Radiohead and Phoebe Bridgers are among a line-up of artists that have designed a selection of one-off Brompton Bikes, auctioned to raise money for live music crews affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
100 per cent of proceeds from the sale benefit Crew Nation, the international COVID relief fund founded by Live Nation, to support workers whose livelihood largely disappeared due to the virus, resulting in a sharp rise in depression and anxiety throughout the industry. In total, the bikes raised more than $142,000 (or just over £100,000) for the charity, as well as $7,000 for the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.
Radiohead and Bridgers’ bikes both borrow visuals from their respective records. The first is covered in an In Rainbows print bearing the band’s logo, while the latter includes skeleton and ghost decals, in reference to Bridgers’ 2020 album, Punisher.
Other bikes for the auction were designed by Foo Fighters, Underworld founder and T2 Trainspotting composer Rick Smith, Khruangbin, Enrique Iglesias, Rise Against, Nathan East, Dinosaur Jr., Oh Wonder, Neko Case, and LCD Soundsystem (who also contributed an electric guitar).
In the end, Radiohead’s custom bike attracted the highest bid, coming in at $24,000, which makes it the most expensive Brompton ever sold.
“We are blown away and incredibly appreciative of all the amazing artists who designed bikes and showed their support for Crew Nation, and to our friends at Brompton who made it all possible,” says Nurit Smith, executive director of the Music Forward Foundation. “This collaboration and the money raised is truly valued as we continue to lend our support to the crew members around the world who still need our help.”
Take a look at all of the artist’s bike designs via the auction listings here.
