media | January 10, 2026

Who bought Kurt Cobain's guitar?

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay

Jim Irsay

Early life and education

Irsay was raised Catholic, and did not know about his father's Jewish heritage until he was fourteen. Jim's brother, Thomas Irsay, was born with a mental disability and died in 1999, and his sister, Roberta, died in a car accident in 1971.

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already has an impressive collection of music memorabilia, and it just got stronger this weekend. Irsay had the winning bid on a guitar that was previously owned by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. The guitar was featured in the music video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Who got the money for Kurt Cobain's guitar?

A guitar formerly owned by Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain that was featured in the music video for the band's hit song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” sold for $4.5 million on Sunday, after billionaire Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay made the winning bid.

Who owns Kurt Cobain's guitar?

The guitar has remained in the Cobain family, but for the past 12 years, has been lent out and on display at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, Nirvana's hometown.

Where is Kurt Cobain's guitar?

The Kurt Cobain “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Fender Mustang guitar is now part of “The Jim Irsay Collection.” Of all his electric guitars, Kurt considered this Mustang his favorite. You're invited to our very first public exhibition June 3rd at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

Who bought Kurt Cobain's guitar from unplugged?

The purchaser Peter Freedman, a businessman from Australia, set multiple records with the acquisition. He now is the owner of the Most Expensive Guitar, Most Expensive Memorabilia, World's Most Expensive Acoustic Guitar, and World's Most Expensive Nirvana Memorabilia Sold at Auction.

Kurt Cobain’s MTV Unplugged guitar world record auction

Did Frances Cobain get Kurt's guitar back?

Frances Bean Cobain loses her father's guitar in the divorce settlement. The bone of contention and perhaps Silva's perceived source of leverage lay with a famous acoustic guitar he claimed Cobain gave him. Cobain denied this and asked that it be returned.

Where is Leadbelly's guitar?

Leadbelly's original guitar on display at The National Museum of African American History & Culture.

Did Kurt Cobain sell guitar?

It was sold to the Jim Irsay Collection of Indianapolis in a bidding war among collectors from all over the world who participated in the online and over-the-phone auction. The guitar sold for approximately $4.5 million, far surpassing its original estimate of $600,000.

What guitar did Cobain play?

The main guitar used throughout the years and the one most identifiable with Cobain was his 1969 Fender Mustang. It was a left handed version that was painted blue with racing stripes. “I'm left-handed, and it's not very easy to find reasonably priced, high-quality left-handed guitars.

What guitar did Kurt Cobain use for bleach?

Kurt used the Univox Hi-Flier Phase 3 guitar for the recording of Nirvana's first album, Bleach, which has a definitive raw edge. The guitar was also later featured on the cover of the Blew EP.

Did Francis Bean get her guitar back?

Last year, Frances filed documents asking the judge to put pressure on Silva to return the guitar in the settlement. However, it has now been revealed that Silva will get to keep the guitar in the final settlement.

Who owns Kurt Cobain's house now?

The Home On Lake Washington Recently Sold For $7.1 Million

Courtney Love had the garage and greenhouse demolished before selling the house for $2.9 million in 1997 to Seattle businessman Euyang Walter Jr.

What is Frances Bean Cobain net worth?

Her net worth was estimated at $11.3 million.

How much is Kurt Cobain's MTV guitar worth?

In June 2020, the 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic-electric guitar Cobain played during Nirvana's “MTV Unplugged” performance in 1993 in New York sold for US$6 million at Julien's Auctions, making it the world's most expensive guitar sold at a public auction.

How much did Kurt Cobain buy his Martin?

This Martin D-18E Kurt bought in early 1992 at Voltage Guitars in Los Angeles for $5,000 [Julien's]. It became one of his best known and most iconic guitars after he was seen performing with it during the MTV Unplugged in New York live album.

Who bought Kurt Cobain's cardigan?

Its most recent seller, Garrett Kletjian — who is a diehard Cobain fan — bought the sweater in November 2015 for just over $180,000, according to Rolling Stone — meaning he profited more than 100 per cent from the investment.

Was Kurt Cobain a vegetarian?

Cobain, a vegetarian, was a little horrified at the way his bandmates could choose which cow their meal came from with the help of colour photographs.

Why did Nirvana smash their instruments?

This can be attributed to his poor upbringing and lack of money growing up. "Junk is always the best," Cobain stated to Jeff Gilbert in 1992, "I use whatever I can find at junk shops." Even when Nirvana was a huge success, he would continue to use budget guitars and what he could find at pawn shops.

What guitar did Kurt Cobain use in MTV Unplugged?

Among the most recognizable musical instruments of the '90s, this 1959 Martin D-18E guitar was played by Kurt Cobain during Nirvana's iconic MTV Unplugged in New York performance. Just the seventh of only 302 D-18Es built, it was customized by Cobain with a Bartolini pickup.

Who owns Nirvana music rights?

But rights to Nirvana's music seems to have nothing to do with either of them: administrative rights for Cobain's songs are overseen by a company called Primary Wave Music, and Primary Wave's Larry Mestel also owns 50% of the publishing rights.

Where is SRV guitar now?

After Stevie Ray's death, Rene replaced the new neck with Number One's original and the guitar was given back to Stevie's family. It now belongs to Stevie's brother, Jimmie.

How much did Blackie sell for?

The most expensive guitar to be sold at an auction, according to Bonhams' expert Carey Wallace, is Clapton's "Blackie" that sold for $959,500 at Christie's in 2005.

How much is Lead Belly's guitar?

Lead Belly was an American folk-blues singer and songwriter famed for his mastery of the 12-string guitar. He died in 1949. Cobain told the MTV studio audience he'd been approached about buying Lead Belly's guitar for $500,000.

Who has lead bellys guitar?

Answer has 5 votes. According to a 2006 interview of Roger McGuinn (legendary guitar player of The Byrds) it is now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

How long was Lead Belly in jail?

In 1925 he was pardoned and released after writing a song to Governor Pat Morris Neff seeking his freedom, having served the minimum seven years of a 7-35 year sentence.