Kurt Cobain

Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – c. April 5,

Kurt Cobain
1994) was an American musician, best known as the lead
vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter of the rock band
Nirvana. Through his angst-fueled songwriting and anti-
establishment persona, Cobain's compositions widened
the thematic conventions of mainstream rock. He was
heralded as a spokesman of Generation X and is
considered one of the most influential musicians in the
history of alternative rock.

Cobain formed Nirvana with Krist Novoselic and Aaron

Burckhard in 1987 and established it as part of the Seattle
music scene that later became known as grunge. After
signing with major label DGC Records, Nirvana found
global success with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from their
critically acclaimed second album Nevermind (1991).
Although Cobain was hailed as the voice of his generation
following Nirvana's sudden success, he resented this, Cobain performing with Nirvana at the
believing his message and artistic vision had been MTV Video Music Awards in 1992
misinterpreted by the public. In addition to "Smells Like
Teen Spirit", Cobain wrote many other notable songs for Born Kurt Donald Cobain

Nirvana, including "Come as You Are", "Lithium", "In February 20, 1967

Bloom", "Something in the Way", "Heart-Shaped Box", Aberdeen, Washington,

"All Apologies", "About a Girl", "Aneurysm",[1] and "You U.S.
Know You're Right".[2] Died c. April 5, 1994
(aged 27)

During the last years of his life, Cobain struggled with

heroin addiction and chronic health problems such as Seattle, Washington,
depression.[3] He also struggled with the personal and U.S.
professional pressures of fame, and he had a tumultuous Cause of Suicide by gunshot
relationship with his wife, fellow musician Courtney death
Love.[4] In March 1994, Cobain overdosed on a
Occupation Singer · songwriter ·
combination of champagne and Rohypnol, and he
musician · visual artist
subsequently entered an intervention and underwent a
detox program. On April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead Spouse Courtney Love ​(m. 1992)​
at his home in Seattle at the age of 27; police concluded he Children Frances Bean Cobain
had died on April 5 from a self-inflicted shotgun wound to
Musical career
the head.
Genres Grunge · alternative rock
Cobain was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll · punk rock · hard rock
Hall of Fame, along with Nirvana bandmates Krist
Instrument(s) Vocals · guitar
Novoselic and Dave Grohl, in their first year of eligibility
in 2014. Rolling Stone included Cobain in its lists of the Years active 1982–1994
100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time, 100 Greatest Labels Sub Pop · DGC · Geffen
Guitarists, and 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. He was
ranked 7th by MTV in the "22 Greatest Voices in Music". Formerly of Nirvana · Fecal Matter
In 2006, he was placed 20th by Hit Parader on their list of
the "100 Greatest Metal Singers of All Time".
Contents
Early life
Career
Early musical projects
Nirvana
Other collaborations
Musical influences
Artistry
Personal life
Relationships and family
Sexuality
Health and addiction
Death
Aftermath
Legacy and influence
Media
Books
Film and television
Theatre
Video games
Discography
Nirvana
Posthumous albums
Posthumous singles
Posthumous videos
Collaborations
References
Bibliography
External links

Early life
Cobain was born at Grays Harbor Hospital in Aberdeen,
Washington, on February 20, 1967,[5] the son of waitress
Wendy Elizabeth (née Fradenburg; born 1948)[6] and
automotive mechanic Donald Leland Cobain (born 1946). His
parents married on July 31, 1965, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He
had Dutch, English, French, German, Irish, and Scottish
ancestry.[7]: 13 [8][9]: 7  His Irish ancestors emigrated from
Carrickmore, County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1875.[9]: 7  Researchers
Grays Harbor Hospital in Aberdeen,
found that they were shoemakers, originally surnamed
where Cobain was born
"Cobane", who came from Inishatieve, a townland within
Carrickmore. They first settled in Canada, where they lived in
Cornwall, Ontario, before moving to Washington.[10] Cobain mistakenly believed that his Irish
ancestors came from County Cork.[11] His younger sister, Kimberly, was born on April 24,
1970.[6][8]

Cobain's family had a musical background. His maternal uncle, Chuck Fradenburg, played in a
band called the Beachcombers; his aunt, Mari Earle, played guitar and performed in bands
throughout Grays Harbor County; and his great-uncle, Delbert, had a career as an Irish tenor,
making an appearance in the 1930 film King of Jazz. Kurt was described as a happy and excitable
child, who also exhibited sensitivity and care. His talent as an artist was evident from an early age,
as he would draw his favorite characters from films and cartoons, such as the Creature from the
Black Lagoon and Donald Duck, in his bedroom.[5][9]: 11  He was encouraged by his grandmother,
Iris Cobain, a professional artist.[12]

Cobain developed an interest in music at a young age. According to his aunt Mari, he began
singing at the age of two. At age four, he started playing the piano and singing, writing a song
about a trip to a park. He listened to artists including Electric Light Orchestra (ELO),[13] and, from
a young age, would sing songs including Arlo Guthrie's "Motorcycle Song", the Beatles' "Hey
Jude", Terry Jacks' "Seasons in the Sun", and the theme song to the Monkees television show.[9]: 9 

When Cobain was nine years old, his parents divorced.[9]: 20  He later said the divorce had a
profound effect on his life, and his mother noted that his personality changed dramatically; Cobain
became defiant and withdrawn.[7]: 17  In a 1993 interview, he said he felt "ashamed" of his parents
as a child, and had desperately wanted to have a "typical family ... I wanted that security, so I
resented my parents for quite a few years because of that."[14]

Cobain's parents found new partners after the divorce. Although his father had promised not to
remarry, he married Jenny Westeby, to Kurt's dismay.[9]: 24  Cobain, his father, Westeby, and her
two children, Mindy and James, moved into a new household. Cobain liked Westeby at first, as she
gave him the maternal attention he desired.[9]: 25  In January 1979, Westeby gave birth to a boy,
Chad Cobain.[9]: 24  This new family, which Cobain insisted was not his real one, was in stark
contrast to the attention Cobain was used to receiving as an only boy, and he became resentful of
his stepmother.[9]: 24, 25  Cobain's mother dated a man who was abusive; Cobain witnessed the
domestic violence inflicted upon her, with one incident resulting in her being hospitalized with a
broken arm.[9]: 25, 26  Wendy refused to press charges, remaining committed to the
relationship.[9]: 26 

Cobain behaved insolently toward adults during this period, and began bullying another boy at
school. His father and Westeby took him to a therapist, who concluded that he would benefit from
a single family environment.[9]: 26  Both sides of the family unsuccessfully attempted to reunite his
parents. On June 28, 1979, Cobain's mother granted full custody to his father.[9]: 27  Cobain's
teenage rebellion quickly became overwhelming for his father, who placed him in the care of
family and friends. While living with the born-again Christian family of his friend Jesse Reed,
Cobain became a devout Christian and regularly attended church services. He later renounced
Christianity, engaging in what was described as "anti-God" rants. The song "Lithium" is about his
experience while living with the Reed family. Religion remained an important part of his personal
life and beliefs.[7]: 22 [9]: 196 [9]: 69 

Although uninterested in sports, Cobain was enrolled in a junior high school wrestling team at the
insistence of his father. He was a skilled wrestler, but despised the experience. Because of the
ridicule he endured from his teammates and coach, he allowed himself to be pinned in an attempt
to sadden his father. Later, his father enlisted him in a Little League Baseball team, where Cobain
would intentionally strike out to avoid playing.[7]: 20–25  Cobain befriended a gay student at school
and was bullied by peers, who concluded that he was gay. In an interview, he said that he liked
being associated with a gay identity because he did not like people, and when they thought he was
gay they left him alone. He said, "I started being really proud of the fact that I was gay even though
I wasn't." His friend tried to kiss him and Cobain backed away, explaining to his friend that he was
not gay, but remained friends with him. According to Cobain, he used to spray paint "God Is Gay"
on pickup trucks in the Aberdeen area. Police records show that Cobain was arrested for spray
painting the phrase "ain't got no how watchamacallit" on vehicles.[9]: 68 

Cobain often drew during classes. He would draw objects,

including those associated with the human anatomy. When
given a caricature assignment for an art course, Cobain drew
Michael Jackson, but was told by the teacher that the image
was inappropriate for a school hallway. He then drew an image
of then-President Ronald Reagan that was seen as
"unflattering".[9]: 41  Through art and electronics classes,
Cobain met Roger "Buzz" Osborne, singer and guitarist of the
Melvins, who became his friend and introduced him to punk
rock and hardcore music.[15]: 35, 36 [16] As attested to by several
Cobain playing drums at an
of Cobain's classmates and family members, the first concert
assembly at Montesano High
he attended was Sammy Hagar and Quarterflash, held at the
School in 1981
Seattle Center Coliseum in 1983.[5][9]: 44  Cobain, however,
claimed that the first live show he attended was the Melvins,
when they played a free concert outside the Thriftway supermarket where Osborne worked. Cobain
wrote in his journals of this experience, as well as in interviews, singling out the impact it had on
him.[9]: 45 [17] As a teenager living in Montesano, Washington, Cobain eventually found escape
through the thriving Pacific Northwest punk scene, going to punk rock shows in Seattle.[7]

During his second year in high school, Cobain began living with his mother in Aberdeen. Two
weeks prior to graduation, he dropped out of Aberdeen High School upon realizing that he did not
have enough credits to graduate. His mother gave him a choice: find employment or leave. After
one week, Cobain found his clothes and other belongings packed away in boxes.[7]: 35  Feeling
banished, Cobain stayed with friends, occasionally sneaking back into his mother's basement.[7]: 37 
Cobain also claimed that, during periods of homelessness, he lived under a bridge over the
Wishkah River,[7]: 37  an experience that inspired the song "Something in the Way". His future
bandmate Krist Novoselic later said, "He hung out there, but you couldn't live on those muddy
banks, with the tides coming up and down. That was his own revisionism."[18]

In late 1986, Cobain moved into an apartment, paying his rent by working at the Polynesian
Resort, a themed resort on the Pacific coast at Ocean Shores, Washington approximately 20 miles
(32  km) west of Aberdeen.[7]: 43  During this period, he traveled frequently to Olympia,
Washington, to go to rock concerts.[7]: 46  During his visits to Olympia, Cobain formed a
relationship with Tracy Marander. Their relationship was close, but strained by financial problems
and Cobain's absence when touring. Marander supported the couple by working at the cafeteria of
the Boeing plant in Auburn, Washington, often stealing food. Cobain spent most of his time
sleeping into the late evening, watching television, and concentrating on art projects. Marander's
insistence that he get a job caused arguments that influenced Cobain to write the song "About a
Girl", which appeared on the Nirvana album Bleach; Marander is credited with having taken the
cover photo for the album. She did not become aware that Cobain wrote "About a Girl" about her
until years after his death.[9]: 88–93 [9]: 116–117 [9]: 122 [9]: 134–136 [9]: 143 [9]: 153 

Soon after his separation from Marander, Cobain began dating Tobi Vail, an influential punk
zinester of the riot grrrl band Bikini Kill who embraced the DIY ethos. After meeting Vail, Cobain
vomited, overwhelmed with anxiety caused by his infatuation with her. This event inspired the
lyric "love you so much it makes me sick" in the song "Aneurysm".[9]: 152  While Cobain regarded
Vail as his female counterpart, his relationship with her waned; he desired the maternal comfort of
a traditional relationship, which Vail regarded as sexist within a countercultural punk rock
community. Vail's lovers were described by her friend Alice Wheeler as "fashion accessories".[9]: 153 
Cobain wrote many of his most notable songs about Vail.[9]

Career

Early musical projects

On his 14th birthday on February 20, 1981, Cobain's uncle offered him either a bike or a used
guitar; Kurt chose the guitar. Soon, he was trying to play Led Zeppelin's song "Stairway to
Heaven". He also learned how to play "Louie Louie", Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust", and
the Cars' "My Best Friend's Girl", before he began working on his own songs. Cobain played left-
handed, despite being forced to write right-handed.[7]: 22 

In early 1985, Cobain formed Fecal Matter after he had dropped out of Aberdeen High School.[15]
One of "several joke bands" that arose from the circle of friends associated with the Melvins,[15] it
initially featured Cobain singing and playing guitar, Melvins drummer Dale Crover playing bass,
and Greg Hokanson playing drums.[19] They spent several months rehearsing original material
and covers, including songs by the Ramones, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix.[15][20] Fecal Matter
disbanded in 1986, while the Melvins supported their debut EP, Six Songs.

Nirvana

During high school, Cobain rarely found anyone with whom he could play music. While hanging
out at the Melvins' practice space, he met Krist Novoselic, a fellow devotee of punk rock.
Novoselic's mother owned a hair salon, and the pair occasionally practiced in the upstairs room of
the salon. A few years later, Cobain tried to convince Novoselic to form a band with him by lending
him a copy of a home demo recorded by Fecal Matter.[7] After months of asking, Novoselic agreed
to join Cobain, forming the beginnings of Nirvana.[7]: 45  Religion appeared to remain a significant
muse to Cobain during this time, as he often used Christian imagery in his work, and developed a
budding interest in Jainism and Buddhist philosophy. The band name "Nirvana" was taken from
the Buddhist concept, which Cobain described as "freedom from pain, suffering and the external
world", a concept that he aligned with the punk rock ethos and ideology.

