Kurt Cobain's MTV Unplugged 1959 Martin D-18E

Cobain played this guitar when Nirvana taped MTV Unplugged at Sony Music Studios in New York on 18 November 1993. In June 2016 his daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, gave it to her husband Isaiah Silva; after their divorce she and Courtney Love tried to recover it, but in 2018 the settlement awarded it to Silva. Julien's Auctions sold it in Beverly Hills in June 2020 for $6,010,000 to Peter Freedman, founder of Røde Microphones, who said he would exhibit it to raise money for the performing arts; it was then the most expensive guitar sold at auction.

1. 18 November 1993

   Played at Nirvana's MTV Unplugged tapingB

   Sony Music Studios, New York.

2. June 2016

   Given by Frances Bean Cobain to Isaiah SilvaB

3. 2018

   Awarded to Isaiah Silva in the divorce settlementB

4. June 2020

   Sold at Julien's Auctions to Peter Freedman for $6,010,000A

Used by · 1993

Kurt CobainB

Owned by · to 2016

Frances Bean CobainBmedium confidence

Used at · 18 November 1993

New York CityBmedium confidence

Used by · 1993

NirvanaB

Made by · 1959

C. F. Martin & CompanyA

Associated with · 2020

Julien's AuctionsA

1. A

   Deadline, 'Kurt Cobain's Guitar From "MTV Unplugged" Show Draws Record Price At Auction' (June 2020)

   ↗ View original record
2. B

   Wikipedia, 'MTV Unplugged in New York'

   ↗ View original record