The letter references John Lennon’s death
In 1993, between interviews at MTV Studios and rehearsing at NBC for Nirvana’s controversial Saturday Night Live performance, frontman Kurt Cobain ran into a fan at the Moma in NYC and wrote him a note that will be going up for auction at Bonhams later this month.
The letter reads: “Hi John, Don’t go near the Dakota – Kurt Cobain.”
While talking with the consignor who’s also a musician, Cobain expressed his nervousness and trepidation about the upcoming Saturday Night Live and MTV Unplugged performances and the two forged a connection around their mutual admiration for John Lennon. Before parting ways at the museum, Cobain tore a sheet from the consignor’s notebook and wrote this message in which he refers to the Dakota building in which Lennon was shot in 1980.
Shortly after, Cobain would go on to perform their infamous MTV Unplugged show notable for its intimate and emotional atmosphere. Cobain’s vulnerable and haunting performance, combined with the unplugged format, added a poignant layer to the show, making it a significant and memorable moment in music history.
Cobain sadly committed suicide a few months later on April 5, 1994. This April marks the 30th anniversary of his passing.
Bonhams estimates the letter will fetch between $5,000 and $7,000 at auction. The auction runs from February 17-27 online.