Cobain was disenchanted after early touring, due to the band's inability to draw substantial crowds
and the difficulty of sustaining themselves. During their first few years playing together, Novoselic
and Cobain were hosts to a rotating list of drummers. Eventually, the band settled on Chad
Channing, with whom Nirvana recorded the album Bleach, released on Sub Pop Records in 1989.
Cobain, however, became dissatisfied with Channing's style and subsequently fired him. He and
Novoselic eventually hired Dave Grohl to replace Channing. Grohl helped the band record their
1991 major-label debut, Nevermind. With Nevermind's lead single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit",
Nirvana quickly entered the mainstream, popularizing a subgenre of alternative rock called
"grunge". Since their debut, Nirvana has sold over 28 million albums in the United States alone,
and over 75  million worldwide.[21][22] The success of Nevermind provided numerous Seattle
bands, such as Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, access to wider audiences. As a
result, alternative rock became a dominant genre on radio and music television in the U.S. during
the first half of the 1990s. Nirvana was considered the "flagship band of Generation X", and
Cobain found himself reluctantly anointed by the media as the generation's "spokesman".[23] He
resented this, since he believed his artistic message had been misinterpreted by the public.[24]
Cobain struggled to reconcile the massive success of Nirvana with his When you're in the
underground roots and vision. He also felt persecuted by the media, public eye, you have no
comparing himself to Frances Farmer, whom he named a song choice but to be raped
after.[26] He began to harbor resentment against people who claimed over and over again –
to be fans of the band, yet refused to acknowledge, or misinterpreted, they'll take every ounce
the band's social and political views. A vocal opponent of sexism, of blood out of you
racism and homophobia, he was publicly proud that Nirvana had until you're exhausted.
played at a gay rights benefit, supporting No-on-Nine, in Oregon in ... I'm looking forward
1992.[27] The show was held in opposition to Ballot Measure Nine, to the future. It will
which was intended to direct schools in Oregon to teach that only be another year
homosexuality was "abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse".[28] and then everyone will
Cobain was a vocal supporter of the pro-choice movement and forget about it.
Nirvana was involved in L7's Rock for Choice campaign.[29] He
received death threats from a small number of anti-abortion activists
—Kurt Cobain on the
for participating in the pro-choice campaign, with one activist
overwhelming media
threatening to shoot Cobain as soon as he stepped on a stage.[9]: 253 
attention after
Nevermind, 1992[25]
Other collaborations

In 1989, members of Nirvana and fellow American alternative rock band Screaming Trees formed
a side project known as the Jury. The band featured Cobain on vocals and guitar, Mark Lanegan on
vocals, Krist Novoselic on bass and Mark Pickerel on drums. Over two days of recording sessions,
on August 20 and 28, 1989, the band recorded four songs also performed by Lead Belly; "Where
Did You Sleep Last Night?", an instrumental version of "Grey Goose", "Ain't It a Shame" and "They
Hung Him on a Cross"; the latter of which featured Cobain performing solo.[30] Cobain was
inspired to record the songs after receiving a copy of Lead Belly's Last Sessions from friend Slim
Moon; after hearing it he "felt a connection to Leadbelly's almost physical expressions of longing
and desire."[31]

In 1990, Cobain and his girlfriend, Tobi Vail of the riot grrrl band Bikini Kill, collaborated on a
musical project called Bathtub is Real, in which they both sang and played guitar and drums. They
recorded their songs on a four-track tape machine that belonged to Vail's father. In Everett True's
2009 book Nirvana: The Biography, Vail is quoted as saying that Cobain "would play the songs he
was writing, I would play the songs I was writing and we'd record them on my dad's four-track.
Sometimes I'd sing on the songs he was writing and play drums on them ... He was really into the
fact that I was creative and into music. I don't think he'd ever played music with a girl before. He
was super-inspiring and fun to play with."[32] The musician Slim Moon described their sound as
"like the minimal quiet pop songs that Olympia is known for. Both of them sang; it was really
good."[33]

In 1992, Cobain contacted William S. Burroughs about a possible collaboration. Burroughs

responded by sending him a recording of "The Junky's Christmas"[34] (which he recorded in his
studio in Lawrence, Kansas).[35] Two months later at a studio in Seattle, Cobain added guitar
backing based on "Silent Night" and "To Anacreon in Heaven". The two would meet shortly later in
Lawrence, Kansas and produce "The "Priest" They Called Him", a spoken word version of "The
Junky's Christmas".[34][35]

Musical influences
The Beatles were an early and lasting influence on Cobain; his aunt Mari remembers him singing
"Hey Jude" at the age of two.[9]: 9  "My aunts would give me Beatles records", Cobain told Jon
Savage in 1993, "so for the most part [I listened to] the Beatles [as a child], and if I was lucky, I'd
be able to buy a single."[36] Cobain expressed a particular fondness for John Lennon, whom he
called his "idol" in his posthumously released journals,[37] and he said that he wrote the song
"About a Girl", from Nirvana's 1989 debut album Bleach, after spending three hours listening to
Meet the Beatles!.[9]: 121 

Cobain was also a fan of 1970s hard rock and heavy metal bands, including Led Zeppelin, AC/DC,
Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Queen, and Kiss. Nirvana occasionally played cover songs by these
bands, including Led Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker", "Moby Dick" and "Immigrant Song", Black
Sabbath's "Hand of Doom", and Kiss' "Do You Love Me?" and wrote the Incesticide song "Aero
Zeppelin" as a tribute to Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. Recollecting touring with his band, Cobain
stated, "I used to take a nap in the van and listen to Queen. Over and over again and drain the
battery on the van. We'd be stuck with a dead battery because I'd listened to Queen too much".[38]

He was introduced to punk rock and hardcore music by his Aberdeen classmate Buzz Osborne,
lead singer and guitarist of the Melvins, who taught Cobain about punk by loaning him records
and old copies of the Detroit-based magazine Creem.[39] Punk rock proved to be a profound
influence on a teenaged Cobain's attitude and artistic style. His first punk rock album was
Sandinista! by The Clash,[9]: 169  but he became a bigger fan of fellow 1970s British punk band the
Sex Pistols, describing them as "one million times more important than the Clash" in his
journals.[37] He quickly discovered contemporary American hardcore bands like Black Flag, Bad
Brains, Millions of Dead Cops and Flipper.[39] The Melvins themselves were a major early musical
influence on Cobain; his admiration for them led him to drive their van on tour and help them to
carry their equipment.[15]: 42 [5]: 153  He and Novoselic watched hundreds of Melvins rehearsals and
"learned almost everything from them", as stated by Cobain.[40][25] The Melvins' heavy, grungey
sound was mimicked by Nirvana on many songs from Bleach; in an early interview given by
Nirvana, Cobain stated that their biggest fear was to be perceived as a "Melvins rip-off".[9]: 153 
After their commercial success, the members of Nirvana would constantly talk about the Melvins'
importance to them in the press.[41][25]

Cobain was also a fan of protopunk acts like the Stooges, whose 1973 album Raw Power he listed
as his favorite of all time in his journals,[37] and The Velvet Underground, whose 1968 song "Here
She Comes Now" the band covered both live and in the studio.[42]

The 1980s American alternative rock band Pixies were instrumental in helping an adult Cobain
develop his own songwriting style. In a 1992 interview with Melody Maker, Cobain said that
hearing their 1988 debut album, Surfer Rosa, "convinced him to abandon his more Black Flag-
influenced songwriting in favor of the Iggy Pop/Aerosmith–type songwriting that appeared on
Nevermind.[43] In a 1993 interview with Rolling Stone, he said that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was
his attempt at "trying to rip off the Pixies. I have to admit it. When I heard the Pixies for the first
time, I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band—or at least a
Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and
hard".[44]

Cobain's appreciation of early alternative rock bands also extended to Sonic Youth and R.E.M.,
both of which the members of Nirvana befriended and looked up to for advice. It was under
recommendation from Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon that Nirvana signed to DGC in 1990,[7]: 162  and
both bands did a two-week tour of Europe in the summer of 1991, as documented in the 1992
documentary, 1991: The Year Punk Broke. In 1993, Cobain said of R.E.M.: "If I could write just a
couple of songs as good as what they've written... I don't know how that band does what they do.
God, they're the greatest. They've dealt with their success like saints, and they keep delivering
great music".[44]
After attaining mainstream success, Cobain became a devoted champion of lesser known indie
bands, covering songs by The Vaselines, Meat Puppets, Wipers and Fang onstage and/or in the
studio, wearing Daniel Johnston T-shirts during photo shoots, having the K Records logo tattooed
on his forearm, and enlisting bands like Butthole Surfers, Shonen Knife, Chokebore and Half
Japanese along for the In Utero tour in late 1993 and early 1994. Cobain even invited his favorite
musicians to perform with him: ex-Germs guitarist Pat Smear joined the band in 1993, and the
Meat Puppets appeared onstage during Nirvana's 1993 MTV Unplugged appearance to perform
three songs from their second album, Meat Puppets II.

Nirvana's Unplugged set includes renditions of "The Man Who Sold the World", by David Bowie,
and the American folk song, "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", as adapted by Lead Belly. Cobain
introduced the latter by calling Lead Belly his favorite performer, and in a 1993 interview revealed
he had been introduced to him from reading the American author William S. Burroughs, saying: "I
remember [Burroughs] saying in an interview, 'These new rock'n'roll kids should just throw away
their guitars and listen to something with real soul, like Leadbelly.' I'd never heard about Leadbelly
before so I bought a couple of records, and now he turns out to be my absolute favorite of all time
in music. I absolutely love it more than any rock'n'roll I ever heard."[45] The album MTV
Unplugged in New York was released posthumously in 1994. It has drawn comparisons to
R.E.M.'s 1992 release, Automatic for the People.[46] In 1993, Cobain had predicted that the next
Nirvana album would be "pretty ethereal, acoustic, like R.E.M.'s last album".[44]

"Yeah, he talked a lot about what direction he was heading in", Cobain's friend, R.E.M.'s lead
singer Michael Stipe, told Newsweek in 1994. "I mean, I know what the next Nirvana recording
was going to sound like. It was going to be very quiet and acoustic, with lots of stringed
instruments. It was going to be an amazing fucking record, and I'm a little bit angry at him for
killing himself. He and I were going to record a trial run of the album, a demo tape. It was all set
up. He had a plane ticket. He had a car picking him up. And at the last minute he called and said, 'I
can't come.' " Stipe was chosen as the godfather of Cobain's and Courtney Love's daughter, Frances
Bean Cobain.[47]

Artistry
According to Grohl, Cobain believed that music comes first and lyrics second; he focused primarily
on the melodies.[48] He complained when fans and rock journalists attempted to decipher his
singing and extract meaning from his lyrics, writing: "Why in the hell do journalists insist on
coming up with a second-rate Freudian evaluation of my lyrics, when 90 percent of the time
they've transcribed them incorrectly?"[9]: 182  Though Cobain insisted on the subjectivity and
unimportance of his lyrics, he labored and procrastinated in writing them, often changing the
content and order of lyrics during performances.[9]: 177  Cobain would describe his own lyrics as "a
big pile of contradictions. They're split down the middle between very sincere opinions that I have
and sarcastic opinions and feelings that I have and sarcastic and hopeful, humorous rebuttals
toward cliché bohemian ideals that have been exhausted for years."[49]

Cobain originally wanted Nevermind to be divided into two sides: a "Boy" side, for the songs
written about the experiences of his early life and childhood, and a "Girl" side, for the songs
written about his dysfunctional relationship with Vail.[9]: 177  Charles R. Cross wrote: "In the four
months following their break-up, Kurt would write a half dozen of his most memorable songs, all
of them about Tobi Vail." Though Cobain wrote "Lithium" before meeting Vail, he wrote the lyrics
to reference her.[9]: 168–169  Cobain said in an interview with Musician that "some of my very
personal experiences, like breaking up with girlfriends and having bad relationships, feeling that
death void that the person in the song is feeling. Very lonely, sick."[50] While Cobain regarded In
Utero as "for the most part very impersonal",[51] its lyrics deal with his parents' divorce, his
newfound fame and the public image and perception of himself and Courtney Love on "Serve the
Servants", with his enamored relationship with Love conveyed
through lyrical themes of pregnancy and the female anatomy on
"Heart-Shaped Box". Cobain wrote "Rape Me" as an objective
discussion of rape. He wrote about fame, drug addiction and abortion
on "Pennyroyal Tea", as well as women's rights and the life of Seattle-
born Farmer on "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle".

Cobain was affected enough to write "Polly" from Nevermind after

reading a newspaper story of an incident in 1987, when a 14-year-old
girl was kidnapped after attending a punk rock show then raped and
tortured with a blowtorch. She escaped after gaining the trust of her
captor Gerald Friend through flirting with him.[9]: 136  After seeing
Nirvana perform, Bob Dylan cited "Polly" as the best of Nirvana's
songs, and said of Cobain, "the kid has heart".[9]: 137  Patrick Süskind's
novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer inspired Cobain to write the
song "Scentless Apprentice" from In Utero. The book is a historical
horror novel about a perfumer's apprentice born with no body odor of
his own but with a highly developed sense of smell, and who attempts
to create the "ultimate perfume" by killing virginal women and taking
their scent.[52] The Lake Placid Blue
Fender Mustang played by
Cobain immersed himself in artistic projects throughout his life, as Kurt Cobain during the
much so as he did in songwriting. The sentiments of his art work filming of the video for
followed the same subjects of his lyrics, often expressed through a "Smells Like Teen Spirit",
dark and macabre sense of humor. Noted were his fascination with shown at the Museum of
physiology, his own rare medical conditions, and the human anatomy. Pop Culture in Seattle
According to Novoselic, "Kurt said that he never liked literal things.
He liked cryptic things. He would cut out pictures of meat from
grocery-store fliers, then paste these orchids on them ... And all this stuff on [In Utero] about the
body – there was something about anatomy. He really liked that. You look at his art – there are
these people, and they're all weird, like mutants. And dolls – creepy dolls."[53] Often unable to
afford artistic resources, Cobain improvised with materials, painting on board games and album
sleeves, and painting with an array of substances, including his own bodily fluids. The artwork
seen in his Journals later drew acclaim. Many of Cobain's paintings, collages, and sculptures
appeared in the artwork of Nirvana's albums, such as the covers of Incesticide and In Utero. His
concepts featured in Nirvana's music videos, sometimes leading to arguments with the video
producers.

