycle enthusiasts and collectors will have the rare opportunity to obtain a piece of treasure from this prized collection as it will be offered as seventy-one individual lots.
Other rare bikes that will be auctioned include: 1925 N.U.T. V-twin; 1936 Harley Davidson VLH-CHP; 1949 Vincent Rapide Custom; 1953 MV Augusta 125 Bialero Grand Prix; 1961 Cotton Continental; 1963 BSA Rocket Gold Star Spitfire Scrambler and a 1975 MV Augusta 750S.
McQueen and Evans will be at the opening event dinner on Jan. 10 and available through Jan. 12 to sign autographs and greet fans. For information or questions, please contact MidAmerica Auctions at 651-633-9655 or by email at midauction@aol.com
Don't forget to view the 7-image slideshow ["The Queen of Cool and Her King, Actor Steve McQueen: Rare Images of the Late Star in Action During the 1960s"] found at the top of this article. Photos include the couple together at the height of disco with the King of Cool sporting a questionable perm, along with the quintessential actor riding motorcycles in the Mojave Desert and posing on the sets of The Great Escape and The Reivers, respectively.
Schedule of Events for the 22nd Annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction:
- Thursday, Jan. 10, 5 p.m. Children’s Hospital Benefit Dinner Auction featuring guest of honor Barbara McQueen and musical entertainment Shane Evans; 6 to 10 p.m. auction of 75 premium vintage and collectible motorcycles.
- Friday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., auction of 300 vintage and collectible motorcycles; 7:30 p.m. Championship Indoor Short Track Series.
- Saturday, Jan. 12, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. auction of 225 vintage and collectible motorcycles; 7:30 p.m. Championship Indoor Short Track Series.
Author's Note: Friends since childhood, Evans' former bandmate, Will Turpin, recently spoke at length about his wildly entertaining career in an exclusive interview. In "Now I Play Bass In A Rock Band!...", Turpin reveals what it was like growing up in Stockbridge, how he met Evans, whether he knew he would be playing bass when he joined the band, anecdotes about their best-selling debut, Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid, what he did when Dolly Parton performed "Shine" on a popular television show, and his feelings toward bootleg recordings.
Author's Note No. 2: The Queen of Cool granted a comprehensive interview with this column last year. In "Every Little Girl's Dream: Being on the 'Tom Horn' Film Set with Steve McQueen", the former model revisits her husband's penultimate film, shares humorous anecdotes about how her dad became a shotgun carrying extra, what it was like to hear dirty jokes courtesy of Slim Pickens, and ultimately sheds light on the time James Garner showed up at her door completely unannounced...
Follow Jeremy on Twitter for updates on all-new articles @RetroInterviews
The Complete Barbara Minty McQueen Interview: (2010-2012)
- Part One: "Steve's Widow Remembers Her Husband on the 30th Anniversary..."
- Two: "Steve McQueen: Through the Lens of His Widow"
- Three: "Entirely in His Element: On the Road with..."
- Four: "The Beauty of Being Naive: In Step with..."
- Five: "Every Little Girl's Dream: Being on the Tom Horn Film Set..."
- Six: "The Goodness of Steve's Heart: Memories of His Final Film, The Hunter"
- Seven: "When You're in Love with the King of Cool: Sweet Memories..."
- Eight: "Life After a Movie Icon: Living in the Moment..."
- Nine: "A Rose Among the Thorns: The Legacy of Steve McQueen"
- Ten: "The Last Mile...Revisited – A Word with the Iconic Actor's Widow"
- Eleven: "Steve McQueen Broke the Rules: A Word with His Widow and..."
Further Reading: Charles Bronson appeared in an impressive 160 television and film productions. He never received proper credit for his understated acting and screen presence. To read an extensive profile detailing exactly who the star was behind his hardened tough guy persona, featuring anecdotes from costars such as James Coburn, James Garner, Tony Curtis, actress Lee Purcell, and Elvis Presley's Memphis Mafia, head on over to the following link: "A Face Like An Eroded Cliff..."
The Complete Marshall Terrill / Steve McQueen Interview (2010-2012)
- Part One: "Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon..."
- Two: "Before Steve McQueen Became a Star: The Terrill Interview"
- Three: "The Blob, a Mare's Leg, and Steve McQueen"
- Four: "The Last Stand: Steve McQueen's Mesothelioma Battle"
- Five: "Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and John Wayne: A Chat with..."
- Six: "Elvis and McQueen: When Two Galaxies Collide"
- Seven: "The Most Emulated Hollywood Star: Revelations from..."
- Eight: "McQueen and Slater, Missouri: How His Boyhood Home Shaped..."
- Nine: "Steve McQueen and the Continuing Dilemma of the Fake McQueens"
- Ten: "The Continuing Dilemma of the Fake McQueens, Conclusion"
- Eleven: "McQueen Was an American Original Who Marched To His Own Beat"
- Twelve: "The Best and Worst of McQueen: Terrill on His Lifelong Passion"
- Thirteen: "The Epitome of Yin and Yang: Discovering the Real McQueen"
- Fourteen: "Steve McQueen Broke the Rules: A Word with His Widow and..."
Further Reading No. 2: To read about Audie Murphy, a genuine tough guy who happened to be an American hero, simply click on the blue link. The exclusive feature details the actor's most popular film, "To Hell and Back", a runaway 1955 blockbuster documenting the most decorated soldier of World War II's war experiences. Murphy enlisted at 17 with the help of his sister, who lied about his age. Fighting three years in the European campaign, the silent hero won 33 awards and decorations for valor on the battlefield, including the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was credited with saving his unit by killing 240 German soldiers...
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