A new exhibition celebrating the lasting impact of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana will debut in London, United Kingdom, this June.
“Kurt Cobain Unplugged” will offer fans a chance to dive into Cobain‘s world and explore the legacy of Nirvana, a band that left an indelible mark on music. The exhibition will feature the band’s iconic 1993 “MTV Unplugged” performance, one of their final televised appearances before Cobain‘s death just five months later. Fans will have the opportunity to see Cobain’s rare Martin D-18E guitar up close, a unique left-handed instrument that shaped Nirvana‘s signature sound. In 2020, this guitar became the most expensive ever sold at auction, fetching over $6 million when purchased by Australian entrepreneur Peter Freedman AM.
Held at the Royal College of Music Museum, the exhibition will reunite Cobain’s guitar with another iconic piece of rock history: his olive-green mohair cardigan, worn during the “MTV Unplugged” performance. This marks the first time these legendary items have been displayed together.
The exhibition also features rare memorabilia, providing insight into Cobain’s songwriting and the enduring influence of a band that reshaped rock music.
“Kurt Cobain Unplugged” is co-curated by Alan di Perna, one of America’s leading rock journalists, and Gabriele Rossi Rognoni, curator at the Royal College of Music Museum.
For more details about the exhibition, click here.
Cobain played the 1959 Martin D-18E guitar during Nirvana‘s unforgettable “MTV Unplugged” session on November 18, 1993, just months before his passing. That performance produced what Rolling Stone called “his last self-portrait.” Nirvana‘s acoustic set from that night resulted in one of the greatest live albums ever, “MTV Unplugged in New York“, which was released seven months after Cobain’s death. Songs like “About a Girl,” “All Apologies,” “Come As You Are,” and “Dumb,” as well as covers of David Bowie‘s “The Man Who Sold the World,” The Meat Puppets‘ “Lake of Fire,” and Lead Belly‘s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night,” became iconic. “MTV Unplugged in New York” debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard chart and remains one of the top ten live albums of all time. The album, which went multi-platinum, won the Grammy Award for “Best Alternative Music Album” in 1996. The guitar, one of only 302 D-18Es ever built by Martin, was customized by Cobain with a Bartolini pickup in the soundhole.
Kurt Cobain was the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the iconic grunge band Nirvana. Known for his raw, emotional music, he became the voice of a generation with hits like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are.” Cobain‘s struggles with fame and personal issues tragically led to his su**ide in 1994 at the age of 27, cementing his legacy as one of rock’s greatest and most influential figures.