Cobain contributed backing guitar for a spoken word recording of beat poet William S. Burroughs'
entitled The "Priest" They Called Him.[9]: 301  Cobain regarded Burroughs as a hero. During
Nirvana's European tour Cobain kept a copy of Burroughs' Naked Lunch, purchased from a
London bookstall.[9]: 189–190  Cobain met with Burroughs at his home in Lawrence, Kansas in
October 1993. Burroughs expressed no surprise at Cobain's death: "It wasn't an act of will for Kurt
to kill himself. As far as I was concerned, he was dead already."[54]

Personal life

Relationships and family

There are differing accounts of exactly when and how Kurt Cobain first met Courtney Love. In his
1993 authorized biography of Nirvana Michael Azerrad cites a January 21, 1989 Dharma Bums gig
in Portland where Nirvana played as support,[55] while the Charles R. Cross 2001 Cobain
biography has Love and Cobain meeting at the same Satyricon nightclub venue in Portland but a
different Nirvana show, January 12, 1990,[56][9]: 201  when both still led
ardent underground rock bands.[57] Love made advances soon after
they met, but Cobain was evasive. Early in their interactions, Cobain
broke off dates and ignored Love's advances because he was unsure if
he wanted a relationship. Cobain noted, "I was determined to be a
bachelor for a few months [...] But I knew that I liked Courtney so
much right away that it was a really hard struggle to stay away from
her for so many months."[7]: 172–173  Everett True, who was an
associate of both Cobain and Love, disputes those versions of events
in his 2006 book, claiming that he himself introduced the couple on
May 17, 1991.[58][59]

Cobain was already aware of Love through her role in the 1987 film
Straight to Hell. According to True, the pair were formally introduced
at an L7 and Butthole Surfers concert in Los Angeles in May 1991.[60]
In the weeks that followed, after learning from Grohl that Cobain
shared mutual interests with her, Love began pursuing Cobain. In late
1991, the two were often together and bonded through drug use.[7]: 172 

On February 24, 1992, a few days after the conclusion of Nirvana's

"Pacific Rim" tour, Cobain and Love were married on Waikiki Beach
in Hawaii. Love wore a satin and lace dress once owned by Frances
Farmer, and Cobain donned a Guatemalan purse and wore green
pajamas, because he had been "too lazy to put on a tux." Eight people
were in attendance at the ceremony, including Grohl.[61] Love said she
Cobain's model of Fender
was warned by the Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon that marrying Jaguar
Cobain would "destroy her life"; Love responded: "'Whatever! I love
him, and I want to be with him!' ... It wasn't his fault. He wasn't trying
to do that."[57]

The couple's daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, was born August 18, 1992.[62] A sonogram was
included in the artwork for Nirvana's single, "Lithium".[63] In a 1992 Vanity Fair article, Love
admitted to a drug binge with Cobain in the early weeks of her pregnancy.[64] At the time, she
claimed that Vanity Fair had misquoted her. Love later admitted to using heroin before knowing
she was pregnant.[62][65] The couple were asked by the press if Frances was addicted to drugs at
birth.[7] The Los Angeles County Department of Children's Services visited the Cobains days after
Love gave birth and later took them to court, stating that their drug usage made them unfit
parents.[7][66][67]

Sexuality

In October 1992, when asked, "Well, are you gay?" by Monk Magazine, Cobain replied, "If I wasn't
attracted to Courtney, I'd be a bisexual."[68] In another interview, he described identifying with the
gay community in The Advocate, stating, "I'm definitely gay in spirit and I probably could be
bisexual" and "if I wouldn't have found Courtney, I probably would have carried on with a bisexual
life-style", but also that he was "more sexually attracted to women".[69][70] He described himself as
being "feminine" in childhood, and often wore dresses and other stereotypically feminine clothing.
Some of his song lyrics, as well as phrases he would use to vandalize vehicles and a bank, included
"God is gay",[69] "Jesus is gay", "HOMOSEXUAL SEX RULES",[69] and "Everyone is gay". One of
his personal journals states, "I am not gay, although I wish I were, just to piss off homophobes."[37]
Cobain advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, including traveling to Oregon to perform at a benefit
opposing the 1992 Oregon Ballot Measure 9,[69] and supported local bands with LGBTQ+
members. He reported having felt "different" from the age of seven, and was a frequent target of
homophobic bullying in his school due to his having a "gay friend".[71] Cobain was interviewed by
two gay magazines, Out and The Advocate;[72] the 1993 interview with The Advocate being
described as "the only [interview] the band's lead singer says he plans to do for Incesticide",[69] an
album whose liner notes included a statement decrying homophobia, racism and misogyny:[69]

If any of you in any way hate homosexuals, people of different color, or women, please
do this one favor for us—leave us the fuck alone! Don't come to our shows and don't
buy our records.

Health and addiction

Throughout most of his life, Cobain suffered from chronic bronchitis and intense physical pain due
to an undiagnosed chronic stomach condition.[7]: 66  According to The Telegraph, Cobain had
depression.[73] His cousin brought attention to the family history of suicide, mental illness and
alcoholism, noting that two of her uncles had died by suicide with guns.[74]

He used drugs heavily; his first drug experience was with cannabis in 1980, at age 13. He regularly
used the drug during adulthood.[9]: 76  Cobain also had a period of consuming "notable" amounts of
LSD, as observed by Marander,[9]: 75  and was prone to alcoholism and solvent abuse.[9] Novoselic
said he was "really into getting fucked up: drugs, acid, any kind of drug".[9]: 76  Cobain first took
heroin in 1986, administered to him by a dealer in Tacoma, Washington, who had previously
supplied him with oxycodone and aspirin.[7]: 41  Cobain used heroin sporadically for several years;
by the end of 1990, his use had developed into addiction. Cobain claimed that he was "determined
to get a habit" as a way to self-medicate his stomach condition. "It started with three days in a row
of doing heroin and I don't have a stomach pain. That was such a relief," he said.[7]: 236  However,
his longtime friend Buzz Osborne disputes this, saying that his stomach pain was more likely
caused by his heroin use: "He made it up for sympathy and so he could use it as an excuse to stay
loaded. Of course he was vomiting—that's what people on heroin do, they vomit. It's called
'vomiting with a smile on your face'."[75]

Cobain's heroin use began to affect Nirvana's Nevermind tour. During a 1992 photoshoot with
Michael Lavine, he fell asleep several times, having used heroin beforehand. Cobain told
biographer Michael Azerrad: "They're not going to be able to tell me to stop. So I really didn't care.
Obviously to them it was like practicing witchcraft or something. They didn't know anything about
it so they thought that any second, I was going to die."[7]: 241 

The morning after the band's performance on Saturday Night Live in 1992, Cobain experienced
his first near-death overdose after injecting heroin; Love resuscitated him.[76] Prior to a
performance at the New Music Seminar in New York City on July 23, 1993, Cobain suffered
another overdose. Rather than calling for an ambulance, Love injected Cobain with naloxone to
resuscitate him. Cobain proceeded to perform with Nirvana, giving the public no indication that
anything had happened.[9]: 296–297 

Death
Following a tour stop at Terminal Eins in Munich, Germany, on March 1, 1994, Cobain was
diagnosed with bronchitis and severe laryngitis. He flew to Rome the next day for medical
treatment, and was joined there by his wife, Courtney Love, on March 3, 1994. The next morning,
Love awoke to find that Cobain had overdosed on a
combination of champagne and Rohypnol. Cobain was rushed
to the hospital and was unconscious for the rest of the day.
After five days, Cobain was released and returned to Seattle.[6]
Love later said that the incident was Cobain's first suicide
attempt.[77]

On March 18, 1994, Love phoned the Seattle police informing

them that Cobain was suicidal and had locked himself in a
room with a gun. Police arrived and confiscated several guns
and a bottle of pills from Cobain, who insisted that he was not
suicidal and had locked himself in the room to hide from
Love.[78]

Love arranged an intervention regarding Cobain's drug use on

March 25, 1994. The ten people involved included musician
friends, record company executives, and one of Cobain's
closest friends, Dylan Carlson. Cobain reacted with anger,
insulting and heaping scorn on the participants, and locked
Cobain's suicide note. The final
himself in the upstairs bedroom. However, by the end of the phrase before the valediction, "It's
day, Cobain agreed to undergo a detox program.[79] Cobain better to burn out than to fade
arrived at the Exodus Recovery Center in Los Angeles on away", is a quote from the lyrics of
March 30, 1994. Staff members were unaware of Cobain's Neil Young's song "My My, Hey Hey
history of depression and suicide attempts. When he was (Out of the Blue)".
visited by friends, they saw no indication that Cobain was in a
negative state of mind. He spent the day talking to counselors
about his drug abuse and personal problems, happily playing with his daughter Frances. These
interactions were the last time Cobain saw his daughter.[80]

The following night, Cobain walked outside to have a cigarette and climbed over a six-foot-high
fence to leave the facility (which he had joked earlier in the day would be a stupid feat to attempt).
He took a taxi to Los Angeles Airport and flew back to Seattle. On the flight, he sat near Duff
McKagan of Guns N' Roses. Despite Cobain's animosity towards Guns N' Roses, Cobain "seemed
happy" to see McKagan. McKagan later said that he knew from "all of my instincts that something
was wrong".[9]: 331  Most of Cobain's friends and family were unaware of his whereabouts. On April
2 and 3, Cobain was spotted in numerous locations around Seattle. On April 3, Love hired private
investigator Tom Grant to find Cobain. Cobain was not seen the next day. On April 7, amid rumors
of Nirvana breaking up, the band pulled out of the 1994 Lollapalooza festival.[81]

On April 8,[82] Cobain's body was discovered at his Lake

Washington Boulevard home by electrician Gary Smith,[83]
who had arrived to install a security system. Apart from a small
amount of blood coming out of Cobain's ear, the electrician
reported no visible signs of trauma and initially believed that
Cobain was asleep until he saw the shotgun pointing at his
chin. A suicide note was found, addressed to Cobain's
childhood imaginary friend Boddah, that stated that Cobain
had not "felt the excitement of listening to as well as creating Cobain's former home, and the site
music, along with really writing ... for too many years now". A of his death.
high concentration of heroin and traces of diazepam were also
found in his body. Although conductor David Woodard had
built a Dreamachine for Cobain,[84]: 355–366  reports that Cobain had been using the device
excessively in the days leading up to his suicide were contradicted by later findings.[85][86]
Cobain's body had been there for days; the coroner's report estimated he died on April 5, 1994, at
the age of 27.[87]

Aftermath

A public vigil was held on April 10, 1994, at a park at Seattle Center, drawing approximately 7,000
mourners.[7]: 346  Prerecorded messages by Novoselic and Love were played at the memorial. Love
read portions of the suicide note to the crowd, crying and chastising Cobain. Near the end of the
vigil, Love distributed some of Cobain's clothing to those who remained.[7]: 350  Grohl said that the
news of Cobain's death was "probably the worst thing that has happened to me in my life. I
remember the day after that I woke up and I was heartbroken that he was gone. I just felt like,
'Okay, so I get to wake up today and have another day and he doesn't.'"[88][89][90]

Billboard, reporting from Seattle on April 23, 1994, stated that within a few hours of Cobain's
death being confirmed on April 8, the only remaining Nirvana titles at Park Ave Records on Queen
Ann Street were two "Heart-Shaped Box" import CD singles. A marketing director at the three-
store Cellophane Square chain said that "all three stores sold about a few hundred CDs, singles,
and vinyl by the morning of April 9". A buyer at Tower Records on Mercer Street said: "It's a
pathetic scene, everything is going out the door. If people were really fans, they would've had this
stuff already."[91] In the United Kingdom, sales of Nirvana releases rose dramatically immediately
after Cobain's death.[92]

Grohl believed that he knew Cobain would die at an early age, saying that "sometimes you just
can't save someone from themselves", and "in some ways, you kind of prepare yourself emotionally
for that to be a reality".[93] Dave Reed, who for a short time had been Cobain's foster father, said
that "he had the desperation, not the courage, to be himself. Once you do that, you can't go wrong,
because you can't make any mistakes when people love you for being yourself. But for Kurt, it
didn't matter that other people loved him; he simply didn't love himself enough."[9]: 351 

A final ceremony was arranged by Cobain's mother on May 31, 1999, and was attended by Love
and Tracy Marander. As a Buddhist monk chanted, daughter Frances Bean scattered Cobain's
ashes into McLane Creek in Olympia, the city where he "had found his true artistic muse".[9]: 351  In
2006, Love said she retained Cobain's ashes, kept in a bank vault in Los Angeles because "no
cemetery in Seattle will take them".[57]

Cobain's death became a topic of public fascination and

debate.[94] His artistic endeavors and struggles with addiction,
illness and depression, as well as the circumstances of his
death, have become a frequent topic of controversy. According
to a spokesperson for the Seattle Police Department, the
department receives at least one weekly request to reopen the
investigation, resulting in the maintenance of the basic
incident report on file.[95]

In March 2014, the Seattle police developed four rolls of film A bench in Viretta Park, through
that had been left in an evidence vault; no reason was provided tribute graffiti, has become an
for why the rolls were not developed earlier. According to the improvised memorial to Cobain
Seattle police, the 35mm film photographs show the scene of
Cobain's dead body more clearly than previous Polaroid
images taken by the police. Detective Mike Ciesynski, a cold case investigator, was instructed to
look at the film because "it is 20 years later and it's a high media case". Ciesynski stated that
Cobain's death remains a suicide and that the images would not have been released publicly.[95]
The photos in question were later released, one by one, weeks before the 20th anniversary of
Cobain's death. One photo shows Cobain's arm, still wearing the hospital bracelet from the drug
rehab facility he had left just a few days prior to returning to Seattle. Another photo shows
Cobain's foot resting next to a bag of shotgun shells, one of which was used in his death.[96]

Legacy and influence

Cobain is remembered as one of the most influential rock
musicians in the history of alternative music.[97] His angst-
fueled songwriting[98] and anti-establishment persona[99] led
him to be referenced as the spokesman of Generation X. In
addition, Cobain's songs widened the themes[100] of
mainstream rock music of the 1980s to discussion of personal
reflection and social issues.[101] On April 10, 2014, Nirvana was
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Grohl, Novoselic
and Love accepted the accolade at the ceremony, where Cobain
A minibus in Nepal with a portrait of
was also remembered.[102] Cobain is one of the best-known Kurt Cobain on rear window
members of the 27 Club,[103] a list of musicians who died when
they were 27 years old.

