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A new record was set in the world of music memorabilia over the weekend.
Kurt Cobain’s modified 1959 Martin D-18E sold for more than $6-million, making it the most expensive guitar ever sold at an auction.
SOLD for $6,010,000! A new world record for a guitar! Kurt Cobain's guitar used with Nirvana's MTV Unplugged!
— Juliens Auctions (@JuliensAuctions) June 20, 2020
Sold in our “Music Icons” auction taking in Beverly Hills and live at https://t.co/TiME89uOXn!
#Auction #JuliensAuctions #RockNRoll #KurtCobain #Nirvana #WorldRecord pic.twitter.com/ZbNg13yUHu
The price tag beat out a former record set by the Fender Stratocaster used by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, which fetched nearly $4-million in 2019.
Cobain played the retro acoustic-electric during a legendary MTV Unplugged performance in 1993, just five months before he died.
The famous live set was later released as a live album, ultimately earning the band a Grammy in 1996 for best alternative music performance.
The guitar was purchased by Australian businessman Peter Freedman, owner of Rode Microphones, at a "Music Icons" event.
Peter Freedman, Founder of RØDE Microphones, won at auction today for $6,000,010 the Martin D-18E guitar used by Kurt Cobain in Nirvana's legendary MTV Unplugged performance! #RODE #JuliensAuctions #KurtCobain #Nirvana #Guitar #Auction #MTV #WorldRecord pic.twitter.com/kBCpXwbpdc
— Juliens Auctions (@JuliensAuctions) June 20, 2020
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Freedman hopes to tour the guitar around Australia, raising funds to help the country's music industry.