‘Kurt Cobain Unplugged’ Exhibition at Royal College of Music Museum
‘Kurt Cobain Unplugged’ is a new exhibition by Royal College of Music Museum showcasing his legendary Martin D-18E guitar which was allegedly the last he played before his death in 1994.
@urbanadventurerldn [BLOG POST IN BIO] New Kurt Cobain exhibition opened at @Royal College of Music and the ticket is only £5 🎸 ‘Kurt Cobain Unplugged’ is featuring Cobain’s iconic Martin D-18E guitar which was the final one he used Kurt’s olive-green mohair cardigan he worn during his MTV Unplugged performance is also on display 📍 Royal College of Music Museum | Prince Consort Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2BS 🎟️ Tickets are just £5 and can be booked on Royal College of Music Museum’s official website or purchased on the spot #cobainunplugged #kurtcobain #nirvana #mtvunplugged #kurtcobainfan #nirvanafans #CapCut
Kurt Cobain Unplugged
Photo: Urban Adventurer
A special Nirvana exhibition opened at Royal College of Music Museum on the 3rd June.
The exhibition is featuring Cobain’s iconic Martin D-18E guitar which was uniquely modified for his left-handed playing technique. This was the guitar he used during the Nirvana’s legendary MTV Unplugged performance and – according to his former partner and vocalist, Courtney Love – the final guitar Cobain played before his death 5 months later.
The exhibition is also featuring Kurt’s olive-green mohair cardigan he worn during his MTV Unplugged performance which is another iconic piece of rock history.
This is the very first time the two legendary items are displayed together, and the guitar has ever been displayed in Europe.
The World’s Most Expensive Guitar
Kurt Cobain’s Martin D-18E guitar
Photo: Urban Adventurer
You might not know this, but Kurt Cobain’s Martin D-18E guitar is the most expensive guitar ever sold in an auction.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
The guitar was bought by an Australian entrepreneur, Peter Freedman AM for $6 million in 2020. Freedman’s intention when purchasing the guitar was to begin a worldwide tour of exhibitions to support performing artists.
‘Feel the Darkness’ duct-taped by Cobain on the case
Photo: Urban Adventurer
He loaned the instrument to Royal College of Music Museum, London to be part of the first rock exhibition the museum has ever hosted.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Music journalist and curator of the ‘Kurt Cobain Unplugged’ exhibition, Alan di Perna says: “It’s a very rare instrument and an unsuccessful model.” He explains why: “The whole world was going crazy for electric guitars in 1959, and this was Martin’s attempt at making an acoustic guitar electric, and it didn’t really work.”
Only 301 guitars were ever made and – as di Perna says – it was an outcast, just like Cobain in a way that it was modified for Kurt’s left-handed playing technique and as the guitar was a rare and special model.
The Iconic Green Cardigan
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Kurt Cobain’s iconic olive-green cardigan is on display together with his guitar for the first time at Royal College of Music Museum.
Cobain was wearing the cardigan during the MTV Unplugged gig in 1993 and was sold at an auction for $334,000 in 2019.
Not many people know that Kurt took control of the visual aspects of the MTV Unplugged production. He wanted lots of flowers and candles, and when the producer of the show asked him if he wanted the show to look like a funeral, Cobain relied ‘yes’. – Alan di Perna explains.
Nirvana Memorabilia and Collectable Vinyl
Photo: Urban Adventurer
‘Kurt Cobain Unplugged’ exhibition is also featuring rare Nirvana memorabilia, including gig posters from the 1990s and collectable vinyl.
Photo: Urban Adventurer
There are also hand-written lyrics on display.
These items give an insight into Cobain’s songwriting and explore how Nirvana changed the course of rock history in the 1990s.
Shop
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Make sure you visit the shop after the exhibition because there are T-shirts, tote bags, posters and other exhibition-related products available.
Practical Info
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Address
Royal College of Music Museum | Prince Consort Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2BS
Tickets
Tickets are just £5 and can be booked on Royal College of Music Museum’s official website or purchased on the spot
Opening Times
Monday: CLOSED
Tue – Fri: 10:15am – 5:45pm
Sat – Sun: 11am – 6pm
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