The Cure will auction a custom designed Schecter RS-1000 acoustic guitar in order to raise funds for the defense fund of imprisoned Arkansas men Damien Echols (who is on death row), Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr. The three men, most commonly referred to as the West Memphis Three (www.wm3.org), were convicted for murdering three elementary school children in 1994.
Many critics suggest the three were convicted because they dressed differently, listened to heavy metal music and read Stephen King novels – proof that the murders were a satanic ritual.
The crimes spawned two documentary films, Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills and Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, as well as numerous books. The Cure, Henry Rollins, Jason Newsted, and Michale Graves are just a few of the musicians who have voiced concern over the possible miscarriage of justice.
Recent developments in the case reveal that DNA collected from the crime scene was not found to match DNA from Echols, Baldwin, or Misskelley.
This special guitar was not only designed to lead singer and guitarist Robert Smith’s specifications—maple body with spruce top, maple and rosewood neck and specially designed white pearl moon and star inlays—but it was also used in the studio by the musician this year.
It's also signed by all four-band members— Robert, Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, and Porl Thompson; and features a unique Cure logo drawn by Thompson, who is responsible for the majority of the band’s artwork down the years. It also includes a “Free the West Memphis Three” message written by Smith.
“It is my hope that through Skeleton Key Auctions, both funds and awareness will be raised about the travesty perpetrated on these three innocent men,” said Anje Vela, president of Music4Life.
“Cases like the West Memphis Three’s are a blemish to our justice system. No innocent man or woman should be left to rot in prison without recourse, just because they lack the financial resources for a fair fight. Skeleton Key Auctions is grateful for bands such as The Cure who have generously donated to this cause.”
The auction will last for 14 days—from December 11 (Echols’s birthday) to December 25—one day for each year the West Memphis Three have spent behind bars.
For further information about the guitar and to place a bid, log on to www.thecure.com or www.skeletonkeyauctions.com.
You can find out more about the case by visiting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Memphis_3 and http://www.wm3.org/. I personally recommend you also watch the Paradise Lost docos if you haven't seen them.
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