Music & Media reporting on April 23, 1994, after Cobain had died, stated that Jorgen Larsen, the
president of MCA Music Entertainment International was asked where he thought Cobain stood in
terms of his contribution to contemporary music, and Larsen replied that "If anybody comes out of
nowhere to sell 11 or 12 million albums you have to conclude that there's something there. He
wasn't just a one-hit wonder".[104]

According to music journalist Paul Lester, who worked at Melody Maker at the time, Cobain's
suicide triggered an immediate reappraisal of his work. He wrote: "The general impression offered
by In Utero was that Cobain was some kind of whiny, self-absorbed, grunge, misery guts who
could make routinely powerful music but was hardly a suffering godhead. You could almost hear a
collective sigh of relief after April 5, 1994 that Cobain could no longer further sully his reputation;
that the myth-making machinery could finally be cranked into action."[105]

Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins referred to Cobain as "the Michael Jordan of our
generation",[106] and said that Cobain opened the door for everyone in the 1990s alternative rock
scene.[107] Lars Ulrich of Metallica reflected on Cobain's influence stating that "with Kurt Cobain
you felt you were connecting to the real person, not to a perception of who he was — you were not
connecting to an image or a manufactured cut-out. You felt that between you and him there was
nothing — it was heart-to-heart. There are very few people who have that ability."[108] In 1996, the
Church of Kurt Cobain was established in Portland, Oregon,[109][110] but it was later claimed by
some media outlets to have been a media hoax.[111][112] Reflecting on Cobain's death over 10 years
later, MSNBC's Eric Olsen wrote, "In the intervening decade, Cobain, a small, frail but handsome
man in life, has become an abstract Generation X icon, viewed by many as the 'last real rock star' ...
a messiah and martyr whose every utterance has been plundered and parsed."[113]

In 2003, David Fricke of Rolling Stone ranked Cobain the 12th greatest guitarist of all time.[114] He
was later ranked the 73rd greatest guitarist and 45th greatest singer of all time by the same
magazine,[115][116] and by MTV as seventh in the "22 Greatest Voices in Music".[117] In 2006, he
was placed at number twenty by Hit Parader on their list of the "100 Greatest Metal Singers of All
Time".[118]
In 2005, a sign was put up in Aberdeen, Washington, that read
"Welcome to Aberdeen  – Come As You Are" as a tribute to
Cobain. The sign was paid for and created by the Kurt Cobain
Memorial Committee, a non-profit organization created in May
2004 to honor Cobain. The Committee planned to create a
Kurt Cobain Memorial Park and a youth center in Aberdeen.
Because Cobain was cremated and his remains scattered into
the Wishkah River in Washington, many Nirvana fans visit
Viretta Park, near Cobain's former Lake Washington home to In 2005, a sign was put up in
pay tribute. On the anniversary of his death, fans gather in the Aberdeen, Washington, that reads
park to celebrate his life and memory.[119] Controversy erupted "Welcome to Aberdeen – Come As
in July 2009 when a monument to Cobain in Aberdeen along You Are" as a tribute to Cobain
the Wishkah River included the quote "... Drugs are bad for
you. They will fuck you up." The city ultimately decided to
sandblast the monument to replace the expletive with "f---",[120] but fans immediately drew the
letters back in.[121] In December 2013, the small city of Hoquiam, where Cobain once lived,
announced that April 10 would become the annual Nirvana Day.[122] Similarly, in January 2014,
Cobain's birthday, February 20, was declared annual "Kurt Cobain Day" in Aberdeen.[122]

In June 2020, the 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic-electric guitar used by Cobain for Nirvana's MTV
Unplugged performance sold at auction for $6,010,000. It was the most expensive guitar and the
most expensive piece of band memorabilia ever sold.[123] In April 2021, around the 27th
anniversary of Cobain’s death, American musician Kid Cudi (a fan of Cobain) performed his Man
on the Moon III: The Chosen album cuts "Tequila Shots" and "Sad People" on Saturday Night
Live, where he wore a green sweater and later a dress in tribute to Cobain.[124] In July 2021, the
Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation confirmed that Cobain's
childhood home in Aberdeen as a historic landmark will be included on their Heritage Register
and that the owner of the property would be making it into an exhibit for people to visit.[125][126] In
May 2022, Cobain's Lake Placid Blue Fender Mustang guitar sold at auction for $4.5 million to
Jim Irsay, making it the most valuable electric guitar ever sold and the second-most-valuable
guitar overall; only Cobain's Martin D-18E acoustic-electric guitar was more valuable when it sold
for $6 million in 2020.[127]

Media

Books

Prior to Cobain's death, Michael Azerrad published Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana, a
book chronicling Nirvana's career from its beginning, as well as the personal histories of the band
members. The book explored Cobain's drug addiction, as well as the countless controversies
surrounding the band. After Cobain's death, Azerrad republished the book to include a final
chapter discussing the last year of Cobain's life. The book involved the band members themselves,
who provided interviews and personal information to Azerrad specifically for the book. In 2006,
Azerrad's taped conversations with Cobain were transformed into a documentary about Cobain,
titled Kurt Cobain: About a Son. Though this film does not feature any music by Nirvana, it has
songs by the artists that inspired Cobain.

Journalists Ian Halperin and Max Wallace published their investigation of any possible conspiracy
surrounding Cobain's death in their 1999 book Who Killed Kurt Cobain?. Halperin and Wallace
argued that, while there was not enough evidence to prove a conspiracy, there was more than
enough to demand that the case be reopened.[128] The book included the journalists' discussions
with Tom Grant, who had taped nearly every conversation that he had undertaken while he was in
Love's employ. Over the next several years, Halperin and Wallace collaborated with Grant to write
a second book, 2004's Love and Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain.

In 2001, writer Charles R. Cross published a biography of Cobain, titled Heavier Than Heaven.
For the book, Cross conducted over 400 interviews, and was given access by Courtney Love to
Cobain's journals, lyrics, and diaries.[129] Cross' biography was met with criticism, including
allegations of Cross accepting secondhand (and incorrect) information as fact.[130] Friend Everett
True – who derided the book as being inaccurate, omissive, and highly biased – said Heavier than
Heaven was "the Courtney-sanctioned version of history"[131] or, alternatively, Cross's "Oh, I think
I need to find the new Bruce Springsteen now" Kurt Cobain book.[132] However, beyond the
criticism, the book contained details about Cobain and Nirvana's career that would have otherwise
been unnoted. In 2008, Cross published Cobain Unseen, a compilation of annotated photographs
and creations and writings by Cobain throughout his life and career.[133]

In 2002, a sampling of Cobain's writings was published as Journals. The book fills 280 pages with
a simple black cover; the pages are arranged somewhat chronologically (although Cobain generally
did not date them). The journal pages are reproduced in color, and there is a section added at the
back with explanations and transcripts of some of the less legible pages. The writings begin in the
late 1980s and were continued until his death. A paperback version of the book, released in 2003,
included a handful of writings that were not offered in the initial release. In the journals, Cobain
talked about the ups and downs of life on the road, made lists of what music he was enjoying, and
often scribbled down lyric ideas for future reference. Upon its release, reviewers and fans were
conflicted about the collection. Many were elated to be able to learn more about Cobain and read
his inner thoughts in his own words, but were disturbed by what was viewed as an invasion of his
privacy.[134]

In 2009, ECW Press released a book titled Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock
Music. Written by Greg Prato, the book explored the history of grunge in detail, touching upon
Nirvana and Cobain's life and death via interviews with former bandmates, friends, and various
grunge-era contemporaries. A picture of Cobain from the Bleach era is used for the book's front
cover, and its title comes from a shirt that Cobain was once photographed
wearing.[135][136][137][138]

Cobain was also apparently 'the biggest influence' on the 2020 novel Dead Rock Stars, by the
English author Guy Mankowski, particularly given Cobain's "message of feminism". Of the
musician, Mankowski said, "I think he raised the consciousness."[139]

Film and television

In the 1998 documentary Kurt & Courtney, filmmaker Nick Broomfield investigated Tom Grant's
claim that Cobain was actually murdered. He took a film crew to visit a number of people
associated with Cobain and Love; Love's father, Cobain's aunt, and one of the couple's former
nannies. Broomfield also spoke to Mentors bandleader Eldon "El Duce" Hoke, who claimed Love
offered him $50,000 to kill Cobain. Although Hoke claimed he knew who killed Cobain, he failed
to mention a name, and offered no evidence to support his assertion. Broomfield inadvertently
captured Hoke's last interview, as he died days later, reportedly hit by a train. However,
Broomfield felt he had not uncovered enough evidence to conclude the existence of a conspiracy.
In a 1998 interview, Broomfield summed it up by saying:

I think that he committed suicide. I don't think there's a smoking gun. And I think
there's only one way you can explain a lot of things around his death. Not that he was
murdered, but that there was just a lack of caring for him. I just think that Courtney
 had moved on, and he was expendable.[140]

Broomfield's documentary was noted by The New York Times to be a rambling, largely speculative
and circumstantial work, relying on flimsy evidence as was his later documentary Biggie &
Tupac.[141]

Gus Van Sant loosely based his 2005 movie Last Days on the events in the final days of Cobain's
life, starring Michael Pitt as the main character Blake who was based on Cobain.[142] In January
2007, Love began to shop the biography Heavier Than Heaven to various movie studios in
Hollywood to turn the book into an A-list feature film about Cobain and Nirvana.[143]

A Brett Morgen film, entitled Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, premiered at the Sundance Film
Festival in January 2015, followed by small-screen and cinema releases.[144] Morgen said that
documentary "will be this generation's The Wall".[145]

Soaked in Bleach is a 2015 American docudrama directed by Benjamin Statler. The film details the
events leading up to the death of Kurt Cobain, as seen through the perspective of Tom Grant, the
private detective who was hired by Courtney Love to find Cobain, her husband, shortly before his
death in 1994. It also explores the premise that Cobain's death was not a suicide. The film stars
Tyler Bryan as Cobain and Daniel Roebuck as Grant, with Sarah Scott portraying Courtney Love
and August Emerson as Dylan Carlson.[146] Love's legal team issued a cease-and-desist letter
against theaters showing the documentary.[147]

Regarding the depiction of Nirvana, and in particular Kurt Cobain, the indie rock author Andrew
Earles wrote:

Never has a rock band's past been so retroactively distorted into an irreversible fiction
by incessant mythologizing, conjecture, wild speculation, and romanticizing rhetoric.
The Cobain biographical narrative – specifically in regard to the culturally
irresponsible mishandling of subjects such as drug abuse, depression, and suicide – is
now impenetrable with inaccurate and overcooked connectivity between that which is
completely unrelated, too chronologically disparate, or just plain untrue.

— Andrew Earles[148]

Matt Reeves' film The Batman depicts a version of Bruce Wayne, performed by Robert Pattinson,
that was loosely inspired by Cobain. Reeves stated, "when I write, I listen to music, and as I was
writing the first act, I put on Nirvana's 'Something in the Way,' that's when it came to me that,
rather than make Bruce Wayne the playboy version we've seen before, there's another version who
had gone through a great tragedy and become a recluse. So I started making this connection to Gus
Van Sant's Last Days, and the idea of this fictionalised version of Kurt Cobain being in this kind of
decaying manor."[149] "Something in the Way" was used in trailers to promote The Batman prior
to its release and is featured twice in the film.[150][151]

Theatre

In September 2009, the Roy Smiles play Kurt and Sid debuted at the Trafalgar Studios in
London's West End. The play, set in Cobain's greenhouse on the day of his suicide, revolves around
the ghost of Sid Vicious visiting Cobain to try to convince him not to kill himself. Cobain was
played by Shaun Evans.[152]
Video games

Cobain was included as a playable character in the 2009 video game Guitar Hero 5; he can be used
to play songs by Nirvana and other acts. Novoselic and Grohl released a statement condemning the
inclusion and urging the developer, Activision, to alter it, saying they had no control over the use
of Cobain's likeness. Love denied that she had given permission, saying it was "the result of a cabal
of a few assholes' greed", and threatened to sue. The vice-president of Activision said that Love had
contributed photos and videos to the development and had been "great to work with".[153]

Discography

Nirvana

For a complete list of all Nirvana releases see Nirvana discography

Bleach (1989)
Nevermind (1991)
In Utero (1993)

Posthumous albums

Kurt Cobain albums

Chart positions
BE BE
Title Album details US
(Ultratop (Ultratop ES
FR
ITL
NL
SWI
UK

[154] Flanders)
Wallonia)
[157] [158] [159] [160] [161] [162]
[155] [156]

Released:
November 13, 2015
Montage of Heck: The Label: Universal 121 42 78 94 65 47 51 47 51
Home Recordings Music
Formats: CD, LP,
cassette (CS)

Posthumous singles

Kurt Cobain singles

Peak chart
positions
Song Year US
UK
Album
(physical (physical
sales)
sales)

[163] [164]

"And I Love Her"/"Sappy" 2015 2 2 Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings

Posthumous videos
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (DVD and Blu-ray) (2015)
Collaborations

Musical collaborations of Kurt Cobain

Release Artist Year Comments
"Where
Did You
Sleep
Last In 1989, members of Nirvana and fellow band Screaming Trees formed a side
Night?" project known as the Jury (a Lead Belly cover band).[30]

"Grey "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" was later released on Mark
Goose"
The Jury 1989 Lanegan’s album, The Winding Sheet, in 1990.[165] "Grey Goose",
"Ain't It "Ain't It a Shame" and "They Hung Him on a Cross" were later
a
Shame"
released on Nirvana's B-sides collection, With the Lights Out, in
2004.[165]
"They
Hung
Him on
a Cross"
"Scratch
It Out" / The Go
1989
"Bikini Team
Twilight"
The
Mark Background vocals on "Down in the Dark" and guitar on "Where Did You Sleep
Winding
Lanegan Last Night".
Sheet
1990
Lead vocals for song "Divine Bright Extraction"[166] and backing vocals for "A
Earth's
demo
Earth Bureaucratic Desire For Revenge".[167] Lead vocals for a cover song "Private
Affair" (original by The Saints), but that was never released.[168]
The
William S.
"Priest"
Burroughs
They Background guitar noise.
and Kurt 1993
Called
Cobain
Him
Houdini Melvins Co-producer, Guitar on "Sky Pup" and percussion on "Spread Eagle Beagle".

