Posted in: Rock by Chambo on January 30th, 2009 | 30 Comments
He epitomised the early nineties grunge rock revolution. He sang from the heart about life, love and the constraints of depression and sadness. He became a rock legend after his death in 1994 by way of suicide. That cardigan wearing, guitar playing phenomenon was Kurt Cobain of Nirvana fame.
Born on Feburary 20th 1967 in Aberdeen, Washington, Cobain lived a life of severe sadness and regret. A broken home saw Cobain shipped off to relatives frequently and living on the street all before age 11. He was tormented through High School for his sense of artistry and emotional displays by the very people who would come to envy him by the year 1991.
Cobain had always been interested in music but it wasn’t until he caught onto the then meandering sound of the Sex Pistols and other British punk bands that he began to shape his career as a musician. Regular visits to the nearest “big” city, Olympia, Washington, to take in various rock gigs and practice his sound practically kicked off Cobain’s career. With his guitar given to him as a gift by his uncle, he frequented a practice studio to craft his unique sound. It was there he meet Krist Novoselic, Nirvana’s eventual bassist, and where the two practiced for hours on end.
This was the emergence of Nirvana. The pair experimented with numerous drummers and used Chad Channing for their little known first recorded album “Bleach” in 1989. Dissatisfied with Channing’s sound the band eventually settled on existing Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl. It was with Grohl that the band Nirvana really took off. They released their second album “Nevermind” in 1991 which featured the iconic cover of the baby in the pool. The first single from the album became a rock anthem in the form of “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.
The little known band from Aberdeen, Washington was now on tour with other emerging heavyweights in 90’s rock including one show with Pearl Jam, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stone Temple Pilots.
Stardom would not suit Cobain’s reclusive, shy nature and with fame inevitably came drugs. Heroin became Cobain’s drug of choice claiming that it helped with the pitfalls of fame and the pressure of performing. Then girlfriend and eventually wife Courtney Love was influential in his drug abuse, the pair often getting to know each other better through the drug. They married in Hawaii in the autumn of 1992 after learning that Love was carrying his baby.
The effects of heroin and increased pressure from his band over their third album “In Ultero” and his wife to give the cursed evil the flick, Cobain became increasingly agitated and then depressed. The band pulled out of the 1994 Lollapalooza tour and the downward spiral continued. Amid rumours of a break up by Nirvana, Cobain was found dead in his home from a gunshot wound to the head on the 8th of April 1994.
Nirvana went on to sell 50 million albums worldwide, the album “Nevermind” arguably one of the greatest rock records of all time. Before Cobain’s death in 1994, the band performed an MTV: Unplugged gig in New York City, the DVD eventually being released 13 years later in the winter of 2007. A fourth album was also released partially finished in 2002.
The scratchy sound of Cobain’s voice and the expert instrumentalism of the Foo Fighters Grohl along with Cobain’s shock death ensured the band Nirvana, ironically meaning paradise or heaven, would go down as one of the greatest bands of this age and would live on in the ears of all who gave them a chance.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/hTig6YqtpXs]
For more music article from RJ Chamberlain read:
Blink-182: Punk to Pop; Rise and Fall
Bibliography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain
Yovita Siswati January 30th, 2009 at 5:12 am
I like Nirvana songs, they accompany me when I grew up. Cobain’s death is tragic, but his song will live forever. Great work!
BC Doan January 30th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Thank you for a glimpse into the life of a legend..
Funny how we both come out with music articles today!
Betty Carew January 30th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Wonderful article RJ so sad that the world lost such amazing talent
Lost in Arizona January 30th, 2009 at 9:52 am
His life with Courtney reminds me a lot of Sid and Nancy. I often wish she wasn’t a part of his life back then, because he would have done so much more with his music perhaps without her. His music was so profound and hard at the same time. And while Foo Fighters are alright, they’re no Nirvana.
James DeVere January 30th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Nice article.
How are you getting your links to work? I am using
xyz but it’s not taking. Any hints, mate? I don’t want to “fix” all the time.
Courtney Love really annoys me – too bad Kurt’s buried. Cheers mate. j
CutestPrincess January 30th, 2009 at 11:17 am
thank you for this articles, im a music lover and nirvana is one of my favorite!
Chambo January 30th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Hi guys thanks for the feedback. Am working on the video link. Have had major issues with this piece so I hope it does well. Anyway, should have the vid up and running in the next couple of days.
Cheers,
RJ
Glynis Smy January 30th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Another interesting piece RJ!
Clay Hurtubise January 30th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Good job, but you forgot to mention that Courtney is moving to Australia.
Thanks,
Clay
Jackie Stroud Painter January 30th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Great job!
Louie Jerome January 30th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
An interesting and informative piece.
nutuba January 30th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Nice article — informative and well written! I’ve heard lots of Nirvana’s stuff but didn’t know much about Cobain. Nicely done!@
Juancav January 30th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
A great singer but a sad life and sad end,informative article.
Blue Buttefly January 31st, 2009 at 9:12 am
Great post!
Anne Lyken Garner January 31st, 2009 at 9:38 am
He was a fine musician. I was doing some research the other day for an article about musicians, and came across some very positive information about his career.
HatedNation January 31st, 2009 at 10:20 am
Well written, nice job RJ!
Ruby Hawk January 31st, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Nirvana is an all time favorite. The suicide was unfortunate but drugs and that lifestyle are unforgiving.
Bo Russo January 31st, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I love Nevermind.Hard to believe it was that long ago that he shot himself,but I remember that.I thought they used to call it “The Seattle grunge movement” with the other bands you mentioned.
Lauren Axelrod January 31st, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I idolized him when I was younger.
Maria Blazz January 31st, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Good biographical sketch.
Brenda Nelson January 31st, 2009 at 9:20 pm
“He was tormented through High School for his sense of artistry and emotional displays by the very people who would come to envy him by the year 1991.”
Love that line! good article
Joie Schmidt February 1st, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Interesting article – - I never knew his detailed story, so thank you for sharing it!
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
V Frost February 4th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
What a wonderful article. Kurt Cobain– Such a beautiful beautiful man.
hfj February 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Good article. I never listened to any of Kurt Cobain’s music, but his life was similar to that of Jimmy Hendrix. Well done.
Leafygreens February 13th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Very Interesting article! Good work!
DBee February 17th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Nice to see fresh input. Hear a movie is coming too. As with OJ, “someone’s” own greed and psychopathic drive to set the record straight (crooked) will ultimately lead to their undoing too (these people can’t help themselves). Just give ‘em enough rope with this upcoming “…Heaven” movie. Watch and wait for karma to publicly unfold in your own lifetime.
But spiritually, Kurt was unable to protect himself, or seek meaningful love outside his music. The very qualities of vulnerability and lack of love in childhood that made his music so powerful are the same ones that would echo, leading predatory users and abusers closest to him to his ultimate undoing. Either scenario was plausible; he jumped the tracks somewhere.
Alas, Kurt was planning to leave his “loveless in Seattle” life anyway… only by plane. He was beginning to feel light again and would want the same for those he truly touched. He is where he needs to be. And so should we… being happy, embracing what he expressed in his music, and making our own.
kitschkitty February 25th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
A great article about a great musician!
spiritwalker February 26th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I watched a documentary about Nirvanna and it is said that he was a modern day John Lennon. Good article. I love Nirvanna…they helped me through depressed times in high school.
Milk It April 12th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
It’s funny, even though I heard a recording of Kurt making fun of The Doors once it seems like there are many parallels between Kurt and Jim Morrison. Seriously though if you are interested in the slightest about either of these musicians than you should pick up a biography, most of them are well written and rather engrossing.
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