Christmas Gifts for the Music Lover - a 2025 Guide
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the music lover in your life? Whether they’re a lifelong vinyl collector, a rock memorabilia hunter, or just rediscovering the joy of records, this gift guide has you covered. Written by a music-loving dad, it ranges from art prints and band merch to books, socks, and LEGO guitars. These are music gifts with groove and meaning.
Note: Some of the links below may be Amazon/ebay affiliate links. All recommendations are personally chosen and many are tried and tested. You’re welcome to buy from alternative suppliers or go direct to the bands. Skip to Christmas Gift Ideas for Music Lovers, by Price Range
Stylish Stocking Fillers for Music Fans
When in doubt, go socks — but make them sing. Happy Socks leads the way with official designs from The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and Elton John. Other options include Sock Affairs (Pink Floyd, Bowie and The Village People!) and The London Sock Exchange, with stylish sets for Queen and more. You can buy just one pair to slip into a Christmas stocking, or upgrade to a box set for something more substantial to wrap and place under the tree.
The Rolling Stones Box Set available on Amazon
Music Gifts That Make a Statement
If classic albums are part of their story, turn that passion into wall-worthy décor. An iconic album cover can become a piece of art. A simple wall-mounted frame can be enough to display a favourite record, and it can easily be swapped out for a different album whenever they wish. Prices range from £10 upwards depending on size and type of frame.
Album Cover Frames from Amazon
Alternatively, you can buy limited-edition prints of their favourite album cover. Designers like Mark Wilkinson (Marillion) or galleries such as Hypergallery offer iconic covers by Storm Thorgerson (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin) and Sir Peter Blake (Sgt. Pepper).
Iconic Rock Star images on sale at the Morrison Hotel Gallery
If not an album cover, consider an iconic photograph of their favourite artist or band. Websites like the Morrison Hotel Gallery (named after the LA Landmark) in the US, or the Iconic Images Gallery, feature photographs from legendary photographers including Henry Diltz (Joni Mitchell and the Laurel Canyon set), Gered Mankowitz (Hendrix, the Rolling Stones) and Denis O’Regan (Queen and Freddie Mercury). Prices range from £100 to several thousand depending on size, artist, and provenance. “Andy Warhol looks a scream, hang him on my wall.” Or opt for a book of album art. The Art of the LP offers a great range of bands, genres, and years — perfect coffee-table browsing after Christmas dinner.
Books Every Music Fan Will Love
Books are a safe bet at Christmas, and most won’t break the bank. Start with biographies and autobiographies like Surrender by Bono or The Storyteller by Dave Grohl — whatever artist or band they’re into. Some of my favourites include Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, My Life in Dire Straits by bassist John Illsley, Waging Heavy Peace by Neil Young, and Me by Elton John.
A Rock Star Biography and a Marshall Amp - two Christmas Gift Ideas in one! Picture taken on location in the South of France.
If you aren’t sure of their particular allegiance, go broader for inspiration. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is a wonderful gift I once received — an ideal browsing book to dip into. There will be albums you love and albums you haven’t considered, which can be a source of inspiration. My gift was extra special as my daughter tagged every album I had introduced her to, which made it priceless.
For the detail-obsessed, the All the Songs series (Rolling Stones, Dylan, Springsteen) breaks down each track with stories from the studio. For something different, Booze & Vinyl matches cocktails to classic albums — giving you both a playlist and a party trick.
My growing collection of ‘All the Songs’ books.
Vinyl Records & Collectors’ Editions
Nothing beats the feel of a real record under the tree. Whether they’re rebuilding a lost collection or diving into new artists, vinyl is a timeless Christmas gift. Buy new releases from your local record shop, or head online to Discogs to track down original pressings of Hotel California, Abbey Road, or Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
As more bands introduce expanded box sets, you can splash out on something that’s more than just the record. Recent releases from Genesis (The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway box set) and Pink Floyd (Wish You Were Here) are part of the latest wave of expanded reissues.
Turntables & accessories: great gifts don’t have to be a new record player — think Bluetooth turntable, phono preamp, anti-static brush, record cleaning kit, storage crate, or a custom slipmat.
Band Merchandise Beyond the T-Shirt
Many bands now have official stores packed with everything from mugs to doormats. In my opinion, the Rolling Stones lead the way for branded merchandise. Their RS No.9 shop (online and in Carnaby Street, London) offers glassware, sweatshirts, and even limited-edition Christmas baubles. Mick Jagger has his own store, and Ronnie Wood sells art prints directly from his website.
I’m not convinced by some Pink Floyd merchandise (Dark Side of the Moon Christmas jumper?), but it’s there to browse. Abbey Road Studios also has its own brilliant shop — both online and just along from the famous zebra crossing.
Want something truly different? How about perfume. Last year the Rolling Stones offered their limited-edition RS No.9 Scent of Soho 1962. Duran Duran also launched unisex perfumes, named Black Moonlight and NeoRio (a nod to their hit single Rio), inspired by style and sensuality. Or, for some true nostalgia, you could buy Hai Karate Soap on a Rope.
