Bernie Marsden, the Whitesnake guitarist behind some of their biggest hits including the anthem Here I Go Again, is selling a life-time’s collection of Marshall guitar amplifiers and speakers at auction in Corsham next month.

Marsden has revealed that in 1970, he was a trainee hairdresser in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, working around the corner from a store owned by Jim Marshall, creator of the iconic British Marshall amplifier. It was whiling away his lunch hours in Marshall’s store that confirmed his passion for guitars and music was stronger than it was for washing hair.

The 69-year-old's gear has been stored in a lock-up on a farm close to Marsden’s Buckinghamshire home. The 80 lots include amplifiers, speakers, guitar synthesisers, effects pedals and other equipment. Also included is a four-piece drum kit built for legendary British rock drummer Cozy Powell, who died in tragically in 1998. Powell was best man at Marsden’s wedding.

Commenting on his time as a hairdresser at Adam of York’s salon in Bletchley, Marsden said: “I had potential. Unfortunately, hairdressing didn’t suit the rock’n’roll lifestyle. My hands hurt from washing hair all day and the evening work didn’t fit in well with gigs, particularly on Fridays. I think I was only earning £3 a week.”

Marsden is selling much of his equipment so that other guitarists can use it or fans can buy a memento. He said: “2020’s been a strange year but it’s given me time to realise that I have a lot of now completely unused quality equipment. This gear has done me proud but it’s time to pass it on to someone else.”

Marsden formed Whitesnake in 1978 with former Deep Purple singer David Coverdale. The band had major international hits in the 1980s with Here I Go Again and Fool For Your Loving, both of which Marsden co-wrote.

A percentage of the proceeds is being donated by Marsden to food bank charity The Trussell Trust and homelessness charity Crisis.

Luke Hobbs, auctioneer at Gardiner Houlgate in Corsham, Wiltshire said: “This is the most significant Whitesnake memorabilia to come to market. We’re expecting lots of international interest, particularly from the US where the band reached number one.”

Marshall amplifiers featured heavily in the spoof rockumentary This is Spinal Tap as the amplifiers ‘that go up to 11’.

During his career, in addition to Whitesnake, Marsden has played guitar with many including UFO, Elkie Brooks, Cozy Powell, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, plus Jon Lord and Ian Paice of Deep Purple in the band PAL. He has recently co-written the latest album by US blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa, Royal Tea. His autobiography Where’s My Guitar? was published in 2019 while his expansive private guitar collection was documented in Tales of Tone and Volume in 2018.

The auction will take place at Gardiner Houlgate, 9 Leafield Way, Corsham on Thursday 10 December. The equipment and other lots will be available for public viewing over Monday 7–Wednesday 9 December from 9am–5.30pm and on the day of the sale itself.