In the first half of the 1990s, Nirvana was at the forefront of the grunge music scene. Delivering angsty lyrics sang to aggressive guitar riffs and pounding drum beats, they developed a worldwide following of the flannel clad youth. Despite having a short tenure, Nirvana remains an influential band and an important part of ‘90s pop culture.

Their impact was seen recently in Hake’s Auction #242 that closed on November 19-20, 2024. The auction’s $2.5 million total was topped by the guitar that Kurt Cobain stage used and smashed during a Nirvana concert at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, which sold for $157,772. The show was held in January 1991, months before the band would record Nevermind, the album that made them international superstars.

The guitar is a left-handed Memphis Stratocaster that Cobain used to play “Endless Nameless” as the closing number of the set. As Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic continued to play, Cobain smashed the guitar with a hammer. After the show ended, a concert attendee took the destroyed guitar, then gifted it to a friend who owned it ever since.

The iconic smashed guitar was joined in the auction by the Nirvana original mechanical master art concert poster that reached $25,700 over the $20,000 estimate. It advertises the important concert at the OK Hotel in Seattle in April ’91, when Nirvana debuted their new song, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

The “Eight Songs for Greg Sage and the Wipers” box set signed by Cobain, Grohl, and Courtney Love went for $5,841. The set of 7” records were part of a 6,000 copy box set with several different vinyl colors in an exterior box designed by Mike King at Crash Designs. The Nirvana sleeve is signed “Kurdt” by Cobain and “David” by Grohl, and the Hole sleeve is signed and inscribed by Love to Steve Hanford, the drummer of Poison Idea.

Hake’s had two “Sliver” vinyl records signed by Cobain with his usual signature, “Kurdt.” The 7” single Sub Pop first US pressing in the original fold open sleeve with the attached subscription form for the Sub Pop Singles Club brought $5,425. The 12” single Tupelo first UK pressing vinyl released and distributed in Germany by Routh Trade GmbH and the UK by Revolver went for $4,956.

The Incesticide LP first US pressing marbled blue vinyl record signed by Cobain cleared $5,062. The 12” record was limited to 15,000 copies that was originally released in December 1992. Cobain boldly signed “Kurdt” in black felt tip marker on the original sleeve; it comes with the original printed inner sleeve as well.

Nirvana sales also included the Melvins, Nirvana, and Machine 1990 Tacoma, WA concert poster that sold for $4,130, a circa 1990 Sub Pop tour blank concert poster with art by Jeff Ross that realized $2,596, and a Bundle of Hiss and Nirvana Seattle, WA 1988 concert poster that brought $2,596.

All of the top results from Part I and Part II of Hake’s Auction #242 can be viewed at hakes.com.