Kurt Cobain Unplugged – The story behind one of music’s most iconic guitars nomusic

One of the most famous acoustic guitars in rock history – Kurt Cobain’s Martin D-18E – will go on show at the Royal College of Music Museum in London as part of a landmark exhibition exploring Nirvana’s groundbreaking MTV Unplugged performance. Opening on 3 June 2025, the Kurt Cobain Unplugged exhibition will be the first time Cobain’s iconic guitar has been shown in the UK. Booking for Kurt Cobain Unplugged opens on Wednesday, 30 April. Visitors can join the waitlist to be among the first to know when tickets go on sale and receive updates and event highlights related to the exhibition.

Kurt Cobain Unplugged exhibition delves into the musical legacy of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain. It traces the remarkable journey of this iconic guitar, which became the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction in 2020 when it was bought for over $6 million by Australian entrepreneur Peter Freedman AM. Peter is the founder of RØDE Microphones, founding supporter of the Royal College of Music’s Australia Commonwealth Scholarship and has generously loaned the guitar for this special exhibition.

Peter Freedman commented: ‘When I purchased this guitar, my intention was to have it begin a worldwide tour of exhibitions, to support performing artists. I am delighted that this intent will be premiered at the Royal College of Music, London, with the first exhibition of its kind and will support talented musicians worldwide.'

The exhibition also reunites the guitar with another piece of rock history – Cobain’s famous olive-green mohair cardigan, worn during the 1993 Unplugged performance. This marks the first time these two legendary items have been displayed together.

Alongside these items, a carefully curated selection of Nirvana memorabilia will provide insight into the band’s influence, Cobain’s songwriting, and the enduring legacy of Nirvana and their MTV Unplugged performance. Key highlights of the exhibition also include:

1. A selection of Nirvana gig posters featuring a 90s punk/grunge aesthetic.
2. A selection of collectible Nirvana vinyl in its original shrink wrap.
3. The top portion of a Soundboard of another guitar from the same series.

The exhibition has been curated by Alan di Perna – one of America’s foremost rock journalists, and Royal College of Museum Curator Gabriele Rossi Rognoni. Alan di Perna’s work has appeared in titles including Rolling Stone, Guitar World, Classic Rock and Billboard amongst others, and he has interviewed iconic artists including Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Courtney Love and Pat Smear.

Alan Di Perna says, ‘I’m delighted to be a part of the Royal College of Music Museum’s first-ever rock music exhibition. MTV’s Nirvana Unplugged in New York was a landmark event—a stand-out performance by a group that changed the course of rock history in the 1990s.’

Gabriele Rossi Rognoni hopes the Kurt Cobain Unplugged exhibition will extend the profile and reach of the work of the Museum and Royal College of Music, opening cross dialogues with students of different backgrounds and creating bridges between historical and contemporary music. He says: ‘One of the treasures in the collections of the Royal College of Music Museum is the world’s oldest guitar. I am thrilled that this exhibition will build on our extraordinary heritage, connecting it with a monument of today’s music such as Kurt Cobain. I look forward to the dialogues, musical encounters and new ideas that this exhibition will spark among our visitors and the top-class musicians that study at the College.’

A series of events will accompany the exhibition including new works and performances by RCM students inspired by the guitar alongside family friendly workshops and concerts....