Kurt Cobain Smashed Nirvana Guitar Sells For $596,900

Items related to the band Nirvana are still selling well at auctions. Recently, a Kurt Cobain-signed Fender Stratocaster electric guitar from the time when the band released the album Nevermind was auctioned off.

The guitar had been smashed by Cobain himself. Surprisingly, it sold for a whopping $596,900, which is almost 10 times more than the expected price of $60,000 to $80,000.

Legendary Fender Stratocaster

The black Fender Stratocaster, which was played by Kurt Cobain and is left-handed, was deliberately damaged by Cobain before being signed by all the band members. They added personalized inscriptions addressed to Mark Lanegan, the lead singer of Screaming Trees, who was originally intended to receive the guitar. In his message to Lanegan, Cobain wrote:

“Hello Mark! Your buddy, Kurdt Kobain / Former rockstar gone astray.”

In the fall of 1992, when Nirvana was on the North American leg of their Nevermind tour, Cobain reportedly gave Lanegan the guitar. The instrument was accompanied by a letter of authenticity signed by the previous owner.

Rare Nirvana Setlist Breaks Records at Auction

Another item related to Nirvana experienced a notable increase in price during an auction. This particular item was a handwritten setlist from the band’s performance at the OK Hotel in 1991. Initially predicted to be sold for $4,000 to $8,000, the final bid surpassed expectations and reached a staggering $50,800.

The music selection for the band’s performance at the OK Hotel in Seattle on April 17, 1991, is ascribed to Dave Grohl. There were a number of well-known Nirvana songs on the pink-marked playlist, including “Love Buzz,” “Been a Son,” “About a Girl,” “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Verse Chorus Verse,” and “In Bloom,” among others.

The roster was inscribed on the reverse side of a printed leaflet advertising:

“Guitar Lessons with Tommy Rose – G.I.T. honors graduate with multitudes of experience and qualifications. Acquire knowledge in theory, chords, and today’s hot chops! My goal is to have you create your own individual style. Call after 5:00 P.M. 546-8464.”

In this specific concert, Nirvana was the main act, accompanied by Fits of Depression and Bikini Kill. It is said that this show marked the first live performance of “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” a song that played a significant role in initiating the grunge movement.

Seattle’s rock bar and music venue was a key part of the city’s music scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unfortunately, it experienced significant destruction due to an earthquake in 2001 and eventually shut down.

In general, it was an excellent day for Nirvana enthusiast interested in acquiring collectibles. An album insert from Nevermind was purchased for $4,550. A CD single of “Blew” signed by the band was sold for $2,925. A signed copy of the Bleach album fetched a price of $8,850 at the auction, and a road case containing a vocal processor rackmount was bought for $5,200.