All My Words Are Grey: Happy Birthday Kurt Cobain

                                                                                                                        Boddah 20/2

Today’s post is special because today is Kurt Cobain’s 45^th birthday.

Born on the 20^th February 1967, Kurt Donald Cobain was born in the small town of Aberdeen in Seattle.  At the age of eight, Kurt experienced a milestone in his life, his parents’ divorce.  Kurt repeatedly noted in interviews (About a Son) how this had a profound affect on his childhood and choices in life.  Kurt juggled living with both parents, eventually feeling “last on the list of importance” and resented his parents for this.  His love for music and desire to start a band was seen as irrelevant to his parents; resulting in him becoming homeless – attempting to move between friends houses. 

This period in Kurt’s life never took him down as he still dreamed of starting his own band, eventually making a Fecal Matter tape with some friends.  Attempting to persuade bassist, Krist Novoselic to join the band was no easy matter for Kurt, until Krist listened to the demo, and took Kurt up on his offer.

Nirvana was created involving Kurt (lead vocals, lead guitar), Krist (bass) and Aaron Burkhard/Chad Channing (drums). With demo’s made and send to every label imaginable, Nirvana got signed to Sub Pop Records.  Their time at Sub Pop led to the creation of Nirvana’s debut album, “Bleach”. Unhappy in the band, Chad left, feeling frustrated at not having an input in the song writing. 

On occasion, Kurt has recalled Bleach being the result of being under-pressure by the owners of Sub Pop, being the reason they left the label. This wasn’t the end for Nirvana as the search for a label still continued.  All was not lost when a young drummer came into the scene.  Dave Grohl was a drummer for Scream at the time and when Scream suddenly broke up, Buzz Osborne of The Melvins introduced the drummer to Kurt and Krist.  A newly formed three piece, Nirvana still search for the right label.  Kurt Dreamed of being signed to Capitol because all of his favourite bands were on there.  Meeting the executives one after another, Nirvana not only refuses to get signed to Capitol, but get signed to Geffen Records (DGC).

Signed to Geffen (DGC), Nirvana went on to create “Nevermind”, one of the most influential albums of all time, adding popularity to the Grunge music originating from Seattle.  After “Nevermind” came “Incesticide” and “In Utero”, both huge classics of Grunge music.  When “Nevermind” came out, Nirvana hit huge fame beyond their wildest dreams, and beyond Kurt’s wildest nightmares.  Kurt has said that the times in the band were much better and happier right before “Nevermind” came out. Nirvana headlined Reading Festival, one of the most famous Reading Festival performances, and also MTV Unplugged, also one of the biggest MTV Unplugged performances to date. Within all this fame, Kurt married Hole singer Courtney Love, and together they had Frances Bean Cobain.  This unhappiness and uneasiness of being in the spotlight, with fear of the safety of wife and child, led to the deterioration of the beautiful soul and ultimately the death of Kurt Cobain.

Frances Bean Cobain: 2012

18 years on, Nirvana’s legacy still lives on.  Krist now lives a quiet, private life, although played bass for band Flipper for a number of years until 2009.  Dave is now frontman of the Foo Fighters, drummer for Them Crooked Vultures and “the nicest man in rock”.  Dave and Krist continue to be close friends.  Frances Bean keeps and extremely private life.  Now 19, she is currently engaged to singer Isiah Silva and does not communicate with mother, Courtney. This is what Frances Bean looks like now.

 I sit here writing this with tears coming to my eyes with sorrow for Kurt and pride in Nirvana whilst wearing my Nirvana t-shirt.  My love for Nirvana as a band, and Kurt, Krist and Dave as people, is undefinable.  Their music has changed my life for the better.  I can’t thank them enough.  They’ve helped me be comfortable with who I am, helping me embrace my love for rock music; despite being picked on for liking it.  Kurt’s experience with divorce and his ability to be open with it helped me realise I’m not alone.  The music Nirvana made takes me to another world, away from the shit of every day life.  Thank you, all three of you.  Because of you, I have reached Nirvana.

Happy birthday Kurt.  We still love you and the music you made with Nirvana.  Rest in Peace.

Sit and drink pennyroyal tea. Distil the life that’s inside of me.