He first touched them, then slammed them on stage at the end of the performance. So Kurt Cobain, the leader of Nirvana who committed suicide at the age of 27, had smashed a lot of electric guitars. One of them, destroyed at the end of a Seattle concert on the “Nevermind Tour” in April 1991, was rebuilt and auctioned by US$596,900 (552,450 euros).
The history of inheritance
The instrument in question is a black Fender Stratocaster, with a white pickguard, the parts of which were recovered after the late rock star’s classic crushing ritual. When it was reassembled, the guitar was autographed by all three members of Nirvana at the time: the leader Cobain (singer and guitarist), bassist Christ Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl (now the leader of Foo Fighters).
At the time, according to the auction house Julien’s Auctions, Cobain had lent the guitar to singer Mark Lanegan, his friend and collaborator. Not for play (it can no longer be used), but as a collector’s item. Later, it would change hands to Tony PalmerBritish director and writer, known for working with artists such as the Beatles, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher and Frank Zappa.
Sold for $595,900. A left-handed black Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, broken by Kurt Cobain during Nirvana’s Nevermind era and signed on the body by all three band members.
Julien’s Auctions “Music Icons” at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City and https://t.co/tzS6JKuf2p. pic.twitter.com/AXRuScNlcx
— Julien’s Auctions (@JuliensAuctions) May 20, 2023
The auction
Julien’s Auctions organized the sale of the guitar during a three-day maxi auction of musical “memorabilia” at the Hard Rock Café in New York on May 20. Estimated starting price: $60,000-$80,000 americans
What struck the auctioneer at the end of the auction would later be described as “stunning” by Julien’s Auctions spokespeople. The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed.
Kurt Cobain’s Fender was the memorabilia that fetched the highest selling price, in a “parade” of items belonging to other music legends as well as memorabilia from other music legends, including Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, Janet Jackson and Dolly Parton.
However, of all the six-string instruments that belonged to Cobain, and which later ended up at auction, the Stratocaster was not the most expensive: the absolute record was achieved by the acoustic guitar that the singer used on the occasion of the ‘historic 1993 “MTV Unplugged” concert, later recorded and sold as a live album. This instrument had reached a final selling price of 6 million dollars.
Source : IL Messaggero
