Kurt Cobain’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ guitar could nab $800K at auction

Kurt Cobain's iconic blue guitar from the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video is estimated to go for as much as $800,000.
Nirvana; Julien's Auctions

Smells like huge cash.

The guitar that Kurt Cobain performed in Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video is ready to go to public sale — and, whats up, whats up, whats up, early estimates usually are not low.

The long-lasting blue guitar from the band’s iconic ’90s hit is headed to the block subsequent month, and it’s anticipated to fetch bids as excessive as $800,000

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” went on to turn into an anthem of a era and the grunge motion, which took in Cobain’s scruffy rock star persona and topped him king.

The left-handed 1969 Fender Mustang is arguably one of the vital well-known in rock and roll historical past, based on Martin Nolan, the manager director of Julien’s Auctions.

“This is likely one of the most iconic guitars ever to come back to the public sale block; that is the blue Mustang Fender guitar, one among Kurt Cobain’s favourite guitars of all time,” Nolan advised Reuters.

“The guitar comes with its authentic case and, additionally, the guitar strap, in order that’s … actually vital to collectors once they come to the public sale to know the originality,” Nolan added.

Cobain’s 1965 Dodge Dart, which he nicknamed “Child Blue,” is estimated to promote for as a lot as $600,000.

Julien's Auctions

Nolan famous that whereas the worth vary is approximated between $600,000 to $800,000, he defined that it’s “a really conservative public sale estimate” for an merchandise of this caliber in music historical past.

“To see this fabled guitar, one of the vital culturally vital and traditionally vital guitars not solely of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana’s legacy however in all of rock music historical past, come to our public sale home has been one among our biggest privileges and most distinguished honors,” mentioned Darren Julien, who's the president and chief government officer of the public sale home.

He famous that the guitar has stayed with the household since Cobain’s tragically notorious loss of life in 1994. A portion of the proceeds will go to Kicking the Stigma, a psychological well being charity, along side Psychological Well being Consciousness Month in Might.

The agency’s Music Icons public sale will happen in New York and on-line between Might 20 and 22. It should additionally characteristic quite a lot of different heaps — amongst them, Cobain’s solely recognized surviving automotive, a 1965 Dodge Dart he nicknamed “Child Blue,” which is predicted to fetch between $400,000 to $600,000. Additionally up for grabs: a few of Cobain’s authentic paintings, together with a portray of Michael Jackson and his illustration for the 1985 Iron Maiden “Killers” skateboard deck.