Kurt Cobain’s Skystang I guitar, which he played during the final Nirvana performance before passing away in 1994, brought $1,587,500 (or £1,271,730) at auction in Nashville.
During Nirvana’s 1993–1994 tour, the late vocalist played his blue Fender Mustang electric guitar. Their final performance with him took place in March 1994 at Munich’s Terminal Einz, just over a month before he passed away.
The New Owner With A Vision For Rock’s Future
Japanese businessman Mitsuru Sato won the guitar at the Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville auction after placing a phone bid. Sato wants to open a museum-style cafe with displays of his plans to display the Skystang I and other well-known musical instruments for public observation and participation. In a statement, he said:
“I want to pass on rock to the next generation in a real way. We would like to use this guitar to support the next generation aiming to pursue music.”
The Significance Of Cobain’s Skystang I
Martin Nolan, the Executive Director of Julien’s Auctions, offered more commentary on the sale.
“This is a really incredible historic guitar. Of course, it’s Kurt Cobain. It’s his Fender Mustang. It’s his SkyStang 1 guitar, his workhorse, his most played guitar of all time.”
Previous Auction Success
The Indianapolis Colts and the Irsay Family launched the Kicking The Stigma mental health awareness program, and a portion of the auction earnings from the Skystang I guitar will go toward this cause. Accompanied by its original guitar strap and strings, this blue left-handed Fender Mustang electric guitar was previously owned by Cobain’s elder brother, Chad.
Kurt’s iconic 1969 Fender Mustang electric guitar, which was featured in Nirvana’s 1991 music video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” was also auctioned off at Julien’s Auctions last year for over $5 million. The guitar was the prize of a worldwide auction that was won by the Jim Irsay Collection in Indianapolis. Online and over-the-phone bids were accepted. It sold for almost $4.5 million, far more than its original $600,000 estimate.