AFP – Guitars played by music legends Eric Clapton and Kurt Cobain are going under the hammer in the United States (US) next month with an estimated price tag of up to USD2 million each.
Up for grabs at the sale organised by Julien’s Auctions in Nashville will be Clapton’s Gibson SG – popularly known as ‘The Fool’ – which the British rocker began using when his band Cream embarked on its first US tour.
Its custom-painted psychedelic finish makes it one of the most recognisable guitars on the planet.
The Fool was key to the development of what was dubbed the ‘woman tone’ – an oft imitated sound he produced on the guitar.
Clapton, known for monster riffs in songs like Layla and Sunshine of Your Love, is widely seen as one of the premier guitarists of the last half century.
Also going under the hammer next month is the left-handed Fender Mustang electric guitar played by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain on the band’s final tour.
The blue Skystang I was one of a number of the models that Cobain bought for the tour, and was the instrument he played at the band’s last ever performance in Munich in 1994, the auction house said.
Julien’s Executive Director Martin Nolan said the Skystang I was an important part of pop culture history. “Kurt Cobain loved to break guitars and smash guitars, but the Fender Mustang was… his favourite guitar.”
