Categories: News & Updates

Nirvana’s Smashed ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ Bass Up for Auction

1960s Japanese instrument was destroyed in music video

Published by

Courtesy of Christie’s

The bass that Krist Novoselic played and Kurt Cobain smashed in the video for Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” will be up for auction by Christie’s in London on November 29th. The seller of the 1960s Japanese Zen-On bass was a teenager at the time of the video’s shoot; he had applied to be an extra, and grabbed the bass from the set. Knowing the bass would be destroyed, Novoselic sought an inexpensive piece of gear, and purchased the bass at a local pawn shop. The instrument is expected to fetch between $24,000 and more than $40,000.

 

Recent Posts

Above & Beyond on Returning to India and the Album That Took Them Back to the Beginning

After 25 years of shaping global electronic music, the progressive trance pioneers brought their ‘Bigger…

December 26, 2025

The 10 Best World Cinema of 2025

Complicated family relationships (Sentimental Value, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl), black comedies (No Other Choice),…

December 26, 2025

RSI Recommends: The Ultimate Offbeat Christmas Movie Watchlist

From daylight horror flicks to Bollywood comedy essentials, beat all the performative cinephile allegations with…

December 24, 2025

The 10 Best Anime Shows of 2025

A healthy mix of shounen (Gachiakutta), horror (The Summer Hikaru Died) and returning favorites (My…

December 24, 2025

K-Pop Christmas Hits: Must-Add Songs to Your Holiday Playlist

Get festive with our list of K-pop Christmas songs, a curated mix of romance, fun,…

December 24, 2025

DIVINE’s ‘Walking on Water’ Balances Money Moves and Gully Rap Roots

On his fifth album, the Mumbai rap star’s collaborations shine the brightest but he clearly…

December 24, 2025