John Lennon’s glasses and Kurt Cobain guitar to headline blockbuster US auction

Mike Bedigan, PA Los Angeles Correspondent

A pair of John Lennon’s glasses and Kurt Cobain’s smashed guitars are due to headline a blockbuster music memorabilia auction later this month.

The items, which are expected to go for almost $500,000 in total, will form part of Julien’s Auctions Icons and Idols: Rock ‘N’ Roll auction.

Over 1,500 instruments and artefacts owned and used by some of the world’s most famous artists will go under the hammer during the sale next week.

They include items from other late musicians including Amy Winehouse, Tupac Shakur, Prince, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley.

Lennon’s glasses, which became symbolic of the former Beatles frontman’s style and persona, are expected to fetch up to $80,000.

The round wire-rimmed gold tone glasses were owned and worn by John Lennon and often referred to as his “Granny” glasses, due to their circular shape.

The musician inherited extreme shortsightedness from his mother, and was directed to wear glasses from childhood.

Elsewhere, a 1973 Fender Mustang owned, stage-played, smashed and signed by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain during two US performances in 1989, will be on sale.

During the second show at the Sonic Temple in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, on July 9th, Cobain famously smashed the guitar to pieces across the stage during the finale performance of their hit song Blew.

“This rare and sensational artefact is emblematic of the grunge icon’s early years,” Julien’s Auctions said.

“(It) makes this one of the quintessential and important Kurt Cobain guitars in rock history.”

The instrument was previously exhibited at Experience Music Project in Seattle, Washington, between 2007 and 2008 and is estimated at between $200-$400,000.

Winehouse’s beehive hair topper, worn during her performance of You Know I’m No Good and Rehab at the 2008 Grammy Awards ceremony is priced at up to $20,000.

At the ceremony the singer won five awards: Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance.

Other items to be auctioned include a framed large-format black and white photo print with rap legend Shakur’s hand print, and Prince’s 1992 Kurt Nelson Cloud Model electric guitar from his personal collection.

“Each year, Julien’s Auctions is honoured to assemble our exceptional Icons & Idols event that represents the rich legacy and chronicle of Rock N’ Roll music,” said Darren Julien, president of Julien’s Auctions.

“Thousands of pieces that were front row and centre of rock music’s most pivotal and shimmering moments from the titanic careers of Kurt Cobain, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Prince and more will be offered as well as new and rare iconography from the likes of Tupac Shakur, truly making this the auction industry’s marquee music auction event of the season.”

The three-day rock icons auction takes place from November 11th to 13th and will be held at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York.