References
1. Petridis, Alexis (June 20, 2019). "Nirvana's 20 greatest songs – ranked!" (https://www.theguard
ian.com/music/2019/jun/20/nirvanas-20-greatest-songs-ranked). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-
3077 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200
605091801/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/20/nirvanas-20-greatest-songs-ranke
d) from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
2. Shoup, Brad (March 24, 2022). " 'I Will Crawl Away For Good': 20 Years Ago, Nirvana
Reconquered Modern Rock With an Uncanny Old New Song" (https://www.billboard.com/musi
c/rock/nirvana-you-know-youre-right-2002-1235048578/). Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
3. Mazullo, Mark (2000). "The Man Whom the World Sold: Kurt Cobain, Rock's Progressive
Aesthetic, and the Challenges of Authenticity". The Musical Quarterly. Oxford University Press.
84 (4): 713–749. doi:10.1093/mq/84.4.713 (https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmq%2F84.4.713).
JSTOR 742606 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/742606).
4. Hirschberg, Lynn. "Strange Love: The Story of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love" (https://www.v
anityfair.com/hollywood/2016/03/love-story-of-kurt-cobain-courtney-love). HWD. Archived (http
s://archive.today/20161215104313/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/03/love-story-of-k
urt-cobain-courtney-love) from the original on December 15, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
5. Cross, Charles (2008). Cobain Unseen. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 978-0-316-03372-5.
 6. Halperin, Ian; Wallace, Max (1998). Who Killed Kurt Cobain? (https://books.google.com/book
s?id=DsDU2DsewtYC&q=Who+Killed+Kurt+Cobain%3F). New York City: Birch Lane Press.
ISBN 1-55972-446-3. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210423192012/https://books.go
ogle.com/books?id=DsDU2DsewtYC&q=Who+Killed+Kurt+Cobain%3F) from the original on
April 23, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
7. Azerrad, Michael (1993). Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. New York City: Knopf
Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-47199-8.
8. Addams Reitwiesner, William. "Ancestry of Frances Bean Cobain" (http://www.wargs.com/othe
r/cobain.html). Wargs.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20120212180909/http://ww
w.wargs.com/other/cobain.html) from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved April 8,
2012.
9. Cross, Charles R. (2001). Heavier Than Heaven. New York City: Hyperion Books. ISBN 0-
7868-6505-9.
10. Fox, Aine (March 24, 2010). "Nirvana legend Kurt Cobain's roots traced to Co Tyrone" (http://w
ww.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/nirvana-legend-kurt-cobains-roots-traced-to-co-t
yrone-28528834.html). Belfast Telegraph. Belfast, northern Ireland: Independent News &
Media. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20131102033619/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.
uk/news/local-national/nirvana-legend-kurt-cobains-roots-traced-to-co-tyrone-28528834.html)
from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
11. Savage, Jon (August 15, 1993). "Sounds Dirty: The Truth About Nirvana. By Jon Savage :
Articles, reviews and interviews from Rock's Backpages" (http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Libr
ary/Article/sounds-dirty-the-truth-about-nirvana). Rocksbackpages.com. Archived (https://web.
archive.org/web/20131101210624/http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/sounds-dirty
-the-truth-about-nirvana) from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
12. Audrey Davies. "The Visual Art of 8 More Famous Musicians – Part 2" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20150219063106/http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2011/10/04/the-visual-art-of-8-more
-famous-musicians-part-2/#sthash.S59n7oU7.dpbs). Rock Cellar Magazine. Archived from the
original (http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2011/10/04/the-visual-art-of-8-more-famous-musi
cians-part-2/#sthash.S59n7oU7.dpbs) on February 19, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
13. "In Which We Discard A Heart-Shaped Box" (http://thisrecording.com/today/2011/9/19/in-which
-we-discard-a-heart-shaped-box.html). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2013082322504
1/http://thisrecording.com/today/2011/9/19/in-which-we-discard-a-heart-shaped-box.html) from
the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
14. Savage, John. "Kurt Cobain: The Lost Interview" (https://web.archive.org/web/2004043001140
7/http://www.nirvanafreak.net/art/art8a.shtml). NirvanaFreak.net. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.nirvanafreak.net/art/art8a.shtml) on April 30, 2004. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
15. Gillian G. Gaar. Entertain Us!: The Rise of Nirvana Penguin, 2012
16. Hankey, Rick (December 13, 1993). Kurt Cobain: "These kids really like our band". Pier 48,
Seattle, Washington: MTV. "Question: So it was your friend, the Melvins' Buzz Osborne, who
introduced you to punk rock?

