Guitars signed by Fatboy Slim and Nick Cave go on show in North Laine

More than 36 guitars, signed by musicians including Fatboy Slim, Nick Cave, Moby, Madness and Peter Hook, will be on show at Helm Gallery on North Road from 5 to 11 December. The exhibition, called Brighton Rocks, is free to enter, and the guitars will be sold in an online auction from 4 to 11 December.

The money goes to music therapy at University Hospitals Sussex², through My Charity, the trust’s own charity. The therapy already runs on the neurology ward at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

The charity asked people to give it their old, broken or unused guitars. Artists including Hayden Kayes, Chemical X, TBOY, Cassette Lord, George Fox, Elizabeth Eade and the Braille artist Mr Dot then turned them into artworks. One, the Pride guitar, carries 12 signatures, among them Mel C, Leigh-Anne, Jessie J, RuPaul and Paris Hilton.

The show will also tell the stories of patients, families, therapists and NHS staff. “We’re turning guitars into art to help turn music into care,” said Lizzie Griffiths, project manager at the charity.

Dr John Young, a consultant neurologist at the trust, said: “For people living with brain injuries, dementia, learning disabilities or neurological conditions, music can unlock memories, emotions and connections that may otherwise be difficult to access.”

The Brighton music promoter JOY. Concerts is backing the project. The dates and auction details come from the organisers’ announcement, first reported by Brighton Source³.