The blue 1969 Mustang Fender guitar used by rock icon Kurt Cobain in the 1991 Nirvana music video Smells Like Teen Spirit. (AFP)
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The iconic blue 1969 Mustang Fender guitar used by Kurt Cobain to rock out with in Nirvana’s seminal 90s Smells Like Teen Spirit music video is up for auction next month.
The iconic blue guitar Kurt Cobain rocked out with in Nirvana’s seminal 90s Smells Like Teen Spirit music video is expected to fetch up to USD 800,000 when it goes up for auction next month.
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With "Smells Like Teen Spirit" racking up more than 1.4 billion views on YouTube, the blue 1969 Mustang Fender guitar is arguably one of the most famous in rock, said Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions.
"This is one of the most iconic guitars ever to come to the auction block, this is the blue Mustang Fender guitar, one of Kurt Cobain's favourite guitars of all time," said Nolan, standing beside a display of Kurt Cobain memorabilia at Julien’s Auction’s Beverly Hills showroom. It will be displayed live at the three-day sale at the Hard Rock Cafe New York and online.
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The blue 1969 Mustang Fender guitar used by rock icon Kurt Cobain in the 1991 Nirvana music video "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is displayed by Julien's Auctions.
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"The guitar comes with its original case and, also, the guitar strap, so that's...really important to collectors when they come to the auction to know the originality," said Nolan, who noted that the guitar has stayed with the family since Cobain's death in 1994. (Also Read: Kurt Cobain’s cigarette-burned sweater sells for USD 334,000)
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"The guitar comes with its original case and, also, the guitar strap, so that's...really important to collectors when they come to the auction to know the originality," said Nolan, who noted that the guitar has stayed with the family since Cobain's death in 1994. (Also Read: Kurt Cobain’s cigarette-burned sweater sells for USD 334,000)
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The Cobain guitar is the star lot in the auction house’s Music Icons auction, taking place in New York and online from May 20 to May 22.
Nolan said the auction house has conservatively estimated a price range for the guitar of USD 600,000 to USD 800,000 but noted "that's a very conservative auction estimate."
The auction house said a portion of the proceeds would go to a mental health charity.
The auction also features other items, including an original Kurt Cobain artwork of Michael Jackson, that is expected to fetch up to USD 40,000 and one of his cars, a 1965 Dodge Dart, expected to fetch between USD 400,000 to USD 600,000.
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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.
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