Cobain: Yeah, ... I was living in Aberdeen, and I was going to school in Montesano, which is
about 30 miles away. I had him in an art class and electronics class and I remember just
hanging out with him. He had a few punk rock magazines, and I would look at them and just
like... "Oh." I was just mesmerized. ..."
17. Arnold, Gina (January–February 1992). "Better Dead Than Cool". Option. "Kurt Cobain: [The
Melvins] started playing punk rock and had a free concert right behind Thriftways supermarket
where Buzz worked, and they plugged into the city power supply and played punk rock music
for about 50 redneck kids. When I saw them play, it just blew me away. I was instantly a punk
rocker. I abandoned all my friends, 'cause they didn't like any of the music. Then I asked Buzz
to make me that compilation tape of punk rock songs and got a spike haircut. ..."
18. Cross, Charles R. "Requiem for a Dream." Guitar World. October 2001.
19. Michael Azerrad. Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. Doubleday, 1993. ISBN 0-385-
47199-8.
20. Gillian G. Gaar. The Rough Guide to Nirvana. Penguin, 1993.
21. "Top-Selling Artists" (http://riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists).
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2011
0815024116/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists) from
the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
22. "Nirvana catalogue to be released on vinyl" (http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/music/story/2009/03/
21/nirvana-vinyl-releases.html). CBC.ca. March 21, 2009. Archived (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20130626005614/http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/music/story/2009/03/21/nirvana-vinyl-release
s.html) from the original on June 26, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
23. Michael Azerrad (April 16, 1992). "Nirvana: Inside the Heart and Mind of Kurt Cobain" (https://
www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nirvana-inside-the-heart-and-mind-of-kurt-cobain-1992041
6). Rolling Stone. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180616154032/https://www.rollingst
one.com/music/news/nirvana-inside-the-heart-and-mind-of-kurt-cobain-19920416) from the
original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
24. Freedland, Jonathan (April 5, 2014). "Kurt Cobain: an icon of alienation" (https://www.theguardi
an.com/music/from-the-archive-blog/2014/apr/05/kurt-cobain-an-icon-of-alienation). The
Guardian. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180408140153/https://www.theguardian.co
m/music/from-the-archive-blog/2014/apr/05/kurt-cobain-an-icon-of-alienation) from the original
on April 8, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
25. Kowalewski, Al; Nunez, Cake (March 1992). "An Interview with... Kurt Cobain" (https://archive.
org/details/flipsideissue78/page/n37). Flipside. No. 78. Los Angeles, California (published
May–June 1992). p. 37. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
26. Gaar, Gillian G. (2006). In Utero. United States: Continuum Publishing. pp. 50–52. ISBN 0-
8264-1776-0.
27. Barrett, Dawson (January 6, 2014). "King of the Outcast Teens: Kurt Cobain and the Politics of
Nirvana" (http://portside.org/2014-01-07/king-outcast-teens-kurt-cobain-and-politics-nirvana).
Portside. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20150311192259/http://portside.org/2014-01-0
7/king-outcast-teens-kurt-cobain-and-politics-nirvana) from the original on March 11, 2015.
Retrieved March 2, 2015.
28. Villarreal, David (December 7, 2017). "In 1992, Nirvana Fought an Anti-Gay Ballot Initiative
(and Wanted to Burn Down GOP Headquarters)" (https://hornet.com/stories/nirvana-gay-rights
-1992-gop/). Hornet. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180808011729/https://hornet.co
m/stories/nirvana-gay-rights-1992-gop/) from the original on August 8, 2018. Retrieved
August 7, 2018.
29. Gold, Jonathan (September 29, 1992). "POP MUSIC REVIEW : Bands Get Together for Rock
for Choice" (https://articles.latimes.com/1992-09-29/entertainment/ca-68_1_pop-music-
review). Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20
150402233342/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-09-29/entertainment/ca-68_1_pop-music-revie
w) from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
30. "Live Nirvana | LiveNirvana.com Sessions History | Studio Sessions | (The Jury) August 20 &
28, 1989 – Reciprocal Recording, Seattle, WA, US" (http://livenirvana.com/sessions/studio/aug
ust-1989.php). LiveNIRVANA. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20100106171113/http://w
ww.livenirvana.com/sessions/studio/august-1989.php) from the original on January 6, 2010.
Retrieved May 2, 2010.
31. True, Everett (2006). Nirvana – The True Story. Omnibus Press. pp. 146, 636. ISBN 978-1-
84449-640-2.
32. True, Everett (March 13, 2007). Nirvana: The Biography (https://archive.org/details/nirvanabiog
raphy00true). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. p. 187 (https://archive.org/details/ni
rvanabiography00true/page/187). ISBN 978-0306815546.
33. "LIVE NIRVANA SESSIONS HISTORY: (Bathtub Is Real) 1990 – ?, Olympia, WA, US" (http://w
ww.livenirvana.com/sessions/home/1990bathtubisreal.php). livenirvana.com. Archived (https://
web.archive.org/web/20131101201135/http://www.livenirvana.com/sessions/home/1990bathtu
bisreal.php) from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
34. "When Kurt Cobain met William Burroughs" (https://dangerousminds.net/comments/when_kurt
_cobain_met_william_burroughs). DangerousMinds. October 26, 2012. Archived (https://web.a
rchive.org/web/20181011133359/https://dangerousminds.net/comments/when_kurt_cobain_m
et_william_burroughs) from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
35. "The "Priest" They Called Him: A Dark Collaboration Between Kurt Cobain & William S.
Burroughs" (http://www.openculture.com/2012/12/ithe_priest_they_called_himi_a_dark_collab
oration_between_kurt_cobain_william_s_burroughs.html). Open Culture. Archived (https://we
b.archive.org/web/20181011172855/http://www.openculture.com/2012/12/ithe_priest_they_call
ed_himi_a_dark_collaboration_between_kurt_cobain_william_s_burroughs.html) from the
original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
36. Savage, John. "Kurt Cobain: The Lost Interview" (https://web.archive.org/web/2004043001140
7/http://www.nirvanafreak.net/art/art8a.shtml). NirvanaFreak.net. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.nirvanafreak.net/art/art8a.shtml) on April 30, 2004. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
37. Cobain, Kurt (2002). Journals (https://archive.org/details/kurtcobainjourna00coba). New York
City: Riverhead Hardcover. ISBN 978-1-57322-232-7.
38. Weller, Amy (September 5, 2013). "If it wasn't for Freddie Mercury... 13 artists inspired by the
Queen icon" (https://www.gigwise.com/photos/84002/9/if-it-wasnt-for-freddie-mercury-13-artist
s-inspired-by-the-queen-icon). Gigwise. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2019033008254
7/https://www.gigwise.com/photos/84002/9/if-it-wasnt-for-freddie-mercury-13-artists-inspired-by
-the-queen-icon) from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
39. Guarino, Mark (October 12, 2001). "Heavy heaven New Cobain bio sheds light on fallen hero"
(https://archive.today/20210222111506/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-79153994). Daily
Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). Archived from the original (https://www.questia.com/read/1
G1-79153994) on February 22, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2013. "Soon band member Roger
"Buzz" Osborne started Cobain's schooling, loaning him records and old copies of the '70s
rock magazine Creem."
40. Sorge, Claudio (November 17, 1991). "Kurt Cobain, Il Punk Da Un Milione Di Dollari". Rumore
(in Italian). Mezzago, Italy (published March 1992). "Kurt Cobain: Ci aggregammo subito ai
Melvins, che erano anche loro di Aberdeen. Definitivamente sono il gruppo che ci ha
maggiormente influenzato. Andavamo alle loro prove, ai loro concerti. Abbiamo suonato con
loro in vari show. Abbiamo imparato quasi tutto da loro."
41. Michalski, Thomas (May 2, 2012). "The Melvins @ Turner Hall Ballroom" (https://shepherdexpr
ess.com/music/concert-reviews/melvins-turner-hall-ballroom/). Shepherd Express. Retrieved
March 2, 2021.
42. YouTube Nirvana "Here She Comes Now"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPJTRh40sZU
43. Cobain, Kurt. "Kurt Cobain of Nirvana Talks About the Records That Changed His Life. Melody
Maker. August 29, 1992.
44. Fricke, David. "Kurt Cobain: The Rolling Stone Interview". Rolling Stone. January 27, 1994
45. Laurence Romance (April 21, 2010). "Kurt Cobain interview Date : 08/10/1993 Location :
Seattle Ze Full Version Uncut !!!" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120412030834/http://romance
isdead.net/spip.php?article30). Romance Is Dead. Archived from the original (http://romanceis
dead.net/spip.php?article30) on April 12, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
46. Thomas, Stephen. "MTV Unplugged in New York – Nirvana" (https://www.allmusic.com/album/r
206714). AllMusic. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
47. "Everybody Hurts Sometime" (http://www.newsweek.com/everybody-hurts-sometime-188414).
Newsweek. September 26, 1994. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140304123011/htt
p://www.newsweek.com/everybody-hurts-sometime-188414) from the original on March 4,
2014. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
48. Classic Albums—Nirvana: Nevermind (DVD). Isis Productions. 2004. "Kurt used to say that
music comes first and lyrics comes second, and I think Kurt's main focus was melody" {{cite
AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
49. Sliver: The Best of the Box album booklet.
50. Morris, Chris. "The Year's Hottest Band Can't Stand Still". Musician, January 1992.
51. Savage, Jon. "Sounds Dirty: The Truth About Nirvana". The Observer. August 15, 1993.
52. Gaar 2006, pp. 42–43
53. "Krist Novoselic on Kurt Cobain's Writing Process" (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/k
rist-novoselic-on-kurts-writing-process-and-the-in-utero-aesthetic-20131003). Rolling Stone.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180614021242/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/n
ews/krist-novoselic-on-kurts-writing-process-and-the-in-utero-aesthetic-20131003) from the
original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
54. Miles, Barry (2015). William S. Burroughs: A Life. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 621. ISBN 978-1-
7802-2120-5.
55. Azerrad, Michael (January 23, 2013). Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana (https://books.g
oogle.com/books?id=qrSDPW6G5ZIC&q=michael%20azerrad%20version%20of%20when%2
0kurt%20met%20cortney&pg=PA169). ISBN 9780307833730.
56. Cross, Charles R. (March 13, 2012). Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain (http
s://books.google.com/books?id=NWOLAwAAQBAJ&q=when%20did%20courtney%20meet%2
0kurt%20-%20heavier%20than%20heaven&pg=PT233). ISBN 9781401304515.
57. Barton, Laura (December 11, 2006). "Love me do" (https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/de
c/11/biography.popandrock). The Guardian. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/201603040
43445/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/dec/11/biography.popandrock) from the original
on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
58. True, Everett (November 4, 2009). Nirvana: The True Story (https://books.google.com/books?i
d=H89kHhJR4-AC&q=buthole+surfers+gig+may+1991&pg=PT391). ISBN 9780857120137.
59. Nirvana - Uncensored on the Record (https://books.google.com/books?id=eyv8H4pr76kC&q=
when%20did%20nirvana%20support%20the%20dharma%20bums&pg=PT40).
ISBN 9781781580059.
60. Everett True. "Wednesday 1 March" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080206065138/http://planb
mag.com/blogs/staff/2006/03/01/wednesday-1-march/). Archived from the original (http://planb
mag.com/blogs/staff/2006/03/01/wednesday-1-march/) on February 6, 2008. Retrieved April 6,
2012. Plan B Magazine Blogs. March 1, 2006.
61. Raul (June 20, 2011). "Dave Grohl Was One Of Eight Guests At Kurt Cobain And Courtney
Love's Hawaiian Wedding" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150125151422/http://www.feelnum
b.com/2011/06/20/dave-grohl-was-one-of-eight-guests-at-kurt-cobain-and-courtney-loves-haw
aiian-wedding/#lightbox/7/). feelnumb. feelnumb. Archived from the original (http://www.feelnu
mb.com/2011/06/20/dave-grohl-was-one-of-eight-guests-at-kurt-cobain-and-courtney-loves-ha
waiian-wedding/#lightbox/7/) on January 25, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
62. Brenda You (June 18, 1994). "Heroin Addiction Blamed In Death Of Another Seattle Rock
Musician" (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-06-18/news/9406180065_1_kristen-pfaff-co
urtney-love-kurt-cobain). Chicago Tribune. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2015050912
1953/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-06-18/news/9406180065_1_kristen-pfaff-courtne
y-love-kurt-cobain) from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
63. Raul (September 28, 2009). "Nirvana's Lithium Single Artwork Includes A Sonogram Of
Frances Bean Cobain" (https://web.archive.org/web/20141112143125/http://www.feelnumb.co
m/2009/09/28/nirvana-lithium-single-cover-includes-sonogram-of-frances-bean-cobain/).
feelnumb. feelnumb. Archived from the original (http://www.feelnumb.com/2009/09/28/nirvana-l
ithium-single-cover-includes-sonogram-of-frances-bean-cobain/) on November 12, 2014.
Retrieved January 11, 2015.
64. "Strange Love: The Story of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love" (https://www.vanityfair.com/holly
wood/2016/03/love-story-of-kurt-cobain-courtney-love). Vanity Fair. September 1, 1992.
Retrieved February 23, 2022.
65. "Courtney Love Admits To Using Heroin While Pregnant With Frances Bean" (https://www.huff
post.com/entry/courtney-love-heroin-pregnant_n_6565528). HuffPost. January 28, 2015.
Retrieved February 23, 2022.
66. "Frances Bean Cobain" (https://www.biography.com/personality/frances-bean-cobain).
Biography. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
67. Laudadio, Marisa (December 18, 2009). "Inside Story: Courtney Love and Daughter Frances
Bean's Rocky Relationship" (https://people.com/celebrity/inside-story-courtney-love-and-daugh
ter-frances-beans-rocky-relationship/). people.com. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
68. Crotty, James (October 30, 1992). "GO FOR THE GRUNGE" (http://www.monk.com/display.ph
p?p=People&id=33). Monk Magazine. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2004102407482
2/http://www.monk.com/display.php?p=People&id=33) from the original on October 24, 2004.
Retrieved April 29, 2019.
69. Allman, Kevin (February 9, 1993). "The Dark Side of Kurt Cobain" (https://kevinallman.typepa
d.com/ARTICLES/MAGAZINES/Advo-Cobain.pdf) (PDF). The Advocate. No. 622. pp. 35–43.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20190401143937/https://kevinallman.typepad.com/ARTI
CLES/MAGAZINES/Advo-Cobain.pdf) (PDF) from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved
April 1, 2019.
70. Peeples, Jase (October 24, 2013). "Rediscovered Interview Reveals Kurt Cobain Thought He
Was Gay" (https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/people/2013/10/24/rediscovered-inter
view-reveals-kurt-cobain-thought-he-was-gay). The Advocate. Archived (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20190401135023/https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/people/2013/10/24/redis
covered-interview-reveals-kurt-cobain-thought-he-was-gay) from the original on April 1, 2019.
Retrieved April 1, 2019.
71. Cruz, Niki (October 23, 2013). "Rare Kurt Cobain Interview Reveals Gay Curious Thoughts
[Audio]" (https://www.inquisitr.com/1004185/rare-kurt-cobain-interview-reveals-gay-curious-tho
ughts-audio/). Inquisitr. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20190401141054/https://www.in
quisitr.com/1004185/rare-kurt-cobain-interview-reveals-gay-curious-thoughts-audio/) from the
original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
72. Tremblay, Pierre (1994). "The Suicide Of Kurt Cobain: A Victim Of The Binary And Biphobia?"
(https://web.archive.org/web/20040725115706/http://www.youth-suicide.com/gay-bisexual/boo
k.htm). The Gay, Lesbian And Bisexual Factor In The Youth Suicide Problem (http://www.youth
-suicide.com/gay-bisexual/book.htm). Archived from the original (http://people.ucalgary.ca/~ptr
embla/homosexuality-suicide/04-kurt-cobain-god-gay.htm) on July 25, 2004. Retrieved April 6,
2019.
73. Haig, Matt (April 5, 2015). "Kurt Cobain was not a 'tortured genius', he had an illness" (https://w
ww.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/11515605/Kurt-Cobain-was-not-a-tortured-genius-he-ha
d-an-illness.html). The Telegraph. London, England. Archived (https://ghostarchive.org/archive/
20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/11515605/Kurt-Cobain-was-not-a-tort
ured-genius-he-had-an-illness.html) from the original on January 10, 2022.
74. Libby, Brian. "Even in His Youth" (https://web.archive.org/web/20070202043704/http://www.ah
ealthyme.com/topic/cobainqa). AHealthyMe.com. Archived from the original (http://www.ahealt
hyme.com/topic/cobainqa) on February 2, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
75. "Buzz Osborne (the Melvins) Talks the HBO Documentary Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck | The
Talkhouse Music" (https://web.archive.org/web/20151119080439/http://thetalkhouse.com/musi
c/talks/buzz-osborne-the-melvins-talks/). Thetalkhouse.com. June 6, 2015. Archived from the
original (http://thetalkhouse.com/music/talks/buzz-osborne-the-melvins-talks/) on November
19, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
76. "Legacy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20040803123238/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicArtist
sN/nirvana.html). April 8, 2004. Archived from the original (http://www.canoe.com:80/JamMusic
ArtistsN/nirvana.html) on August 3, 2004. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
77. Fricke, David (December 15, 1994). "Courtney Love: Life After Death" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20090413090248/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/courtneylove/articles/story/5937442/l
ife_after_death). Rolling Stone. Archived from the original (https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/
courtneylove/articles/story/5937442/life_after_death) on April 13, 2009. Retrieved April 5,
2012.
78. Neil Strauss (June 2, 1994). "Kurt Cobain's Downward Spiral: The Last Days of Nirvana's
