Kurt Cobain Unplugged – one of rock music’s most iconic guitars displayed in a new exhibition at the Royal College of Music Museum

Monday 31 March 2025

Kurt Cobain’s legendary Martin D-18E, played during Nirvana’s iconic MTV Unplugged performance, will be displayed in the UK for the first time as part of Kurt Cobain Unplugged at the Royal College of Music (RCM) Museum, running from 3 June to 18 November 2025. 

The exhibition explores Nirvana’s groundbreaking MTV Unplugged session and reunites two of rock history’s most iconic artefacts – Cobain’s Martin D-18E and his famous olive-green mohair cardigan, worn during the performance – for the first time on display together.

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The Kurt Cobain Unplugged exhibition delves into the musical legacy of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain and traces the remarkable journey of the 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.'

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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 include:

• A selection of Nirvana gig posters featuring a 90s punk/grunge aesthetic
• A selection of collectable Nirvana vinyl in its original shrink wrap
• 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 says, ‘I’m delighted to be a part of the RCM 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 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. 

Join the waitlist and find out more about Kurt Cobain Unplugged.

Original artwork (c) Chris Tomlin