Rocker to sell Basquiat; record price expected

Rocker to sell Basquiat; record price expected

NEW YORK — Lars Ulrich, songwriter and drummer for the heavy-metal band Metallica, is selling a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting from his art collection that could set a new auction record for the artist.

“Untitled [Boxer]” was painted in 1982 by Basquiat, a graffiti artist who died of a drug overdose in 1988 when he was just 27. It depicts a black heavyweight fighter with his arms thrust in the air against a graffiti-filled background.

Christie’s New York will sell it on November 12. It says the painting is estimated to bring more than $12 million. The current auction record for a Basquiat is $14.6 million for “Untitled,” a painting of a primitive figure with large hands that sold at Sotheby’s last year.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Ron Leibman is 71. Country singer Paulette Carlson is 55. Actor David Morse (“St. Elsewhere”) is 55. Actor Stephen Spinella (“24”) is 52. Actress Joan Cusack is 46. Guitarist Scott Johnson of Gin Blossoms is 46. Actor-writer Michael J. Nelson (“Mystery Science Theater 3000”) is 44. Actor Sean Patrick Flanery is 43. Actor Luke Perry is 42. Actor Jane Krakowski (“30 Rock,” “Ally McBeal”) is 40. Rapper U-God of Wu-Tang Clan is 38. Rapper MC Lyte is 37. Actress Emily Deschanel (“Bones”) is 32. Actress Michelle Trachtenberg (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Inspector Gadget”) is 23.