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Kurt Cobain: Latest Strange Item Up for Auction is a Pack of Cigarettes

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Kurt Cobain is often the subject of some interesting auctions. The latest auction is for a pack of cigarettes once owned by the late Nirvana frontman.

This pack of cigarettes is part of an auction from Julien’s called “Played, Worn & Torn: Rock ‘N’ Roll Iconic Guitars and Memorabilia.” The listing on the Julien’s website shows an unopened pack of American Spirit regular menthol cigarettes. Its description reads, in part, “American Spirit menthols were the preferred brand of the late rock star. This pack was saved by Cobain’s roommate at the Los Angeles rehab clinic where he briefly stayed several days before taking his own life.”

The pack of cigarettes was estimated to sell for between $800 and $1,200. However, the current bid is for $3,000. Full details on the lot and the entire auction can be found at Juliens.com.

To see a list of Kurt Cobain memorabilia that went for big bucks at auction, keep scrolling.

The Kurt Cobain Biopic Cast By AI

Back in August, American Songwriter utilized ChatGPT to create and cast a Kurt Cobain biopic. Truth be told, the artificial intelligence engine did a decent job.

To begin with, the film would be called Smells Like Teen Spirit: The Kurt Cobain Story. The film would feature three acts. The first act would focus on Cobain’s tumultuous childhood and discovery of music. Its second act would focus on Nirvana’s exploding popularity, and the third act will chronicle Cobain’s tragic last days.

Now, as for the cast, ChatGPT had some interesting choices. Timothée Chalamet would play Cobain, while Saoirse Ronan would play Courtney Love. ChatGPT chose Bill Skarsgård to play Krist Novoselic and Joe Keery to play Dave Grohl.

Cobain’s parental figures have some significant star power, too. Frances McDormand was cast as his mother, Wendy O’Connor, while Josh Brolin was cast as his father, Don Cobain. Meanwhile, Cobain’s aunt/legal guardian, Kim, would be played by Amy Adams.

While we’re not terribly impressed with the biopic-by-numbers plot of this proposed film, we have to hand it to ChatGPT for putting together a great cast.

 

Kurt Cobain: 6 Pieces of Memorabilia That Sold Big at Auction

  • His Hair

    Let’s start with the weirdest (and grossest) piece of Cobain memorabilia that sold in recent years. In May 2021, Iconic Auctions sold six strands of the late Nirvana frontman’s hair for $14,145. Proceeds from the auction went to The Crew Nation Global Relief Fund for crew workers that were unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Per the item’s listing, “Supremely rare presentation of six strands of Kurt Cobain’s hair. Unique presentation on a 8.5” x 11” sheet includes six strands of Cobain’s blonde hair, the largest measuring approximately 2.5,” and housed in a small card with plastic overlay 1.75” x 2.” This one-of-a-kind artifact is entirely fresh-to-market, and accompanied by an impeccable lineage of provenance including images of Kurt posing with the woman who cut this hair, scissors in hand, and a fantastic shot of the hair actually being cut! The lucky friend who trimmed the Nirvana frontman’s iconic blonde locks, was an early confidant, Tessa Osbourne, who cut his hair in 1989—well prior to his “Nevermind” breakthrough—whilst on the “Bleach” Tour.”

  • A Used Paper Plate

    Not far behind his hair is a used paper plate. (Seriously, we wish we were kidding!) In May 2019, Julien’s Auctions sold a used paper plate Cobain wrote a set list on for a 1990 Nirvana show at the 9:30 nightclub in Washington, D.C. The winning bid? $22,400!

  • Cobain's Blockbuster Video Card

    Here’s one that’ll hit you right in the nostalgia: In 2017, Julien’s Auctions sold Cobain’s Blockbuster Video card. The card was issued at a Los Angeles store location located at 1508 North Orange Grove. The card was estimated to sell for between $400-$600. It ended up selling for $2,187.50.

  • Cobain's Cardigan from 'MTV Unplugged'

    Cobain’s olive-green mohair cardigan he wore during the band’s now-legendary appearance on MTV Unplugged sold via Julien’s Auctions in October 2019. It sold for a whopping $334,000. That winning bid made it the most expensive sweater to ever be sold at auction. Julien’s Auctions originally estimated that the Cobain sweater would sell for between $200,000-$300,000.

  • The 1969 Fender Mustang Competition Lake Placid blue finish electric guitar used in the 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' music video

    Originally estimated to sell between $600,000-$800,000, this unique piece of rock/music video history ended up selling for $4.5 million in May 2022. The electric guitar was yet another piece of Cobain memorabilia sold by Julien’s Auctions.

    Per a press release from Julien’s Auctions, “The guitar was acquired by The Jim Irsay Collection in Indianapolis in a bidding war among collectors and bidders all across the globe who participated live at the Hard Rock Cafe® New York, online at juliensauctions.com and on the phone…In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Cobain family is donating a portion of the proceeds of the legendary guitar and select Kurt Cobain items to Kicking The Stigma, the Irsays’ initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders and remove the stigma associated with these illnesses.”

  • The 1959 Martin D-18E Acoustic-Electric guitar Cobain played on 'MTV Unplugged'

    Last, but certainly not least, is this truly historic piece of Cobain memorabilia. In June 2020, Julien’s Auctions sold the 1959 Martin D-18E Acoustic-Electric guitar Cobain played on MTV Unplugged. The guitar was estimated to sell for $1 million, but it ended up going for $6.01 million!

    In the process, it set the following records: World’s Most Expensive Guitar, World’s Most Expensive Acoustic Guitar, World’s Most Expensive Martin Guitar, World’s Most Expensive Piece of Memorabilia and World’s Most Expensive Nirvana Memorabilia.

Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter
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