Last year, a cardigan Kurt Cobain wore during the recording of MTV Unplugged in New York was sold for $334,000 at Beverly Hills auction house Julien’s Auctions.
One June 20, another item from the legendary gig (and later album) was sold at the same auction house. This time it was one of the guitars, a 1959 Martin D-18E, which Cobain used during the performance.
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Seven bidders fought for the guitar and raised the price from its starting estimate of $1 million to $6.01 million. This sale set five new world records for World's Most Expensive Guitar, 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 – making it one of the rarest and most valuable acoustic guitars in the world.
The buyer was Peter Freedman, Founder of RØDE Microphones, who attended the live auction in Beverly Hills. Freedman intends to display the guitar in a worldwide tour of exhibitions to be held in distinguished galleries and art spaces, with all proceeds (including the guitar) going to the performing arts.
"When I heard that this iconic guitar was up for auction," says Mr. Freedman, "I immediately knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure it and use it as a vehicle to spotlight the struggles that those in the performing arts are facing and have always faced."
"For most, access to financial and health services – particularly mental health services – is very limited. While many industries are gradually returning to normal, it's going to take a long time before [the global arts industry] can begin functioning as it was. The toll this has taken and will continue to take is enormous and requires more than just lip service. It requires action now, and I am a man of action."
