Kurt Cobain’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Fender Mustang Sells at Auction for $4.5 Million

Last month, it was announced that the Fender Mustang which Kurt Cobain used in Nirvana‘s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video was up for auction. Now, it looks like the guitar has been sold for $4.5 million JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, wait, really?

As reported by Ultimate Guitar, the guitar was bought by Jim Irsay Collection in Indianapolis; Irsay is the CEO of the NFL team Indianapolis Colts. Part of the proceeds will be donated by the Cobain family to Kicking The Stigma, a non-profit organization raising awareness for mental health (and which is spearheaded by the Colts). We hope a large part, too, as $4.5 million ain’t exactly chump change.

Irsay said the following of his purchase:

“I am thrilled to preserve and protect another piece of American culture that changed the way we looked at the world. The fact that a portion of the proceeds will go toward our effort to kick the stigma surrounding mental health makes this acquisition even more special to me.”

Add Darren Julien, CEO of Julien’s Auctions, the house that auctioned off a guitar:

“To have this legendary guitar, one of the most culturally significant and historically important guitars of Kurt Cobain and in all of rock music history return to my home state of Indiana to be part of Jim Irsay’s renowned memorabilia collection is a great honor and personal highlight of my life.

“This once-in-a-lifetime auction has been one of the greatest privileges in my professional career and I’m duly pleased that the proceeds will also bring much-needed attention to mental health awareness.”

I mean, congrats to Irsay, and to Kicking The Stigma, who will hopefully see a great big ol’ payday from this. But damn, $4.5 million? For A guitar? Maybe I just don’t like Nirvana enough, or care enough about the physical items that made it, but that’s ridiculous to me.