New York Auction: $486,000 for Cobain’s Broken Guitar

A destroyed Kurt Cobain guitar sold for $486,000 at an auction in New York. Other memorabilia belonging to famous musicians and stars was also auctioned off at the annual rock ‘n’ roll auction.

A broken guitar belonging to former Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) has sold for more than $486,000 at a New York auction. The appraised value was $200,000, according to auction house Julien’s. Cobain wrecks the 1973 Fender Mustang on stage during his band Nirvana’s first US tour in 1989 during a performance in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Compared to the proceeds from another Cobain guitar in 2020, however, the current price was a bargain. At the time, a Martin D18E was auctioned off for more than six million dollars – it was the guitar Cobain performed on at the famous “MTV Unplugged” concert in 1993, among other things. The cardigan he wore to the concert had already fetched €300,000 a year earlier.

Three day rock ‘n’ roll auction

The auction took place as part of the auction house’s annual “Icons & Idols” event. The three-day rock ‘n’ roll auction saw over 1,500 pieces owned by musicians such as Cobain, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Prince, Amy Winehouse, Madonna and Lady Gaga. A 1972 Elvis Presley gold watch set with diamonds sold for $256,000, and a Bob Dylan grand piano sold for $217,000.

A buyer bid $192,000 for a blue Prince electric guitar. Round-edged glasses that once belonged to John Lennon have been auctioned for a whopping $162,000.

$218,000 for old sandals

A well-worn pair of Birkenstock sandals belonging to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs also fetched the appraisal several times over: the hammer price was over $218,000.

A number of Gibson guitars, made in the colors of the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag, were auctioned off for war victims in Ukraine. A Gibson Les Paul guitar, which former Beatle Paul McCartney played with in the summer, grossed nearly $77,000.