Leader" (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kurt-cobains-downward-spiral-the-last-days
-of-nirvanas-leader-19940602). Rolling Stone. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2018052
1080133/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kurt-cobains-downward-spiral-the-last-days
-of-nirvanas-leader-19940602) from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved September 2,
2017. "she told them...he was going to kill himself. Cobain told them that he hadn't actually
been planning to take his own life."
79. "Questions Linger After Cobain Suicide" (http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archiv
e/?date=19940511&slug=1909954). The Seattle Times. May 11, 1994. Archived (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20190121064212/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=1
9940511&slug=1909954) from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
80. "Questions Linger After Cobain Suicide – Credit-Card Activity, Details Of Last Days Intrigue
Investigators" (https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19940511&slug=1909954).
archive.seattletimes.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210316071159/https://archi
ve.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19940511&slug=1909954) from the original on March 16,
2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
81. "Nirvana Pulls Out of Tour Plan : Pop music: Amid reports of a breakup, the band withdraws
from talks about headlining this summer's 'Lollapalooza '94,' citing singer Kurt Cobain's health
problems. – Los Angeles Times" (https://web.archive.org/web/20200521055811/https://www.lat
imes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-06-ca-42770-story.html). Los Angeles Times. May 21,
2020. Archived from the original (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-06-ca-427
70-story.html) on May 21, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
82. Monica Guzman (April 7, 2009). "15 years later: Where were you when Kurt Cobain was found
dead?" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150202133826/http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/200
9/04/07/15-years-later-where-were-you-when-kurt-cobain-was-found-dead/). Seattle PI. Hearst
Media. Archived from the original (http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2009/04/07/15-years-lat
er-where-were-you-when-kurt-cobain-was-found-dead) on February 2, 2015. Retrieved
February 2, 2015.
83. Whitely, Peyton (April 19, 1994). "Kurt Cobain's Troubled Last Days – Drugs, Guns And
Threats; And Then He Disappeared" (http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?da
te=19940409&slug=1904636). The Seattle Times. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2014
1006113050/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940409&slug=190
4636) from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
84. Harrison, H., "Handy Dandy Dreamachine" and "Lo Times @ High Times", in Love Kills: The
Assassination of Kurt Cobain (Sacramento: Arkives Press, 2017), pp. 355–366.
85. Bolles, D. (July 26 – August 1, 1996). "Dream Weaver" (https://juniperhills.net/w.pdf). LA
Weekly. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
86. Allen, M. (January 20, 2005). "Décor by Timothy Leary" (https://nytimes.com/2005/01/20/garde
n/20mach.html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20150422203748/http://www.nytimes.co
m/2005/01/20/garden/20mach.html) April 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. The New York
Times. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
87. Liu, Marian (April 6, 2009). "Kurt Cobain's death, 15 years later, being marked with Friday
tribute" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121019035843/http://seattletimes.com/html/musicnightli
fe/2008993909_zmus06dispatchcobain.html). Seattle Times. Archived from the original (http://
seattletimes.com/html/musicnightlife/2008993909_zmus06dispatchcobain.html) on October
19, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
88. Thomas-Mason, Lee (November 15, 2018). "Dave Grohl opens up about how Kurt Cobain's
death impacted his life" (https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/dave-grohl-opens-up-about-how-kurt-cob
ains-death-impacted-his-life/). Far Out Magazine. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210
730225502/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/dave-grohl-opens-up-about-how-kurt-cobains-death-i
mpacted-his-life/) from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
89. Colothan, Scott (November 10, 2009). "Dave Grohl: 'Kurt Cobain's Death Is The Worst Thing
That's Ever Happened To Me' " (https://www.gigwise.com/news/53389/). Gigwise. Archived (htt
ps://web.archive.org/web/20210730225501/https://www.gigwise.com/news/53389/) from the
original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
90. 3am (November 12, 2009). "Dave Grohl reveals he knew Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain
would die young" (https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/dave-grohl-reveals-he-knew-nir
vana-670948). Mirror. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210730225501/https://www.mir
ror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/dave-grohl-reveals-he-knew-nirvana-670948) from the original on
July 30, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
91. Borzillo, Carrie (April 23, 1994). "Cobain Mourned By Fans, Industryites In Memorials, Music
Stores" (https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1994/1994-
04-23-Billboard-Page-0100.pdf) (PDF). Billboard. p. 102. Archived (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20210602213229/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/
1994/1994-04-23-Billboard-Page-0100.pdf) (PDF) from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved
May 30, 2021.
92. "MCA puts hold on Nirvana releases" (https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive
-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1994/Music-Week-1994-01-08.o-IDX-627.pdf) (PDF). Music Week. April
23, 1994. p. 5. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20211220121021/https://worldradiohistor
y.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1994/Music-Week-1994-01-08.o-IDX-6
27.pdf) (PDF) from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
93. "Dave Grohl: 'I knew Kurt Cobain was destined to die early' " (https://www.nme.com/news/nirva
na/48303). NME. UK. November 10, 2009. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2009111210
3103/https://www.nme.com/news/nirvana/48303) from the original on November 12, 2009.
Retrieved August 14, 2010.
94. Harvey, Dennis (June 24, 2015). "Film Review: 'Soaked in Bleach' " (https://variety.com/2015/fil
m/reviews/soaked-in-bleach-review-kurt-cobain-courtney-love-1201519277/). Variety. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20180628124944/https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/soaked-in-
bleach-review-kurt-cobain-courtney-love-1201519277/) from the original on June 28, 2018.
Retrieved August 23, 2018.
95. Casey McNerthney; Amy Clancy (March 20, 2014). "Seattle police re-examine Cobain suicide,
develop scene photos" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140326230140/http://www.kirotv.com/n
ews/news/only-kiro-7-seattle-police-re-investigate-kurt-cob/nfHMq/). kirotv.com. Cox Media
Group. Archived from the original (http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/only-kiro-7-seattle-police-r
e-investigate-kurt-cob/nfHMq/) on March 26, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
96. "Kurt Cobain Death Scene Photos – New Kurt Cobain death scene photos – Pictures" (https://
www.cbsnews.com/pictures/new-kurt-cobain-death-scene-photos/). CBS News. March 27,
2014. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20151129031232/http://www.cbsnews.com/picture
s/new-kurt-cobain-death-scene-photos/) from the original on November 29, 2015. Retrieved
November 18, 2015.
97. "10 years later, Cobain lives on in his music" (https://www.today.com/popculture/10-years-later-
cobain-lives-his-music-wbna4652653). TODAY.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/201
70323224116/http://www.today.com/popculture/10-years-later-cobain-lives-his-music-wbna465
2653) from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
98. Ali, Lorraine (April 17, 1994). "POP VIEW; Kurt Cobain Screamed Out Our Angst" (https://ww
w.nytimes.com/1994/04/17/archives/pop-view-kurt-cobain-screamed-out-our-angst.html). The
New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20200621100609/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/17/archives/pop-v
iew-kurt-cobain-screamed-out-our-angst.html) from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved
June 18, 2020.
99. Molon, Adam (April 5, 2014). "Inside Kurt Cobain's $450M empire" (https://www.cnbc.com/201
4/04/04/kurt-cobain-and-the-big-business-of-dead-celebs.html). CNBC. Archived (https://web.a
rchive.org/web/20200621135311/https://www.cnbc.com/2014/04/04/kurt-cobain-and-the-big-bu
siness-of-dead-celebs.html) from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
100. "5 Ways Kurt Cobain Changed the Face of Music" (https://fuse.tv/2014/04/kurt-cobain-charles-
r-cross). Fuse. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200619065112/https://fuse.tv/2014/04/
kurt-cobain-charles-r-cross) from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
101. Mazullo, Mark (2000). "The Man Whom the World Sold: Kurt Cobain, Rock's Progressive
Aesthetic, and the Challenges of Authenticity" (http://www.jstor.org/stable/742606). The
Musical Quarterly. 84 (4): 713–749. doi:10.1093/mq/84.4.713 (https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmq%
2F84.4.713). ISSN 0027-4631 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0027-4631). JSTOR 742606 (http
s://www.jstor.org/stable/742606). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200803034212/http
s://www.jstor.org/stable/742606) from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
102. "Courtney Love Says Nirvana's Rock Hall Induction Might Be 'Awkward' – Video" (https://www.r
ollingstone.com/music/videos/courtney-love-says-nirvanas-rock-hall-induction-might-be-awkwa
rd-20140212). Rolling Stone. February 12, 2014. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140
420093250/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/courtney-love-says-nirvanas-rock-hall-in
duction-might-be-awkward-20140212) from the original on April 20, 2014. Retrieved April 5,
2014.
103. "The 27 Club: A Brief History" (https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/the-27-club-a-
brief-history-17853/). Rolling Stone. December 8, 2019. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/
20191002033643/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/the-27-club-a-brief-history-
17853/) from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
104. Clark-Meads, Jeff; Sullivan, Julia (April 23, 1994). "Cobain" (https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/I
DX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/94/MM-1994-04-23-OCR-Page-0030.pdf)
(PDF). Music & Media. p. 30. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214931/https://w
orldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/94/MM-1994-04-23
-OCR-Page-0030.pdf) (PDF) from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
"continued from page 1"
105. Lester, Paul (April 16, 2008). "The making of rock martyrs" (https://www.theguardian.com/musi
c/musicblog/2008/apr/16/rockmartyrs). The Guardian. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0220118185043/https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/apr/16/rockmartyrs) from
the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
106. Campbell, Glen. "Billy Corgan: Kurt Cobain Is 'The Michael Jordan' Of '90s Rock" (https://www.
amazon.com/Billy-Corgan-Cobain-The-Michael-Jordan/dp/B00TNOSRE0). Amazon. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20151119161631/http://www.amazon.com/Billy-Corgan-Cobain-T
he-Michael-Jordan/dp/B00TNOSRE0) from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved
November 18, 2015.
107. Buchanan, Brett (July 22, 2015). "Billy Corgan Praises Kurt Cobain & Dave Grohl" (https://web.
archive.org/web/20150919081629/http://www.alternativenation.net/billy-corgan-praises-kurt-co
bain-dave-grohl/). Alternativenation.net. Archived from the original (http://www.alternativenatio
n.net/billy-corgan-praises-kurt-cobain-dave-grohl/) on September 19, 2015. Retrieved
November 18, 2015.
108. "Lars Ulrich: Kurt Cobain Didn't Want To Share The Stage With Guns N' Roses" (http://www.bla
bbermouth.net/news/lars-ulrich-kurt-cobain-didn-t-want-to-share-the-stage-with-guns-n-roses/#
JWEozW71A6XwGAlU.99). Blabbermouth.net. April 1, 2004. Archived (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20151119090550/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/lars-ulrich-kurt-cobain-didn-t-want-t
o-share-the-stage-with-guns-n-roses/#JWEozW71A6XwGAlU.99) from the original on
November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
109. "Cobain Followers Form Their Own Church Fledgling Group Hopes To Find Meaning In Late
Musician's Tragic Life" (https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/may/26/cobain-followers-for
m-their-own-church-fledgling/). The Spokesman-Review. May 26, 1996. Archived (https://web.
archive.org/web/20211217203656/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/may/26/cobain-fol
lowers-form-their-own-church-fledgling/) from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved
December 22, 2021.
110. "Church of Kurt Cobain Forms" (https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19960524&slu
g=2331008). The Seattle Times. May 24, 1996. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/202112
17203636/https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19960524&slug=2331008) from the
original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
111. Chaplin, Julian (September 6, 1996). "Kurt Comes Alive" (https://books.google.com/books?id=f
sRC10LkbN0C&dq=Kurt+Cobain+Church&pg=PA50). Spin. Vol. 12. p. 50. Archived (https://we
b.archive.org/web/20211222121354/https://books.google.com/books?id=fsRC10LkbN0C&dq=
Kurt+Cobain+Church&pg=PA50) from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved
December 22, 2021.
112. Cross, Alan (July 22, 2021). "Ongoing History Daily: The Church of Kurt Cobain" (https://www.
ajournalofmusicalthings.com/ongoing-history-daily-the-church-of-kurt-cobain/). A Journal of
Musical Things. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20211217203639/https://www.ajournalof
musicalthings.com/ongoing-history-daily-the-church-of-kurt-cobain/) from the original on
December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
113. Olsen, Eric (April 9, 2004). "10 years later, Cobain lives on in his music" (http://www.today.com/
id/4652653). MSNBC.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20130622170917/http://ww
w.today.com/id/4652653) from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
114. "100 Greatest Guitarists – David Fricke's Picks: 12) Kurt Cobain" (https://www.rollingstone.co
m/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time-19691231/kurt-cobain-20101202). Rolling
Stone. December 3, 2010. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170919190341/http://www.
rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time-19691231/kurt-cobain-2010120
2) from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
115. "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time: 73) Kurt Cobain" (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/list
s/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/kurt-cobain-20111122). Rolling Stone. Archived (https://we
b.archive.org/web/20170831182309/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitar
ists-20111123/kurt-cobain-20111122) from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved April 8,
2012.
116. "100 Greatest Singers of All Time: 45) Kurt Cobain" (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/1
00-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/kurt-cobain-20101202). Rolling Stone. Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20170926170533/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest
-singers-of-all-time-19691231/kurt-cobain-20101202) from the original on September 26, 2017.
Retrieved April 8, 2012.
117. enigmazach (June 30, 2009). "MTV's 22 Greatest Voices in Music" (http://www.listology.com/lis
t/mtvs-22-greatest-voices-music). Listology. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2011122111
0955/http://www.listology.com/list/mtvs-22-greatest-voices-music) from the original on
December 21, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
118. oz (December 4, 2006). "Hit Parader's Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time – HearYa – Indie
Music Blog" (http://www.hearya.com/2006/12/04/hit-paraders-top-100-metal-vocalists-of-all-tim
e/). Hearya.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20190908211559/http://www.hearya.co
m/2006/12/04/hit-paraders-top-100-metal-vocalists-of-all-time/) from the original on September
8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
119. Seminara, Dave (March 25, 2014). "Chasing Kurt Cobain in Washington State" (https://www.ny
times.com/2014/03/30/travel/chasing-kurt-cobain-in-washington-state.html). The New York
Times. Archived (https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220103/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/
30/travel/chasing-kurt-cobain-in-washington-state.html) from the original on January 3, 2022.
120. "The Daily World: Park's four-letter controversy erased" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120803
091510/http://tdw.thedailyworld.com/content/park%E2%80%99s_four_letter_controversy_eras
ed_0). TheDailyWorld.com. August 7, 2009. Archived from the original (http://tdw.thedailyworl
d.com/content/park%E2%80%99s_four_letter_controversy_erased_0) on August 3, 2012.
Retrieved April 5, 2012.
121. Chris Kornelis (August 17, 2009). "Seattle Weekly: You Can Sandblast All You Want, But
Drugs Will Still Fuck You Up" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110721193533/http://blogs.seattle
weekly.com/reverb/2009/08/you_can_sandblast_all_you_want.php). Archived from the original
(http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/reverb/2009/08/you_can_sandblast_all_you_want.php) on July
21, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
122. Stubbs, Dan (January 24, 2014). "Aberdeen, Washington to celebrate annual Kurt Cobain
Day" (https://www.nme.com/news/music/nirvana-80-1245754). NME. Archived (https://web.arc