LEGO & Jigsaws for Music Lovers
I have a wonderful Christmas tradition of playing vinyl whilst building LEGO or doing a jigsaw. It’s a great way to reduce screen time while spinning some old favourites. For a while you could buy officially licensed jigsaws from RockSaws. From the Division Bell heads to Queen’s A Night at the Opera cover (so much white!), their designs became cult favourites. Although the company has closed, the jigsaws are still widely available online on eBay and other marketplaces. Another brand, Aquarius has these for sale on Amazon but I don’t know how good they are.
Pink Floyd - Backs - Jigsaw from Rocksaws
LEGO is also an option. Their limited-edition Yellow Submarine was a joy to build and display. You can also pick up the official Fender Stratocaster kit or the Rolling Stones tongue logo. Some of these kits are no longer sold directly by LEGO, but you can still find them on marketplace sites.
The Yellow Submarine complete with Lego Minifigures
Rock Memorabilia and Luxury Gifts for Serious Collectors
If you’re going all-in, why not choose something rare or special. There’s a thriving market for rock memorabilia — from high-end auctions like the Mark Knopfler or Pattie Boyd (Property of a Muse) sales, to vintage concert programmes or even auction catalogues. Whilst most of us can’t afford an original guitar, there’s plenty of collectible memorabilia at more accessible prices.
The original artwork for Layla sold for over £1m! A man can dream :-D
An original concert programme from Live Aid could cost £150 or more (especially if paired with a genuine ticket), while a mint catalogue from David Gilmour’s 2019 Christie’s auction might set you back almost £200. In both cases, there won’t be any more, so don’t expect them to get cheaper in years to come.
Or how about a serious pair of headphones. Apple’s AirPods Max sound absolutely incredible and sit firmly atop my wish list this year.
Unusual Christmas Gifts for Music Lovers
Not every Christmas gift has to be vinyl or a t-shirt. Sometimes the best presents are the ones that surprise. Candles with a musical twist do exist. The Slow Burn candle, a collaboration between Kacey Musgraves and Boy Smells, has been a favourite.
Kacey Msugraves x Boy Smells - Slow Burn Candle and LP
Lyric posters from Etsy make an affordable option for unique art that matches their favourite song or band.
For the kitchen, look for rock icon tea towels featuring favourites like Freddie, Bowie, Amy, and John, or novelty pieces like a guitar spatula that doubles as a mini cutting board.
Lyric Pictures from Etsy and Tea Towels from Bold & Noble
Last-Minute Christmas Gift Ideas for the Music Lover
Short on time. Gift cards are still a great shout. Pick up a streaming service card for Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music from most supermarkets. For something more personal, Bandcamp gift cards let you support independent artists with an email-ready gift that lands instantly. Artists like Gary Numan have also created their own clubs where they share exclusive tracks and updates. His Ghost Nation on Patreon is a good example of a digital subscription that can last a whole year.
Or, of course, you could just make them a playlist. It won’t cost you anything — but it might mean the world.
Christmas Gift Ideas for Music Lovers by Price
Stocking fillers under £20
Music socks (Rolling Stones, Beatles, Elton John, Queen); mugs; tea towels; enamel pins or guitar picks from official band stores; mini record frames for 7” or 12” sleeves; record-cleaning brushes and anti-static cloths; playlist gift cards (Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp).
Gifts under £50
Band t-shirts or sweatshirts from official stores; LEGO mini builds (for example, Fender guitar keyring, mini Yellow Submarine on eBay); rock jigsaw puzzles (Pink Floyd Division Bell, Queen A Night at the Opera); music-themed cookbooks like Booze & Vinyl; vinyl reissues of classics such as Abbey Road or Hotel California.
Luxury gifts over £100
Limited-edition art prints from Hypergallery or Iconic Images; super deluxe box sets (Genesis The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here); high-quality headphones (Apple AirPods Max, Sennheiser, Bose); signed memorabilia or vintage concert programmes; artwork from Ronnie Wood or Bob Dylan; framed photography from Henry Diltz, Gered Mankowitz, or Denis O’Regan.
Where to Buy Music Photography and Artwork Online
The sites below are either official artist stores or authorised galleries licensed to sell their work.
Hypergallery Official Album Art Prints - including Hipgnosis (Pink Floyd/Led Zeppelin), Duffy (Bowie) and James Marsh (Talk Talk.) www.hypergallery.com
Iconic Images Gallery - Music Photography including Gered Mankowitz (Hendrix), Michael Joseph (Rolling Stones), Terry O’Neill (Elton John) and Denis O’Regan (Queen). https://iconicimagesgallery.com/
Morrison Hotel Gallery (USA) Iconic images from Henry Diltz (Joni, CSN) and Ethan Russell (Rolling Stones) https://morrisonhotelgallery.com/
Mark Wilkinson - the artist behind the iconic Marillion album covers and early Iron Maiden. https://mark-wilkinson.co.uk
Ronnie Wood - Ronnie’s Official online art store. https://ronniewood.com/
Official Band Merchandise Stores
Prefer to buy direct? Here are trusted band shops with exclusive merch and seasonal offers. Wherever possible I have linked to the UK merchandise store.