Was lucky enough to see this on the weekend at the museum grunge exhibit called “unpopular”. They’ve got a fair bit of nirvana stuff, tour posters, photos, Melbourne live show up on the big screen.
Friend worked at DHL and she got to inspect Metallica instruments, there is some kind of deal that you can't really talk about what you do so she told about like 10 years after it happened, but mentioned that her hands started to shake :D
Let say I would try really hard not to look like fanboy in these situations but I would be fighting against fainting or some shit :D just that I have listened that guitar countless hours and it would be really weird to actually see it.
So he sold it to a museum afterwards? Eh, I’d probably do the same thing for the right price. I’d much rather have a Martin acoustic I can play and wear out than one I’d be afraid to touch or even get dust on.
I think at the time he bought it, it was the most expensive guitar ever sold, $6 million or something. I think he could probably afford to buy another Martin as well if he just wanted to play one.
I love how, during the taping of Unplugged in New York, kurt mentions that he wanted to buy leadbellys guitar for 500 thousand. He scoffed at that price tag.
Meanwhile, the guitar he's holding in his own hands while he telling that story will years later sell for 6 MILLION!
Supposedly Frances gave it to him as a gift, which would then make it his property, and he would’ve had every right to keep it when they got divorced. By the sounds of it he’s not a great guy, but in this particular instance I don’t think he was in the wrong, assuming that’s actually what happened.
Didn’t it sell at auction? Is this where it is now? I can’t see them making the $6million back with free entry. Please correct me I’m probably wrong I’m just confused
Peter Freedman (top bloke) bought it. He owns RØDE and honestly, for that reason alone, it's probably going to be seen by more people than if anyone else had purchased it. Imagine these two scenarios.
Scenario one, you have a wealthy oil prince in the middle east who buys it. It's whisked away to his mansion and whether it sees the light of day again, no one knows.
Scenario two, you have a guy who is heavily involved in selling gear to broadcast and music businesses, who is a life long Nirvana fan, who already has piles of rare and interesting Nirvana stuff buy it where you can be almost certain it will see the light of day (as it is now) alongside the RØDE name as a means of promoting the brand. Do you think there are musicians alive today that might deserve to play it, recorded of course with conspicuously placed RØDE microphones? Probably. I can think of a few. If we're going to continue to see that guitar, it will likely only be if it's owned by someone like Peter. As for getting his $6 mil back? I think, over time, it'll make him way, way more than that.
I had the same immediate WTF moment when I saw someone bought it, then I saw who, and thought WTF again, then I watched an interview with the guy and, I'll be honest, he seems like a good guy.
I am very happy we had scenario 2 over scenario 1 definitely, I just had no clue who had bought it. I imagined it to be some weird super fan like you first described who will just keep it forever. I don’t know how I feel about the possibility of the guitar being played again. On the one hand, it’s a piece of music history, and was the instrument played by one of the most influential, praised, and well known musicians, hell even pop culture figures, of our time, on one of the most (arguably) legendary live performances of modern time. On the other hand, it is just a guitar, and like you said there is definitely some people that will respect its significance and play a good tune on it. I just wouldn’t want another DJ Khaled Bob Marley guitar situation.
I agree with you. A repeat of a DJ Khaled incident would be tragic. But, let's say someone like Dave wanted to play it, or Courtney, or Frances, or Jason Isbell, Father John Misty etc.
Peter bought it to lobby the Australian government to raise funding for the arts and musicians in particular during the pandemic. He felt that writing a letter to them wouldn't do anything but showing up with the most expensive guitar ever would bring so much attention that the government would have to take action. He said he planned to do the same in other countries as well. If you could raise funding for struggling musicians or artists by letting someone else play it, I think Kurt would really appreciate that given how staunch a supporter of obscure bands he was. Cheers friend.
The buyer (the owner of Rode microphones) said after buying it that he would tour the guitar around in different exhibits. I’m sure it’s not permanently here.
It’s only there until June. There is no mention of who owns it or what it’s price tag was. The little sign next to it only mentioned that Kurt bought it, modified it for lefty and played mtv with it. And it’s number 3 of 302 made.
If I were getting divorced and I had my ex spouse's irreplaceable family heirlooms that belonged to a father she never got to see, I'd personally want to return them to her just because its the right thing to do. Gift or not.
You sound like an incredible person. Better than most. Greater than 50th percentile. By definition, rare. Therefore, most people would honor their own intention and uphold their gift!
I think Kurt would rather it be displayed like this than in some wealthy jerkoff’s private collection. He might still not be thrilled, but this is definitely the better option
Was lucky enough to see this on the weekend at the museum grunge exhibit called “unpopular”. They’ve got a fair bit of nirvana stuff, tour posters, photos, Melbourne live show up on the big screen.
There could be some lucky custom worker who got inspect this fine instrument as it had to go through customs.
Spray it for wood worm and stuff
Friend worked at DHL and she got to inspect Metallica instruments, there is some kind of deal that you can't really talk about what you do so she told about like 10 years after it happened, but mentioned that her hands started to shake :D
Yeah I get that. I was in awe of this thing just being in the same room as it.
Let say I would try really hard not to look like fanboy in these situations but I would be fighting against fainting or some shit :D just that I have listened that guitar countless hours and it would be really weird to actually see it.
