The guitar was purchased at auction in 2020 for a record-breaking $6.01 million (USD), making it the most expensive guitar ever sold.
RØDE Founder and Chairman Peter Freedman AM, owner of the iconic acoustic guitar played by Kurt Cobain during Nirvana’s legendary 1993 MTV Unplugged performance, has generously loaned the era-defining instrument to the Royal College of Music Museum in London.
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The 1959 Martin D-18E is currently on display until November as part of the Kurt Cobain Unplugged exhibition, marking the first time the guitar has been made publicly accessible in Europe, offering fans, musicians and historians a rare opportunity to experience one of modern music history’s most celebrated artefacts up close.
The guitar was purchased at auction in 2020 for a record-breaking $6.01 million (USD), making it the most expensive guitar ever sold. At the time, the RØDE Founder made it clear that this was not an act of private collecting, but a public pledge – to use the guitar as a symbol of support and solidarity for those working in creative industries.
“This guitar represents more than just a moment in time, it’s a reminder of the powerful connection between artists and their audiences,” says Mr Freedman.
“When I bought it, I promised it wouldn’t just hang on a wall. I wanted it to be seen, to inspire, and to give back to the creative community that helped shape my life. Its inclusion in this exhibition honours that promise.”
Keep reading about the exhibition here.
