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John Brennan Collection: Nirvana

Above: Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, left, with autograph collector John Brennan.

“I followed them like a missile launcher.
I just knew.”
– John Brennan

Brennan first met Nirvana in January 1992, in the lobby of NBC when they were at the Thursday music rehearsal for a “Saturday Night Live” performance. He wasn’t familiar with the soon-to-be superstars, but he had a feeling about them.

After that first meeting, Brennan followed them everywhere, before they were famous: “I just knew.”

He met them a total of 8-12 times, as they became the pioneers of the Seattle grunge sound. The ride was short, but powerful. He followed Nirvana all of 1992 and 1993. “In just under two years, it was all over.”

Drummer Dave Grohl can be seen wearing a “Secret Sounds” t-shirt on the album cover for “Muddy Banks of Wishkah,” which Brennan gave him.

“Dave was always difficult to deal with; Kurt was the easy one.”

Autograph collector John Brennan Kurt Cobain Nirvana appearance Saturday Night Live January 1992 RR Auction
Autograph collector John Brennan, right, is seen with Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain at the band's music rehearsal for their appearance on Saturday Night Live in January 1992; it was Brennan's first meeting with them.
Autograph collector John Brennan Nirvana Kurt Cobain RR Auction
Autograph collector John Brennan, left, with Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
Autograph collector John Brennan Nirvana Kurt Cobain RR Auction
Autograph collector John Brennan, right, with Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

Glimpses of Nirvana

Our top two elite Nirvana items in the inaugural John Brennan auction are:

Autograph collector John Brennan Nirvana Dave Grohl RR Auction
Autograph collector John Brennan, right, with Dave Grohl, years after Nirvana.

Lot 7410: Oversized, fully signed band photo

Extraordinary color glossy 14 x 11 photo of Nirvana decked out in their classic grunge fashion, signed in blue felt tip by iconic frontman Kurt Cobain, “Kurt”; bassist Krist Novoselic, “Krist”; and drummer Dave Grohl, “If there’s one thing that would put me on the brink of total insanity, it would definitely be signing autographs all [expletive] day long. David.”

An amazing fully-signed oversized photo of the legendary 90s group, made even more desirable by Grohl’s irreverent and ironic commentary on signing autographs.

Lot 7411: ‘In Utero’ signed CD booklet

In Utero CD booklet signed on the front cover in blue felt tip by legendary singer-guitarist Kurt Cobain, “Kurt”; bassist Krist Novoselic, “Krist”; and drummer Dave Grohl, “David.”

Nirvana’s third and final studio album, “In Utero” entered the Billboard 200 chart at No. 1 and received critical acclaim as a drastic departure from “Nevermind.” A fantastic fully signed Nirvana piece.

Autographed photo by Nirvana John Brennan Collection RR Auction
Oversized 14x11 photo, fully signed by Nirvana. Part of the John Brennan Collection, offered by RR Auction.
autograph Nirvana "In Utero" CD booklet John Brennan Collection RR Auction
"In Utero" CD booklet, fully signed by Nirvana. Part of the John Brennan Collection, offered by RR Auction.