Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994) was an American musician. He was the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana, which also included bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl. He was also a left-handed guitarist.
Kurt Cobain | |
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| File:Minibus with Kurt Cobain Portrait - Bhaktapur - Nepal (13486900064) crop.jpg Portrait of Cobain | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kurt Donald Cobain |
| Also known as | Kurdt Kobain |
| Born | February 20, 1967 Aberdeen, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | April 5, 1994 (aged 27) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative rock, grunge |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, artist |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, drums |
| Years active | 1985 –1994 |
| Labels | Sub Pop, DGC/Geffen |
| Associated acts | Nirvana, Fecal Matter |
In 2023, Cobain appears at number 36 on the Rolling Stone magazine's "200 best singers of all time" list.[1]
Early life
Cobain was born in the city of Aberdeen, Washington.[2] His parents divorced when he was seven years old.[3] During his sophomore year in high school, Cobain began living with his mother in Aberdeen. In late 1986 Cobain moved into an apartment. At this time he often travelled to Olympia to go to rock concerts.
Personal life
Cobain met Courtney Love in 1990. Love began pursuing Cobain in 1991. He married her in 1992 in Hawaii after she found out that she was pregnant with his child, Frances Bean Cobain.
In 2002, some of Cobain's private journal entries were published in a book called Journals.[4]
Career
Cobain was very influential in creating what came to be known as grunge music. Grunge musicians pushed back against music they saw as commercial and shallow. Grunge was a reaction against 1980s stadium rock and metal bands that were more concerned with appearance than sound.
Nirvana
Kurt Cobain started Nirvana with his friend Krist Novecselic in 1987. They often would practice on the second floor of Novescelic's Mom's hair salon. Nirvana's first album, Bleach, was released in 1989. They went through five different drummers and finally they decided to hire Dave Grohl from the band Scream in 1990. After the 1991 release of their hit album Nevermind, Nirvana became one of the most popular bands of the decade. Nirvana's best known song is "Smells Like Teen Spirit", which was often referred to by the media as an anthem for Generation X and grunge itself. Often Cobain expressed frustration with his fame, because he thought they were getting the wrong side of him. They went on to release one more album, In Utero. it wasn't as famous as Nevermind, but it was still very successful. Cobain said that this album was the one he was looking for, the sound he had in his head for their last two albums. he decided that he wanted to have a more mellow sound. The band broke up after Cobain committed suicide in 1994.
On February 20, 2014, Aberdeen had its first Kurt Cobain Day.[5]
Health problems and death
Cobain was diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder.[6] He started using drugs when he was a teenager. He often used heroin. Cobain also had chronic bronchitis. He used drugs to self-treat his undiagnosed stomach condition. Later in his career, he was admitted to special drug treatment hospitals several times. The last time he was admitted, he escaped to his home. Cobain committed suicide by shooting himself with a gun and taking an overdose of heroin in 1994. Although conductor David Woodard had built a Dreamachine for Cobain,[7]:355–366 reports that Cobain had been using the psychoactive device excessively in the days leading up to his suicide were contradicted by later findings.[8][9] Cobain is a member of the '27 club' of popular musicians who have died at the age of 27, often from drug abuse.
Kurt Cobain Media
Grays Harbor Hospital in Aberdeen, where Cobain was born.
Cobain's childhood home in 2020.
Cobain playing drums at an assembly at Montesano High School in 1981
The Lake Placid Blue Fender Mustang played by Cobain during the filming of the video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit", shown at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle
Cobain's model of Fender Jaguar
Cobain's former home, and the site of his death.
A bench in Viretta Park, through tribute graffiti, has become an improvised memorial to Cobain
- Minibus with Kurt Cobain Portrait - Bhaktapur - Nepal (13486900064).jpg
A minibus in Nepal with a portrait of Cobain on rear window
In 2005, a sign was put up in Aberdeen, Washington, that reads "Welcome to Aberdeen – Come As You Are" as a tribute to Cobain
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References
- ↑ "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2023-01-01. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
- ↑ "Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee". Archived from the original on 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
- ↑ Cross 2001, p. 20
- ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (October 21, 2002). "Pages From Kurt Cobain's 'Journals' Published - Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV". mtv.com. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
- ↑ Rushe, Dominic (20 February 2014). "Come as you are: home town invites world to its first Kurt Cobain Day" – via www.theguardian.com.
- ↑ "Interview: Kurt Cobain's Cousin on Youth Suicide - AHealthyMe.com". 2 February 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-02-02.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Bolles, D., "Dream Weaver", LA Weekly, July 26–August 1, 1996. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ↑ Allen, M. (January 20, 2005). "Décor by Timothy Leary". The New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2021.