Guitars Belonging to Rock Legends Kurt Cobain, Eric Clapton Sell for Jaw-Dropping Amounts
The famed Christie's auction house is auctioning off "one of the greatest collection of music, film, and sports memorabilia and historic Americana ever assembled." The collection was assembled by the late owner of the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay. Christie's auctioned off multiple guitars used by rock legends, some of which have sold for jaw-dropping amounts.
According to Christie's, a Fender Mustang guitar used by Kurt Cobain in the music video for Nirvana's 1991 single Smells Like Teen Spirit, sold for more than $6.9 million on March 12. "It is likely that Cobain acquired the guitar in August 1991 before the video shoot," the famed auction house wrote.
"For those who grew up watching MTV in the 90s, Kurt Cobain’s distinctive teal blue Fender Competition Mustang with its contrasting diagonal racing stripes remains instantly recognizable for its use in the landmark music video for Nirvana’s generational anthem ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,'" Christie's wrote. "A seminal moment in music history, the release of the music video for ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ sparked a cultural sea change that saw grunge break through to the mainstream."
The auction also features a drum kit used by the Beatles' Ringo Starr, and guitars played by Eric Clapton and Johnny Cash, the site reported. Christie's calls it the Jim Irsay collection. A Clapton guitar sold for more than $4 million. Clapton used the Martin 000-42 acoustic guitar during "his acclaimed appearance on MTV Unplugged" in 1992, the auction house says. A custom-built guitar for Jerry Garcia sold for more than $11 million. It was called the "tiger."
The Jim Irsay Collection Is 1 of the 'Greatest Collections' of Music, Film & Sports Memorabilia 'Ever Assembled,' Christie's Says
(Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP via Getty Images)
The Jim Irsay Collection "forms a chorus of cultural touchstones and chronicles one of the greatest collections of music, film, and sports memorabilia and historic Americana ever assembled," Christie's says on its website.
The auction contains a wide array of items. A saddle used by Secretariat went for $1.524 million. A lyrics sheet from the Beatles' Hey Jude song sold for $1 million. The sale total is expected to exceed $84 million, according to Christie's.
"Meticulously compiled over decades by the late philanthropist, passionate music lover and owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts, a portion of the proceeds of these sales will be donated to philanthropic causes supported by Jim Irsay during his lifetime," the auction house noted.
"This unparalleled collection weaves together some of the most significant people, literature and events of recent history: guitars and other instruments once played by all four Beatles, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, David Gilmour, Jerry Garcia, Kurt Cobain, Elton John, Prince, Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin, John Coltrane and Miles Davis; original manuscripts by Jack Kerouac, Jim Morrison and Steve Jobs; legendary sporting artefacts linked to Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, Wayne Gretzky and Secretariat," it adds.
In March 2026, the collection "will be offered across four major auctions, giving collectors the rarest of opportunities to become the next custodians of objects that have inspired generations and continue to shine as beacons of our shared creative legacy," Christie's notes.
The Auction Was Described as Being Like 'Going Around a Brilliant Beatles Museum'
The auction website shows that Irsay collected a lot of Beatles memorabilia, including rare photos of John Lennon, a handwritten letter from him, and autographs.
"This collection has been a revelation to me: I wasn’t aware that any one person had acquired so much high-end Beatles material," Mark Lewisohn, an English historian, biographer and Beatles expert told Christie's. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an impressive gathering of Beatles instruments in one place as I did when I viewed highlights from the Jim Irsay Collection at Christie’s in London. It was like going around a brilliant Beatles museum.’
The auction also contains random items like Hunter S. Thompson's Converse sneakers. Irsay had a large number of guitars, from artists ranging from Don McLean to Keith Richards. He even had a pair of Elton John's glasses.
Some of the auction consists of sports memorabilia, including a Tiger Woods golf club and boxing gloves used by Muhammad Ali, and a baseball signed by Babe Ruth. Irsay even had items relating to the KGB and Cold War, such as a spy machine.