‘Collectors’ dream’ signed Nirvana LP up for auction

An “extremely rare” record sleeve, signed by all three members of Nirvana, is expected to fetch more than £10,000 at auction.

The soon-to-be global superstars were playing at a gig to just 700 people at The Bierkeller in Bristol on 4 November, 1991.

The late lead singer, Kurt Cobain, drummer, Dave Grohl, and bassist, Krist Novoselic all autographed a cover of the band’s hit album Nevermind for a local fan.

After being stored for more than 30 years in a loft, the sleeve is going under the hammer at auctioneers, Wessex Auction Rooms, in Wiltshire.

Auctioneer and music specialist, Martin Hughes, said he expected the sleeve – “possibly the best-signed example ever to come to market” – to attract interest from around the world.

“I am extremely excited to have such an important part of musical history included in our auction.

“Full sets of Nirvana signatures from this period are extremely rare, and to have them signed so perfectly on the sleeve of the most iconic album is a collector’s dream.

“As a Bristol man myself, the local connection is also exciting for me.  

“That Bristol Bierkeller show is the stuff of legend.

“I have known the vendor or many years but have never been shown this mythical item he claimed to have in his loft… and now here it is for the world to see,” he said.

The vendor, Rock and Metal DJ, Haggis, said he managed to get his sleeve signed as he hung around with a couple of friends inside the venue after the show, while “dozens of frenzied Nirvana fans were waiting for them to appear from the venue stage door”.

“We knew the guys who ran the Bierkeller and we were also friendly with the door staff, so all this helped immensely with me getting this LP actually signed.

“I remember Kurt saying to us, ‘Is it just you three?’, as if he was saying, in not so many words, ‘Where is everyone else?’.

“We wanted them to ourselves for five minutes, so retorted with, ‘Yeah, just us three’.

“The rest – as they say – is history,” he added.

The sleeve is expected to sell for between £12,000 and £15,000 when it goes under the hammer on 16 April.