Kurt Cobain's Nirvana 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' guitar makes history at auction

It sells for an eye-watering sum

Kurt Cobain's 1969 Fender Mustang electric guitar
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 23rd May 2022
Last updated 23rd May 2022

Kurt Cobain’s famous Fender Mustang guitar he played in Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ video in 1991 has become the second most expensive guitar ever sold under the hammer.

The 1969 Fender Mustang Competition Lake Placid Blue Finish Electric Guitar sold for a whopping $4.5 million (£3.58 million) at Julien’s Auctions in New York over the weekend as part of their Music Icons auction.

The left-handed guitar had an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000 (£460,000 to £613,000).

Billionaire Jim Irsay snapped up the Fender Mustang guitar having previously bought David Gilmour’s fabled Black Strat guitar for a then world-record $3,975,000 (£3.16 million) in 2019.

In honour of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Cobain family is donating a portion of the proceeds of the ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ guitar and select Kurt Cobain items to Kicking The Stigma, the Irsays’ initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders and remove the stigma associated with these illnesses.

“I am thrilled to preserve and protect another piece of American culture that changed the way we looked at world,” said Jim Irsay, Owner & CEO of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.

“The fact that a portion of the proceeds will go toward our effort to kick the stigma surrounding mental health makes this acquisition even more special to me.”

“To have this legendary guitar, one of the most culturally significant and historically important guitars of Kurt Cobain and in all of rock music history return to my home state of Indiana to be part of Jim Irsay’s renowned memorabilia collection is a great honor and personal highlight of my life,” said Darren Julien, President/Chief Executive Officer of Julien’s Auctions.

“This once-in-a-lifetime auction has been one of the greatest privileges in my professional career and I’m duly pleased that the proceeds will also bring much needed attention to mental health awareness.”

Kurt Cobain’s MTV Unplugged guitar sold for a massive $6,010,000 (around £4.83 million) at auction in the summer of 2020 and became the World’s Most Expensive Guitar in the process.

Alongside being the most expensive guitar, it set four further world records - World’s Most Expensive Acoustic Guitar, World’s Most Expensive Martin Guitar, World’s Most Expensive Piece of Memorabilia and World’s Most Expensive Nirvana Memorabilia.

An avid collector, Jim Irsay also owns guitars once played by Elvis Presley, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jerry Garcia and Prince.

Kurt Cobain's life in photos:

Kurt’s childhood home in Aberdeen, Washington

His parents Wendy and Donald Cobain bought the house in 1969 when Kurt was two and he lived there until they separated when he was nine.

Kurt with younger sister by three years Kimberly in the mid 1970s


Kurt celebrates a childhood birthday with his family


Kurt and Kimberly stand outside their Aberdeen home

When their parents split in 1976, Kurt went to live with his father and Kim lived with her mother.

Showcasing an early talent for music, Kurt plays piano at his childhood home


Kurt’s attic bedroom pictured in 2013

More than a quarter of a century after Kurt last habited the room, his graffiti – including an Iron Maiden logo – still adorns the walls.

Led Zeppelin graffiti Kurt penned on his bedroom wall


An Aberdeen Junior High School photo of a young Kurt Cobain


A teenage Kurt at his Washington home


Kurt playing guitar in his attic room

His walls are decorated with Black Flag and hardcore punk band Dr. Know gig posters.

May 1986: Kurt was arrested aged 19

He was arrested for trespassing on an abandoned building in Market Street, Aberdeen. He was also arrested a year earlier for spray painting on pick-up trucks.

1991: Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl in London


August 1991: Nirvana perform at Reading Festival


September 1991: A 'Nevermind' launch show at New York’s Tower Records


5th November 1991: Kurt onstage at Nirvana’s sold-out gig at The Astoria Theatre in London


November 1991: Kurt crowdsurfing in Frankfurt, Germany


1991: Kurt at Hilversum Studios, Holland


1991: Kurt at Hilversum Studios, Holland


August 1992: The Kerrang! Magazine cover featured a very sombre Kurt

It included a play on The Smiths lyrics 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now'.

December 1993: A second Kerrang! Magazine cover

16 months later and the tone of the cover is very different with the title: 'Hugs Not Drugs! Kurt Gets Happy!'.

1992: Kurt performing live in a maid’s outfit


1992: Nirvana at the MTV Video Music Awards


August 1992: Nirvana’s legendary Reading Festival performance


9th April 1993: Kurt on-stage with Nirvana at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California

Appearing alongside L7 and The Breeders, the gig was a Bosnian Rape Victim Benefit.

July 1993: Performing at the Roseland Ballroom, New York


1993: Kurt with his wife Courtney Love and one-year-old daughter Frances Bean at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles

Kurt and Courtney married in Hawaii in March 1992 with Kurt infamously wearing his pyjamas to the ceremony!

1993: Kurt at the MTV VMAs ceremony, Los Angeles


1993: At the 10th annual MTV Video Music Awards

Nirvana pose with director Kevin Kerslake after receiving an award for best alternative video for 'In Bloom' at the 10th annual MTV Video Music Awards.

Kurt pretends to pick his nose with daughter Frances Bean


November 1993: Recording Nirvana’s legendary MTV Unplugged session


December 1993: Performing at MTV Live and Loud, Seattle


February 1994: Live at The Palace, Melbourne


25th February 1994: Nirvana live at Palatrussardi indoor arena in Milan Italy

Their last ever gig took place at Terminal 1 in Munich, Germany six days later.

April 1994: Kurt Cobain dies

171 Lake Washington Blvd East Seattle, Washington, the site of Cobain's death.

16th April 1994: The Kerrang! Magazine cover, 11 days after the Nirvana’s legend’s untimely death


The Sonic Youth t-shirt Kurt wore at Nirvana’s final live performance in Munich, March 1994

The garment was auctioned at the Hard Rock Café in London in July 2012.

2011: A small park in Aberdeen was named ‘Kurt Cobain Landing’ in Kurt’s honour

This plaque quoting Something In The Way lyrics overlooks the Wishkah River.

An electric guitar monument at Kurt Cobain Landing in Seattle


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