Kurt Cobain’s smashed Fender Stratocaster is displayed at Julien’s Auctions in Gardena, Calif., on May 2 forward of Julien’s “Music Icons” public sale of over 1,200 gadgets from rockhistory and unique artist collections.

Frederic J. Brown/AFP by way of Getty Images

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Frederic J. Brown/AFP by way of Getty Images

Kurt Cobain’s smashed Fender Stratocaster is displayed at Julien’s Auctions in Gardena, Calif., on May 2 forward of Julien’s “Music Icons” public sale of over 1,200 gadgets from rockhistory and unique artist collections.

Frederic J. Brown/AFP by way of Getty Images

Kurt Cobain’s black Fender Stratocaster is roofed in scratches and chipped wooden. The names of Cobain and his former band, Nirvana, are misspelled. And the guitar itself, which was as soon as smashed and put again collectively, is not playable.

But on Saturday, the damaged guitar was sold at Julien’s Auctions for a whopping $596,000 — practically 10 instances greater than the opening worth — exhibiting that the adoration for the rock icon is alive and properly practically 30 after he died.

Cobain was identified to have destroyed a number of Fender Stratocasters throughout his profession. This specific instrument was wrecked whereas Cobain and his band labored on their landmark album, Nevermind, within the early Nineteen Nineties.

The guitar was finally repaired and gifted to his pal and musical collaborator, Mark Lanegan of the Screaming Trees.

“Hell-o Mark! Love, Your Pal, Kurdt Kobain / Washed up rockstar,” Cobain wrote in silver marker on the physique of the guitar. Nirvana members Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl additionally signed their names.

Other iconic references on the Fender Stratocaster is the inscription “Boddah Lives,” scratched into the neck plate, which refers to Cobain’s childhood imaginary pal. The guitar’s case additionally contains the phrase “Abort Christ” written in giant white letters.