Kurt Cobain's smashed Fender Stratocaster sells for $600,000 at auction

A Fender Stratocaster smashed on stage by Kurt Cobain has sold for $595,000 – ten times more than its original estimate.

Sold for $595,900. A lefty black Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, smashed by Kurt Cobain during Nirvana's Nevermind era and signed to the body by all three band members.

Julien's Auctions "Music Icons" at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City and on https://t.co/tzS6JKuf2p. pic.twitter.com/AXRuScNlcx

— Julien's Auctions (@JuliensAuctions) May 20, 2023

The reassembled yet unplayable guitar was estimated to sell for $60,000 – $80,000 at Julien’s Auction this past weekend at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. The instrument was signed by all three members of Nirvana – Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl.

The guitar was gifted to the late Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan by Cobain.

According to Julien’s Auction, Cobain gave Lanegan the guitar after busting it on stage during the Nevermind tour.

Previously, Cobain’s MTV Unplugged guitar sold for $6 million while the 1969 Fender Mustang played by Cobain in the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video sold for $4.5 million.