Worldwide bidding for items including a Steinway grand piano used by Bono and Eric Clapton (which sold for £8,992) and an original Birkin handbag donated by Jane Birkin (which was brought for £98,466) began on April 5, and attracted bids totaling £283,904. The total was then doubled by EMI and donated to the Japanese Red Cross.

EMI Group CEO Roger Faxon said the auction was only made possible with the generosity of members from the EMI family and added, "It ...