Kurt Cobain’s classic Martin D-18E guitar, famously played during Nirvana’s legendary 1993 MTV Unplugged performance and believed to be the last guitar he used before his death, has been donated to the London Royal College of Music. Sold in 2020 for a record-setting $6 million to Peter Freedman, founder of RØDE Microphones – becoming the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction – the iconic instrument will now join the college’s historic collection, including the oldest surviving guitar from 1581. The RCM Museum previously held an exhibition titled, Kurt Cobain: Unplugged, which drew over 15,000 visitors, with James Williams, Director of the Royal College of Music, stating, “This asset opens future opportunities to share the Kurt Cobain: Unplugged exhibition with an international audience.” Freedman hopes that his donation allows fans to “realise the guitar’s value and profile for the benefit of young musicians at the RCM and reach people around the world.” (NME)