hive.org/web/20190823195508/https://www.nme.com/news/music/nirvana-80-1245754) from
the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
123. "Kurt Cobain's MTV Unplugged guitar sells for record-setting $6 million in auction" (https://cons
equenceofsound.net/2020/06/kurt-cobains-mtv-unplugged-guitar/). Consequence of Sound.
June 21, 2020. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200621084400/https://consequenceof
sound.net/2020/06/kurt-cobains-mtv-unplugged-guitar/) from the original on June 21, 2020.
Retrieved June 22, 2020.
124. "Kid Cudi wore a dress on 'SNL' in a tribute to Kurt Cobain" (https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-cul
ture/pop-culture-news/kid-cudi-wore-dress-snl-tribute-kurt-cobain-n1263758). NBC News.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210425173654/https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-cultur
e/pop-culture-news/kid-cudi-wore-dress-snl-tribute-kurt-cobain-n1263758) from the original on
April 25, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
125. Jacob, Mary K (July 30, 2021). "Cobain childhood home now a landmark, to be turned into an
exhibit" (https://nypost.com/2021/07/30/kurt-cobain-childhood-home-now-a-landmark-will-be-a
n-exhibit/). New York Post. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210801001250/https://nyp
ost.com/2021/07/30/kurt-cobain-childhood-home-now-a-landmark-will-be-an-exhibit/) from the
original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
126. Hammock, Dan (July 20, 2021). "Kurt Cobain's childhood Home Placed on Washington State
Heritage Register" (https://www.chronline.com/stories/kurt-cobains-childhood-home-placed-on-
washington-state-heritage-register,269369?). The Chronicle. Archived (https://web.archive.org/
web/20210801130309/https://www.chronline.com/stories/kurt-cobains-childhood-home-placed-
on-washington-state-heritage-register,269369) from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved
August 1, 2021.
127. Laing, Rob (May 23, 2022). "Kurt Cobain's Smells Like Teen Spirit 1969 Competition Fender
Mustang guitar sells for $4.5 million at auction" (https://www.musicradar.com/news/kurt-cobain-
mustang-sold-auction-nirvana). MusicRadar. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
128. Halperin & Wallace, p. 202
129. "Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain" (http://www.hyperionbooks.com/book/heav
ier-than-heaven-a-biography-of-kurt-cobain/). HyperionBooks.com. Archived (https://web.archi
ve.org/web/20110623205923/http://www.hyperionbooks.com/book/heavier-than-heaven-a-biog
raphy-of-kurt-cobain/) from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
130. Nirvana: the True Story by Everett True
131. "Smells Like Everett True – Books – The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper" (http://www.thes
tranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=184892). Thestranger.com. March 27, 2007. Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20120120145033/http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=18
4892) from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
132. Matthew Fritch. "MAGNET Interview: Everett True" (https://web.archive.org/web/20030617162
627/http://magnetmagazine.com/interviews/true.html). magnetmagazine.com. Archived from
the original (http://www.magnetmagazine.com/interviews/true.html) on June 17, 2003.
Retrieved April 5, 2012.
133. Charles M. (sic) Cross. "Cobain Unseen: Rare Photos, Artwork and Journal Entries" (https://we
b.archive.org/web/20081020044620/http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/23454963/cob
ain_unseen_rare_photos_artw/photo/17). Rolling Stone. Archived from the original (https://ww
w.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/23454963/cobain_unseen_rare_photos_artw/photo/17) on
October 20, 2008. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
134. David Hartwig (November 19, 2002). "Nirvana releases a hit and miss" (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20040307110632/http://www.nd.edu/~observer/11192002/Scene/0.html). Notre Dame
Observer. Archived from the original (http://www.nd.edu/~observer/11192002/Scene/0.html) on
March 7, 2004. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
135. Prato, Greg. "Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music' " (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20120408122850/http://www.ecwpress.com/book/grunge-dead). Toronto: ECW Press.
Archived from the original (http://www.ecwpress.com/book/grunge-dead) on April 8, 2012.
Retrieved April 8, 2012.
136. Prato, Greg (2009). Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music (https://books.goo
gle.com/books?id=eTg4whS9ClUC). Toronto: ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022877-9. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20210602234801/https://books.google.com/books?id=eTg4whS9
ClUC) from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
137. " 'Grunge Is Dead' - An Interview with Greg Prato" (https://web.archive.org/web/201107011929
45/http://www.ugo.com/music/grunge-is-dead-an-interview-with-greg-prato). UGO
Entertainment. April 29, 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.ugo.com/music/grunge-is-
dead-an-interview-with-greg-prato) on July 1, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
138. Sweet, Stephen (October 1992). "LIVE NIRVANA PHOTO ARCHIVE" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20131004214204/http://www.livenirvana.com/pics/9210ss/index.html). Melody Maker.
Archived from the original (http://www.livenirvana.com/pics/9210ss/index.html) on October 4,
2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
139. "Six Of The Best: Guy Mankowski" (http://narcmagazine.com/six-of-the-best-guy-mankowski/).
Narcmagazine.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200918170214/https://narcmaga
zine.com/six-of-the-best-guy-mankowski/) from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved
September 14, 2020.
140. Miller, Prairie. "Kurt and Courtney: Interview with Nick Broomfield" (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20010301212925/http://www.minireviews.com/interviews/broomfield.htm). Minireviews.com.
Archived from the original (http://www.minireviews.com/interviews/broomfield.htm) on March 1,
2001. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
141. Leland, John (October 7, 2002). "New Theories Stir Speculation On Rap Deaths" (https://www.
nytimes.com/2002/10/07/arts/new-theories-stir-speculation-on-rap-deaths.html?pagewanted=a
ll&src=pm). The New York Times. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20131002202518/htt
p://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/07/arts/new-theories-stir-speculation-on-rap-deaths.html?pagew
anted=all&src=pm) from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
142. Feinstein, Howard (May 6, 2005). "Howard Feinstein on Gus Van Sant's new film, Last Days"
(https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/may/06/cannes2005.cannesfilmfestival). The
Guardian. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180720114847/https://www.theguardian.co
m/music/2005/may/06/cannes2005.cannesfilmfestival) from the original on July 20, 2018.
Retrieved August 23, 2019.
143. "New Kurt Cobain biopic to feature original Nirvana music" (https://www.nme.com/news/music/
nirvana-211-1343187). NME. November 6, 2007. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20190
823195509/https://www.nme.com/news/music/nirvana-211-1343187) from the original on
August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
144. Why Courtney Love Isn’t a Producer on Kurt Cobain Documentary (https://www.hollywoodrepo
rter.com/news/why-courtney-love-isn-t-753391) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/202002
05173624/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-courtney-love-isn-t-753391) February
5, 2020, at the Wayback Machine hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved December 5, 2014
145. "Director Brett Morgen reveals first details of Kurt Cobain documentary" (http://www.factmag.co
m/2013/01/04/director-brett-morgen-reveals-first-details-of-kurt-cobain-documentary/).
Factmag.com. January 4, 2013. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20131105001435/http://
www.factmag.com/2013/01/04/director-brett-morgen-reveals-first-details-of-kurt-cobain-docum
entary/) from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
146. Harvey, Dennis (June 24, 2015). "Film Review: 'Soaked in Bleach' " (https://variety.com/2015/fil
m/reviews/soaked-in-bleach-review-kurt-cobain-courtney-love-1201519277/). Variety. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20180628124944/https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/soaked-in-
bleach-review-kurt-cobain-courtney-love-1201519277/) from the original on June 28, 2018.
Retrieved August 23, 2018.
147. "Courtney Love Sends Cease & Desist Against Kurt Cobain Movie 'Soaked In Bleach' " (https://
deadline.com/2015/06/courtney-love-cease-and-desist-soaked-in-bleach-kurt-cobain-documen
tary-1201445904/). Deadline. June 16, 2015. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20190823
195509/https://deadline.com/2015/06/courtney-love-cease-and-desist-soaked-in-bleach-kurt-c
obain-documentary-1201445904/) from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 23,
2019.
148. Earles, Andrew; Cross, Charles; Gaar, Gillian G.; Gendron, Bob; Martens, Todd; Yarm, Mark
(2016). "Ch6 – Sigh Eternally" (https://books.google.com/books?id=GwyQDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA
187). Kurt Cobain and Nirvana – Updated Edition: The Complete Illustrated History. Voyaguer
Press. p. 187. ISBN 978-0760351789.
149. "The Batman: Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne Is Inspired By Kurt Cobain, Says Matt Reeves
– Exclusive Images" (https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/the-batman-robert-pattinson-
inspired-by-kurt-cobain-matt-reeves-exclusive/). Empire. Archived (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20211218153556/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/the-batman-robert-pattinson-in
spired-by-kurt-cobain-matt-reeves-exclusive/) from the original on December 18, 2021.
Retrieved December 18, 2021.
150. "The Batman – Movie Trailers – iTunes" (https://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/the-batman/).
trailers.apple.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20211101131957/https://trailers.appl
e.com/trailers/wb/the-batman/) from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved
December 18, 2021.
151. Moran, Sarah (March 4, 2022). "What Is The Nirvana Song In The Batman? Soundtrack
Explained" (https://screenrant.com/the-batman-soundtrack-guide-song-nirvana/). Screen Rant.
Retrieved March 5, 2022.
152. "Danny Dyer Plays Vicious in Kurt & Sid Premiere" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110616081
828/http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8831247477600).
Whatsonstage.com. Whatsonstage. July 13, 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.what
sonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8831247477600) on June 16, 2011. Retrieved
July 23, 2020.
153. Swash, Rosie (September 11, 2009). "Kurt Cobain video game Guitar Hero gives Love a bad
name" (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/sep/11/guitar-hero-upsets-nirvana-fans). The
Guardian. London. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20130907123317/http://www.theguar
dian.com/music/2009/sep/11/guitar-hero-upsets-nirvana-fans) from the original on September
7, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
154. "Kurt Cobain Chart History" (https://www.billboard.com/music/kurt-cobain). Billboard. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20200214113013/https://www.billboard.com/music/kurt-cobain)
from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
155. "Kurt Cobain – Montage Of Heck – The Home Recordings" (https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/4
6359/kurt-cobain-montage-of-heck-the-home-recordings). ultratop.be. Archived (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20201129103451/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/46359/Kurt-Cobain-Montage-
Of-Heck-The-Home-Recordings) from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved
February 3, 2020.
156. "Kurt Cobain – Montage Of Heck – The Home Recordings" (https://www.ultratop.be/fr/album/4
6359/kurt-cobain-montage-of-heck-the-home-recordings). ultratop.be. Archived (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20201212044856/https://www.ultratop.be/fr/album/46359/Kurt-Cobain-Montage-
Of-Heck-The-Home-Recordings) from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved
February 3, 2020.
157. "spanishcharts.com – Kurt Cobain – Montage Of Heck – The Home Recordings" (https://spanis
hcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kurt+Cobain&titel=Montage+of+Heck+-+The+Home+Re
cordings&cat=a). spanishcharts.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200204091510/
https://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kurt+Cobain&titel=Montage+Of+Heck+%2
D+The+Home+Recordings&cat=a) from the original on February 4, 2020. Retrieved
February 3, 2020.
158. "lescharts.com – Kurt Cobain – Montage Of Heck – The Home Recordings" (https://lescharts.c
om/showitem.asp?interpret=Kurt+Cobain&titel=Montage+of+Heck+-+The+Home+Recordings&
cat=a). lescharts.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20201117055319/https://leschart
s.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kurt+Cobain&titel=Montage+of+Heck+-+The+Home+Recordin
gs&cat=a) from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
159. "italiancharts.com – Kurt Cobain – Montage Of Heck – The Home Recordings" (https://italianch
arts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kurt+Cobain&titel=Montage+of+Heck+-+The+Home+Record
ings&cat=a). italiancharts.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200207180122/https://
italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kurt+Cobain&titel=Montage+Of+Heck+%2D+The+H
ome+Recordings&cat=a) from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
160. Hung, Steffen. "Kurt Cobain – Montage Of Heck – The Home Recordings" (http://hitparade.ch/
showitem.asp?interpret=Kurt+Cobain&titel=Montage+of+Heck+-+The+Home+Recordings&cat
=a). hitparade.ch. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
161. "Kurt Cobain - Montage Of Heck - The Home Recordings - swisscharts.com" (http://swisschart
s.com/album/Kurt-Cobain/Montage-Of-Heck-The-Home-Recordings-287577).
swisscharts.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200203212722/http://swisscharts.co
m/album/Kurt-Cobain/Montage-Of-Heck-The-Home-Recordings-287577) from the original on
February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
162. "KURT COBAIN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company" (https://www.officialchart
s.com/artist/35519/kurt-cobain/). www.officialcharts.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20190715171221/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/35519/kurt-cobain/) from the original
on July 15, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
163. "Chart History – Kurt Cobain" (https://web.archive.org/web/20200717205635/https://www.billbo
ard.com/music/kurt-cobain/chart-history/hot-singles-sales). Billboard. Archived from the original
(https://www.billboard.com/music/kurt-cobain/chart-history/hot-singles-sales) on July 17, 2020.
Retrieved August 1, 2021.
164. "Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 – 11 December 2015 – 17 December 2015" (http://ww
w.officialcharts.com/charts/physical-singles-chart/20151211/1/). officialcharts.com. Archived (ht
tps://web.archive.org/web/20210505220639/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/physical-sing
les-chart/20151211/1/) from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
165. "The Jury: the story of the Cobain/Lanegan collaboration that could have been | Northwest
Passage" (https://www.revolutioncomeandgone.com/articles/10/the-jury.php).
www.revolutioncomeandgone.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200205220738/htt
p://www.revolutioncomeandgone.com/articles/10/the-jury.php) from the original on February 5,
2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
166. "Divine And Bright" (http://www.livenirvana.com/digitalnirvana/songguide/bodyfc25.html?songid
=259). www.livenirvana.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170729005526/http://w
ww.livenirvana.com/digitalnirvana/songguide/bodyfc25.html?songid=259) from the original on
July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
167. "A Bureaucratic Desire For Revenge" (http://www.livenirvana.com/digitalnirvana/songguide/bod
y3576.html?songid=127). www.livenirvana.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/201707
29004459/http://www.livenirvana.com/digitalnirvana/songguide/body3576.html?songid=127)
from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
168. "Private Affair" (http://www.livenirvana.com/digitalnirvana/songguide/body3e6b.html?songid=2
70). www.livenirvana.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170729012251/http://www.
livenirvana.com/digitalnirvana/songguide/body3e6b.html?songid=270) from the original on July
29, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
Bibliography
Azerrad, Michael (1994). Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-
47199-8.
Burlingame, Jeff (2006). Kurt Cobain: Oh Well, Whatever, Nevermind (https://archive.org/detail
s/kurtcobainohwell0000burl). Enslow. ISBN 0-7660-2426-1.
Cross, Charles (2001). Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain. Hyperion. ISBN 0-
7868-8402-9.
Cross, Charles (2008). Cobain Unseen. Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 978-0316033725.
Kitts, Jeff (1998). Guitar World Presents Nirvana and the Grunge Revolution. Hal Leonard.
ISBN 0-7935-9006-X.
Prato, Greg (2009). Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music. ECW Press.
ISBN 978-1-55022-877-9.

External links
Kurt Cobain (https://www.discogs.com/artist/275118) discography at Discogs
Kurt Cobain (https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p65214) at AllMusic
Kurt Cobain (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001052/) at IMDb
The Kurt Cobain Equipment FAQ (http://www.kurtsequipment.com/) info on his guitars,
amplifiers & effects
Official police reports into Cobain's death (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrit
y/kurt-courtney-no-nirvana) at The Smoking Gun

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kurt_Cobain&oldid=1119431492"

This page was last edited on 1 November 2022, at 15:14 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0;

additional terms may apply. By
using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.