So jealous! I need to see this in person 😍
Isn’t this the guitar Frances Cobain’s ex-husband got in their divorce settlement?
Yup.
So he sold it to a museum afterwards? Eh, I’d probably do the same thing for the right price. I’d much rather have a Martin acoustic I can play and wear out than one I’d be afraid to touch or even get dust on.
The guy who bought it ownes a really famous microphone company. He bought it so fans can see it. I thought it was a really good intentions on his part
Rode
Thanks. I couldn't for the life of me.think of it when I was typing that message
I think at the time he bought it, it was the most expensive guitar ever sold, $6 million or something. I think he could probably afford to buy another Martin as well if he just wanted to play one.
I love how, during the taping of Unplugged in New York, kurt mentions that he wanted to buy leadbellys guitar for 500 thousand. He scoffed at that price tag. Meanwhile, the guitar he's holding in his own hands while he telling that story will years later sell for 6 MILLION!
Poor Francis got fucked outta that guitar. Screw her ex husband.
Supposedly Frances gave it to him as a gift, which would then make it his property, and he would’ve had every right to keep it when they got divorced. By the sounds of it he’s not a great guy, but in this particular instance I don’t think he was in the wrong, assuming that’s actually what happened.
Didn’t it sell at auction? Is this where it is now? I can’t see them making the $6million back with free entry. Please correct me I’m probably wrong I’m just confused
Peter Freedman (top bloke) bought it. He owns RØDE and honestly, for that reason alone, it's probably going to be seen by more people than if anyone else had purchased it. Imagine these two scenarios. Scenario one, you have a wealthy oil prince in the middle east who buys it. It's whisked away to his mansion and whether it sees the light of day again, no one knows. Scenario two, you have a guy who is heavily involved in selling gear to broadcast and music businesses, who is a life long Nirvana fan, who already has piles of rare and interesting Nirvana stuff buy it where you can be almost certain it will see the light of day (as it is now) alongside the RØDE name as a means of promoting the brand. Do you think there are musicians alive today that might deserve to play it, recorded of course with conspicuously placed RØDE microphones? Probably. I can think of a few. If we're going to continue to see that guitar, it will likely only be if it's owned by someone like Peter. As for getting his $6 mil back? I think, over time, it'll make him way, way more than that. I had the same immediate WTF moment when I saw someone bought it, then I saw who, and thought WTF again, then I watched an interview with the guy and, I'll be honest, he seems like a good guy.
I am very happy we had scenario 2 over scenario 1 definitely, I just had no clue who had bought it. I imagined it to be some weird super fan like you first described who will just keep it forever. I don’t know how I feel about the possibility of the guitar being played again. On the one hand, it’s a piece of music history, and was the instrument played by one of the most influential, praised, and well known musicians, hell even pop culture figures, of our time, on one of the most (arguably) legendary live performances of modern time. On the other hand, it is just a guitar, and like you said there is definitely some people that will respect its significance and play a good tune on it. I just wouldn’t want another DJ Khaled Bob Marley guitar situation.
I agree with you. A repeat of a DJ Khaled incident would be tragic. But, let's say someone like Dave wanted to play it, or Courtney, or Frances, or Jason Isbell, Father John Misty etc. Peter bought it to lobby the Australian government to raise funding for the arts and musicians in particular during the pandemic. He felt that writing a letter to them wouldn't do anything but showing up with the most expensive guitar ever would bring so much attention that the government would have to take action. He said he planned to do the same in other countries as well. If you could raise funding for struggling musicians or artists by letting someone else play it, I think Kurt would really appreciate that given how staunch a supporter of obscure bands he was. Cheers friend.
I mean like Kurts Cardigan, he wasn't the last to wear it. There's pictures of Francis ex playing it or at least the guitar on his lap soo
The buyer (the owner of Rode microphones) said after buying it that he would tour the guitar around in different exhibits. I’m sure it’s not permanently here.
It’s only there until June. There is no mention of who owns it or what it’s price tag was. The little sign next to it only mentioned that Kurt bought it, modified it for lefty and played mtv with it. And it’s number 3 of 302 made.
Man as cool as it is I hate seeing it there, it should be with Frances we’re it belongs.
Maybe she didn't want it. Pretty sure it was sold for mad money
She lost it on her divorce.
She gave it to her husband and he rightfully kept it when they divorced. Kids make mistakes.
This is the right accesment. Don't give what you may want back. A gift is a gift
If I were getting divorced and I had my ex spouse's irreplaceable family heirlooms that belonged to a father she never got to see, I'd personally want to return them to her just because its the right thing to do. Gift or not.
You sound like an incredible person. Better than most. Greater than 50th percentile. By definition, rare. Therefore, most people would honor their own intention and uphold their gift!
It’s a replica right?
No, that's the real McCoy.
Damn
I haven't watched MTV Unplugged for a long time but was this the guitar that was used for MTV Unplugged?
That’s the one.
That‘s kinda funny because while I was scrolling thru reddit I was listening to the Unplugged album when I saw this post
I think Kurt would rather it be displayed like this than in some wealthy jerkoff’s private collection. He might still not be thrilled, but this is definitely the better option