Kurt Cobain Guitar Goes to Auction at Christie’s, for $2.5–$5 Million

A 1969 Fender Competitors Mustang beloved by Nirvana mastermind Kurt Cobain is heading to the public sale block at Christie’s in March, with an estimated sale worth of $2.5–$5 million. The instrument figured within the recording classes for the albums Nevermind and In Utero in addition to “quite a few distinguished dwell performances,” based on the public sale home. It’s additionally the one Cobain wielded within the music video for that anthem of all anthems, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” in 1991.

“Kurt Cobain and his music outlined a era,” Christie’s international president Alex Rotter stated in a press release. “His impression continues to encourage and permeate our tradition. It’s such a privilege to supply an exquisite portrait that pays tribute to his genius, and the guitar that he used to write down the soundtrack of so lots of our lives.”

The guitar, which shall be exhibited at Christie’s Rockefeller Plaza showroom prematurely of the public sale within the spring, is being offered as a part of a sale of the Jim Irsay Assortment, amassed by the billionaire finest generally known as the proprietor of the Indianapolis Colts soccer group earlier than his demise at age 65 in Might.

The gathering touches on treasures associated to “music, popular culture, American historical past, literature, sports activities, and extra,” per Christie’s, and it contains what Guitar World journal described as “The Best Guitar Assortment on Earth.” Different axes in it belonged to the likes of John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, and Eddie Van Halen. Irsay additionally collected devices owned by John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Jim Morrison, and others.