"For most, access to financial and health services - particularly mental health services - is very limited. The last few months were the straw that broke the camel's back, and for many in the arts brought forth the harsh reality that they work in an industry for which there is little support in times of need. He continues: "The global arts industry has been shattered by the impact of COVID-19, with musicians and artists being amongst the most affected. "When I heard that this iconic guitar was up for auction," says Freedman, "I immediately knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure it and use it as a vehicle to spotlight the struggles that those in the performing arts are facing and have always faced." The buyer was Peter Freedman, founder of RØDE Microphones, who attended the live auction in Beverly Hills and successfully won the guitar in a bidding war among collectors and bidders all across the globe who participated live on the floor, online and on the phone.įreedman plans to display the guitar in a worldwide tour of exhibitions to be held in distinguished galleries and art spaces, with all proceeds (including the guitar) going to the performing arts. This makes it one of the rarest and most valuable acoustic guitars in the world. The sale set five new world records for world's most expensive guitar, world's most expensive acoustic guitar, world's most expensive martin guitar, world's most expensive piece of memorabilia and world's most expensive NIRVANA memorabilia. The legendary instrument played by one of rock's most influential musicians and icons in one of the greatest and most memorable live performances of all time sold for $6,010,000 million, far surpassing its original estimate of one million U.S. Julien's Auctions' marquee two-day music auction event "Music Icons" culminated today in a world-record-breaking sale of one of the most recognized and important guitars in rock 'n' roll history: the acoustic-electric guitar played by Kurt Cobain during NIRVANA's acclaimed "MTV Unplugged" performance.