Kurt Cobain’s “MTV Unplugged” Guitar to Be Sold at Auction

The Martin D-18E is valued at $1 million

American singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain (1967 - 1994), performs with his group Nirvana at a taping of the television program 'MTV Unplugged,' New York, New York, Novemeber 18, 1993. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
American singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain (1967 - 1994), performs with his group Nirvana at a taping of the television program 'MTV Unplugged,' New York, New York, Novemeber 18, 1993. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
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Back in October, the green sweater Kurt Cobain wore during Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged performance fetched a whopping $334,000 at auction, and now another piece of memorabilia from that set is slated to be auctioned off by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills. The 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic-electric guitar Cobain used for the performance will reportedly go up for sale June 19-20.

The guitar will come with its original hard-shell case, which according to a press release features a flyer from Poison Idea’s 1990 album Feel the Darkness, three baggage claim ticket stubs, an Alaska Airlines sticker, three guitar picks, Cobain’s half-used pack of Martin strings, as well as his suede “stash” bag. It is valued at $1 million.

“Julien’s Auctions is proud to offer this historic guitar from Kurt Cobain, who upended the music industry and pop culture at large with his mythic performance fronting Nirvana on MTV Unplugged in New York,” Darren Julien, president/CEO of Julien’s Auctions, said in a statement. “This important guitar has earned its rightful place in Rock ’N’ Roll history as the instrument played by one of rock’s most influential musicians and icons in one of the greatest and most memorable live performances of all time.”

Before it goes up for auction, the guitar will be on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in London beginning May 15, followed by the Julien’s Auctions Gallery in Beverly Hills starting on June 15.

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