When the final encore fades and the lights come up, what's left behind tells a story all its own. Scattered across green rooms, arenas, and hotel suites, these overlooked artifacts of life on the road—tattered setlists, sweat-soaked towels, broken guitar strings, hotel keycards, and coffee-stained lyric drafts—may not seem valuable at first glance. But for collectors of music memorabilia, these so-called "tour treasures" are pieces of living history.
Finds from the floor
While major instruments and stage costumes may fetch headlines at auction, it’s these smaller, more personal relics that offer a uniquely intimate glimpse into the lives of the artists behind the music. We spoke with collectors, auctioneers, and tour crew members to uncover the quirky, unexpected, and sometimes downright bizarre items musicians leave behind—and why fans are eager to get their hands on them.
Among the most frequently found backstage treasures is the humble setlist. Taped to monitors, mic stands, or drum kits, setlists guide the flow of a show—and each one is a unique snapshot of that night’s performance. They often include handwritten notes, song title scribbles, or last-minute changes.
Collectors love setlists because they’re raw and real. They also document the exact experience of one concert. Setlists from iconic tours—such as Nirvana’s 1993 In Utero tour or Prince’s 1984 Purple Rain dates—can command thousands of dollars. Even unsigned setlists from smaller venues carry sentimental value, especially if they come with photographic or video proof of their use onstage.
Even printed and unsigned set lists have some value
Guitar Picks and Drumsticks: Tiny Tools with Big Stories
Guitar picks may be the most common—and cheapest—piece of memorabilia passed from stage to fan. But once it’s clear that a pick was actually used by a legendary guitarist, its value can skyrocket.
“Eric Clapton’s used picks from his farewell tour sold for over $1,000 each,” says collector Mark Rivera. “They’re small, personal, and physically touched by the musician. That’s powerful.”
Drum sticks are usually trash by the time the gig's done (or before), making them a common giveaway at concerts. Catch them if you can, being on the front row helps...
Drumsticks tell similar stories. Often broken mid-performance, these sticks carry the energy of the show. One of Dave Grohl’s shattered sticks from a Foo Fighters concert in 2011 was auctioned with a certificate of authenticity and sold for $2,300.
Some picks are more common than others. One example might be Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, who is known to fling out several dozen at every concert. Still, he has also made them collectible by periodically creating new edition picks throughout Cheap Trick's decades of touring.
The Hotel Keycard Phenomenon
It might sound odd, but hotel keycards from famous tours have become a niche collecting trend. Some fans track where artists stayed during tours and collect corresponding keycards, especially if they feature custom designs or logos.
“Hotels used to just toss them out, but now they’re being saved and sold,” explains Lindsay O’Neal, a hospitality manager at a major L.A. hotel that frequently hosts touring acts. “We once had a custom Radiohead card design from their 2017 tour. It now goes for $400 online.”
These cards may also come with stories—like the one Justin Timberlake accidentally left in a room with a handwritten note attached, or the time Lady Gaga signed and gave her suite key to a room service attendant.
Discarded Lyrics and Scribbled Notes
Perhaps the most tantalizing items are the unfiltered thoughts artists jot down while on tour. Napkins with half-written lyrics, notepads from hotel rooms filled with doodles and tour brainstorms—these rare finds can become cornerstones of private collections.
Priceless lyrics or trash?
A crumpled piece of paper with early lyrics for a Coldplay song, pulled from a dressing room trash can, was authenticated and later sold for $12,000.
“It's a glimpse inside the creative process,” said a curator at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “The mistakes, revisions, raw emotions—fans feel more connected to artists through those imperfections.”
Unexpected Leftovers: Water Bottles, Towels, and Shoes
Yes, people collect those too. Items with DNA—sweat, saliva, or lipstick—carry a kind of rock-star relic mystique. While not always sellable due to hygiene or ethical concerns, these pieces often find their way into fan collections via crew members or meet-and-greets.
A towel thrown into the crowd by Beyoncé during a 2018 show was later listed on an online auction for over $5,000. Similarly, a pair of stage-worn Converse sneakers from Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, left accidentally in a London dressing room, sold at auction for $8,750.
Who Finds These Things?
More often than not, it’s crew members, stagehands, or venue staff who discover these items. While many artists have tight control over their belongings, the fast-paced nature of touring means things get left behind.
Many artists gift setlists off the front of the stage in smaller venues
“I found a signed harmonica in a couch cushion after a blues festival,” says Lisa Harmon, a venue tech in Chicago. “Turned out it belonged to John Popper from Blues Traveler.”
Some crew even have standing agreements to donate or consign found items to benefit charities, a practice gaining popularity among artists who want to give back.
Authenticity and Value: What Makes It Real?
Provenance is everything in memorabilia collecting. A backstage pass alone might not be worth much—unless it can be verified as used during a historic tour or by a famous performer. Photos, videos, and written authentication from reliable sources are key.
Memorabilia sellers now employ or contract forensic analysts and other experts to match handwriting, paper types, or even sweat patterns on clothing. The demand is high, and the fakes are out there, so authentication is a must. (Note: MusicGoldmine does not self- authenticate any items except record awards. We only use globally-respected third party authenticators for autographs. For more info on that and how to ensure you don't end up with a fake autographed item, see our article here).
The Emotional Value
While dollar signs make headlines, many collectors prize these items for their emotional resonance. A fan who caught a guitar pick from their first concert, or who owns a setlist from the night they got engaged, often wouldn’t part with it for any price. These are fragments of moments that changed people’s lives and that kind of meaning can’t be manufactured.
From Trash to Treasure
Tour case treasures remind us that sometimes, the most valuable pieces of music history aren’t the polished ones. They’re the scraps, the scribbles, the personal leftovers that capture an artist not as a myth, but as a human being.
So the next time you’re near the stage as the lights come up, take a second look at what’s been left behind. You just might find a piece of music history waiting at your feet.
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