By Debbie McGoldrick

THE Edge, lead guitarist for the world’s foremost rock band, U2, will happily part with one of his most prized musical possessions, a 1975 Gibson Les Paul guitar that he’s used basically forever, at a New York auction on April 21.

The charitable act is in aid of Music Rising, the charity he created in the wake of Hurricane Katrina which aims to replace all the invaluable musical equipment lost in the aftermath one of the worst tragedies ever to hit our shores. The guitar has been slung across Edge’s shoulder for many of U2’s amazing years, and some lucky bidder who ponies up during an auction on April 21 at the Hard Rock Café in New York will be the new owner of what will go down as a storied piece of musical history.

“I wanted to give something really significant that would really mean a lot for me to give. It deserved something that I would miss,” Edge told the Associated Press.

His bandmates have also generously given to the effort. Adam Clayton has parted with one of his bass guitars, Larry Mullen a pair of tom-tom drums, and, last but not least, Bono has taken the shades off, giving a pair of one of his finest Emporio Armanis.

“It’s some great poetry to ask the people like myself, who’ve earned a good living from rock ‘n’ roll, to donate items to an auction that would help protect and stave off the decline of the music culture in the Gulf Coast,” said Edge, who has spent a good deal of time in New Orleans doing what he can in the aftermath of Katrina.

“One of the good things about globalization is it has created a single international music community, and I feel very much part of it,” he said. “So this doesn’t seem like it’s someone else’s problem. It’s really our problem, too.”

The auction will feature close to 200 pieces of music memorabilia, including a saxophone signed by former President (and future first man?) Bill Clinton. Items up for auction are hitting the road during the following weeks, including a stay in the U2-owned Clarence Hotel in Dublin next week.

For more on the auction, including a chance to bid online, visit www.juliens auctions.com/auctions/music rising/ index.html