An auction of rock and roll memorabilia saw Cobain’s self-portrait sold for $281,250 compared to an estimated worth of $10,000.
The self-portrait of Cobain was drawn in black felt pen on TNT Music centre stationery. The portrait shows him playing the guitar.
He signed the work on the left side of the portrait Kurdt Kobain Rock Star. He also cheekily scribed: “I don’t know how to play, and I don’t give a hoot.”
The portrait was estimated to sell at $10,000 but instead went for a massive $281,250 during the most recent Julien’s Auctions event.
This is a whopping 28x more than the estimation.
The portrait belonged to a freelance photographer Jacque Chong who Cobain gifted it to in 1992 while the two were touring for Nirvana’s Nevermind album in Singapore.
Julien’s Auctions auctioned off 1000 items from Friday to Sunday. These ranged from instruments, memorabilia, clothing and personal items owned by artists across all genres.
SOLD for $281,250! A self-portrait caricature by Kurt Cobain playing the guitar, signed on the left of the drawing “Kurdt Kobain Rock Star” and handwritten on the right “I don’t know how to play and I don’t give a hoot!” Sold now in our Music Icons at https://t.co/TiME89uOXn! pic.twitter.com/jvfHVeyXdQ
— Juliens Auctions (@JuliensAuctions) June 12, 2021
Some of them included The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Lady Gaga and Madonna. Altogether, the items auctioned for nearly $5 million.
Other notable items auctioned include a red Yamaha Signature Series C-1 Baby Grand Piano signed by Elton John, as well as signed, handwritten lyrics by Bernie Taupin for John’s hit single Candle in the Wind.
Furthermore, the guitar commissioned and owned by Prince in 1994 was also auctioned off, alongside the black jersey, bodysuit and black motorcycle jacket that Cher wore in the music video for If I Could Turn Back Time.
You can find all the auctioned items and how much they sold on Julien’s Auctions website here.
