Kurt Cobain's iconic blue guitar from Nirvana's 1991 hit single Smells Like Teen Spirit video is expected to raise $800,000 at auction in May
Kurt Cobain's blue guitar that he played in Nirvana's 1991 Smells Like Teen Spirit music video is expected to raise up to $800,000 in an auction next month.
With the footage racking up more than 1.4 billion views on YouTube, the 1969 left-handed Fender Mustang is arguably one of the most famous instruments in rock, according to Martin Nolan, the executive director of Julien's Auctions.
'This is one of the most iconic guitars ever to come to the auction block, this is the blue Mustang Fender guitar, one of Kurt Cobain's favorite guitars of all time,' said Nolan while standing beside a display of the late rocker's memorabilia at a showroom in Beverly Hills.
Rocking out: Kurt Cobain's blue guitar that he played in Nirvana's 1991 Smells Like Teen Spirit music video is expected to raise up to $800,000 when it goes up for auction next month
'The guitar comes with its original case and, also, the guitar strap, so that's ... really important to collectors when they come to the auction to know the originality,' said Nolan, who noted that the guitar has stayed with the family since Cobain's death in 1994.
Share this article
The Cobain guitar is the star lot in the auction house's Music Icons auction, taking place in New York and online from May 20-22.
Nolan said the auction house has conservatively estimated a price range for the guitar of $600,000 to $800,000 but noted 'that's a very conservative auction estimate.'
Iconic: With the footage racking up more than 1.4 billion views on YouTube, the 1969 left-handed Fender Mustang is arguably one of the most famous instruments in rock, according to Martin Nolan, the executive director of Julien's Auctions
'This is one of the most iconic guitars ever to come to the auction block, this is the blue Mustang Fender guitar, one of Kurt Cobain's favorite guitars of all time,' said Nolan while standing beside a display of the late rocker's memorabilia at a showroom in Beverly Hills; seen in December 1989
A piece of history: The Cobain guitar is the star lot in the auction house´s Music Icons auction, taking place in New York and online from May 20-22
The auction house said a portion of the proceeds would go to Kicking The Stigma, a mental health charity founded by Jim Irsay owner of the Indianapolis Colts.
The auction also features other items, including an original Kurt Cobain artwork of Michael Jackson, that is expected to fetch up to $40,000 (USD) and one of his cars, a 1965 Dodge Dart, expected to fetch between $400,000 to $600,000.
In May 2021, six strands of Cobain's long blonde hair sold for a whopping $14,145 in an auction by Iconic Auctions.
According to the auction house, he longest strand is only about 2.5 inches which is pretty wild considering each strand was sold for $2,357.50 a piece.
The auction also features other items, including an original Kurt Cobain artwork of Michael Jackson, that is expected to fetch up to $40,000 (USD)
One of Cobain's cars, a 1965 Dodge Dart, expected to fetch between $400,000 to $600,000
His personally drawn 1985 Iron Maiden Killers skateboard deck artwork featuring the Iron Maiden is expected to go for between $20,000 - $40,000
The hairs are preserved and kept together inside of a plastic which is about the size of a coaster.
According to the listing, the strands came at a very interesting time as they were cut just four months after the release of Nirvana's first album Bleach and years before they became the biggest rock band in the world.
The locks came from his friend and early confidant, Tessa Osbourne, who cut his hair in Birmingham, England back on October 29, 1989.
Before that, Cobain's acoustic guitar from Nirvana's iconic 1993 'MTV Unplugged in New York' performance sold for a record-breaking $6 million at auction in June 2020.
Cobain's personally owned all access tour passes are expected to go for between $1,000 - $2,000
The 1959 Martin D-18E - which was often out of tune - was expected to fetch between $1million and $2 million at the online 'Music Icons' sale hosted by Julien's Auctions, but it ended up breaking the record for the most expensive guitar.
The lot came with the guitar case the Smells Like Teen Spirit group's late frontman used, which has a poster of Poison Idea's album Feel the Darkness on it, whilst inside is a bunch of guitar strings, picks and a 'stash' bag.
Kurt married Courtney Love of Hole fame in 1992; together they had daughter Frances Bean who is now 27-years-old.
Wow: Meanwhile, Cobain's acoustic guitar from Nirvana's iconic 1993 'MTV Unplugged in New York' performance sold for a record-breaking $6 million at auction in June 2020; seen in 1993
Most watched News videos
- King Charles makes appearance at Royal Windsor Horse Show
- Zelensky calls on Ukrainians on Orthodox Easter to unite in prayer
- Kim Jong-un brands himself 'Friendly Father' in propaganda music video
- Tears for Daniel Anjorin: Mourners gather at vigil for 14-year-old
- House of horrors: Room of Russian cannibal couple Dmitry and Natalia
- Keir Starmer addresses Labour's lost votes following stance on Gaza
- King Charles makes appearance at Royal Windsor Horse Show
- Keir Starmer says Blackpool speaks for the whole country in election
- Pro-Palestine flags at University of Michigan graduation ceremony
- Aerial efforts to support people continue after floods ravage Brazil
- Rescue team smash through roof to save baby in flooded Brazil
- Susan Hall concedes defeat as Khan wins third term as London Mayor
