The 1969 Fender Mustang in Lake Placid blue finish is among a selection of items to be sold at a “music icons” event held at Julien’s Auction House between May 20 to 22 at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York.
The unique instrument, which has an estimate of 600,000-800,000 dollars (£473,348 to £631,130), is currently on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in London from April 28 until May 3.
Smells Like Teen Spirit was released as part of Nirvana’s second studio album Nevermind, which propelled the grunge group into superstardom.
In Cobain’s final interview with Guitar World, he spoke about his go-to guitar, saying: “I’m left-handed, and it’s not very easy to find reasonably priced, high-quality left-handed guitars.
“But out of all the guitars in the whole world, the Fender Mustang is my favourite. I’ve only owned two of them.”
Until now, the guitar has been on display at Seattle’s Experience Music Project, now named Museum of Pop Culture, for the past 12 years.
Also to be sold is an exclusive NFT (Non-Fungible Token) of the guitar which features a narration by Cobain’s long-time guitar tech, Earnie Bailey, discussing the historical significance of the instrument.
Other items on offer include a drawing by Cobain of Michael Jackson wearing a red jacket, single white glove and sunglasses, which also features his signature in the corner.
The piece, alongside an accompanying NFT, is estimated to sell for 40,000-60,000 dollars (£31,556-£47,334).
An all-access pass from the 1993 Nirvana In Utero concert tour, personally owned by Cobain, is also estimated to pick up 1,000-2,000 dollars (£789 – £1,577).
The Nirvana frontman’s 1965 Dodge Dart, the only known surviving car personally owned and driven by him – with an accompanying NFT, is also up for auction with an estimate of 400,000-600,000 dollars (£315,565-£473,348).
Cobain’s skateboard deck, which features his artwork of the Iron Maiden mascot Eddie, is also among the lots, estimated at 20,000-40,000 dollars (£15,778 – £31,556).
The auction has stated that in honour of mental health awareness month in May, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the guitar and a selection of Cobain’s items will go towards Kicking The Stigma, an initiative by the Indianapolis Colts and Jim Irsay family’s to raise awareness about mental health disorders.
Cobain died in 1994 at the age of 27.
Published: 27/04/2022 by Radio NewsHub
Ben Stokes could be confirmed as England’s Test captain as soon as tomorrow, when new managing director Rob Key appears at Lord’s to outline his vision for the men’s side. Stokes was the immediate favourite to succeed Joe Root when the Yorkshireman stood down after five years in charge but, with a leadership vacuum at the England and Wales Cricket Board, no decision could be made until Key’s appointment was […]
