Celebrating Kurt Cobain: A Look Into his Life and Legacy

*CONTENT WARNING: Mention of drug use and suicide.* 

  Kurt Cobain was born in Aberdeen, Washington on February 20th of 1967. He was artistically inclined from a young age, being drawn to music and visual arts. His creativity was encouraged by distant members of his family who had also been involved in different artistic disciplines. He started to render drawings of his favorite cartoon and comic book characters, including Mickey Mouse and The Creature from The Black Lagoon. He also began writing short songs. Kurt’s artistic voice grew with him and reflected the angst and inner world he acquired with age. Kurt’s parents divorced when he was in his late childhood. Their separation and subsequent marriages caused some of his behavioral issues and rebellious years. The loss of stability and fight for belonging drew him to people, settings, and situations who shared in his anger. 

Kurt continued to develop as an artist and found himself returning to local punk rock shows and befriending Seattle bands and musicians. Kurt’s first band Fecal Matter was formed with friends he had made from the Seattle band The Melvins. It was the first of many “joke bands” Kurt contributed to, and he would maintain these relationships throughout his career. The rehearsal space for The Melvins is also where Kurt would become friends with Krist Noviselic. The two of them joined forces with Chad Channing and Jason Everman to create the first iteration of what would be Nirvana. The band put together a demo tape and sent it to many labels including Sub Pop Records, a Seattle label that had made a name for itself by representing many of the up-and-coming rock bands in the scene. A cover of “Love Buzz” by Shocking Blue would be the song to land Nirvana a deal and allow them to record their first studio album--Bleach. 

  Produced by Seattle native Jack Endino, Bleach was recorded in less than a week for just over $600 and released on June 15th, 1989. The label made the band find their own funding for the creation of the album. It was paid for by Jason Everman, the second guitarist in the band at the time. “Blew” was the first single that was released, with the rest of the album soon to follow. As the primary songwriter, Kurt drew upon childhood memories, local tales, his own drawings, and daytime television for content in his songs. He also started to write about his relationships, most notably in “About A Girl.” This is also the most melodic track on the album where the Beatles’ influence on Kurt is most evident. The song is about his then girlfriend Tracey Marander, who also photographed the band for the album’s cover. Along with Bleach, the 1990 Sliver and Dive singles would be the only Nirvana releases with Sub Pop Records. 

  After constant disputes about distribution and funding, Nirvana decided Sub Pop was no longer the right fit for the future of the band. Having gained a following in the Seattle scene, recognition was now easier to earn from different labels. David Geffen Company, a subset of Geffen Records, bought Nirvana out of their 3-year contract with Sub Pop. Considering what a major label it was, this was a big deal for a band like Nirvana. The band decided to put their trust in Geffen because of their admiration for labelmates Sonic Youth and Teenage Fanclub, and David Geffen Company had built a reputation for allowing the creative freedom and support that Kurt was looking for.  

  During this time, there were changes within the band and in Kurt’s personal life. He ended his 3-year relationship with Tracey Marander and started looking for a new drummer. The search for a new drummer came from Kurt’s discontent with the sound and skill of Chad Channing. He found what he was looking for in Dave Grohl, former drummer for the punk band Scream. His drumming had the right amount of power and precision, perfect for laying the groundwork for Kurt’s new songs, which were becoming more distinct. Many new songs from Kurt would be about his new relationship with Bikini Kill band member Tobi Vail. One of the most mythologized stories regarding their relationship is the origin story for the song title “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Bikini Kill band member Kathleen Hanna wrote the phrase “Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit” on a wall, referencing Tobi Vail’s use of the deodorant brand and alluding to her relations with Kurt. The song would become the lead single for Nirvana’s second studio album. 

Changes within Kurt’s life and art would only continue as Nirvana entered a new album cycle. On September 24th of 1991, Nirvana released their second studio album Nevermind, to a roaring reception from audiences across the world. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at #114. The first pressings sold out so quickly and the album was in such high demand that Geffen records put the production of all other albums on hold to fulfill it. Nevermind is an album of contradiction; not only was it a punk band breaking into the mainstream, but the content of the songs themselves diverted from some usual punk tendencies. Kurt’s lyrics stayed socially conscious in punk fashion, but he incorporated surrealist imagery and poeticism while the music became less reminiscent of classic punk bands. The melodic styles focused more on an atmosphere and mood with deeper, gritter, and manipulated sounds. Audiences were drawn to the personal nature of the songs and saw their own lives and experiences reflected. Young people especially felt represented by Kurt, with his attitude and his anger. “Grunge” was a term that grew with this generation. There was a style, a voice, an aesthetic that came along with the band’s popularization. Nevermind would establish Kurt Cobain as the voice of this generation, and there are echoes of his voice in generations since. Nevermind remains an album full of substantial and visceral songs that has stood the test of time. 

In the next years, Nirvana’s popularity would only continue to grow as they toured the U.S. and Europe. Kurt was introduced to Courtney Love, lead singer of the band Hole, by her bandmate Eric Erlandson. Kurt and Courtney’s relationship was highly publicized and tumultuous. Their drug use was a big topic of conversation in popular culture. When their daughter Frances Bean Cobain was born, it was wondered whether they were well-suited for raising a child. Courtney and Frances gave Kurt more to draw from as he continued to write songs. Kurt developed a fascination with physiology that is obvious in his art, and Nirvana’s next album would expand on this. Another example exists on the cover of the 1992 compilation album Incescticide, with a depiction of an emaciated stick-like figure with a broken baby doll and red poppies representing heroin and Kurt’s ongoing addiction struggle that would reappear in the future music video for “Heart-Shaped Box.”  

  In Utero is the third and final studio album recorded by Nirvana. It was released on September 21st, 1993. Steve Albini produced the album after Kurt recruited him due to his love for Steve’s earlier work on albums like The Pixies’ Surfer Rosa and PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me. Steve produced the album under the conditions that the band held true to their artistic instincts and steered clear of commercially motivated compromises. In Utero stood apart from the previous studio albums mainly due to the lyrical themes becoming more mature as Kurt’s new role as a family man weighed on him. The album opens with the lyrics “teenage angst has paid off well/now I’m bored and old”.  Kurt wanted to abandon the image he had built as an angry young man and although he often dismissed any claims that his songs were personal, listeners began to speculate and draw parallels to his now very public life. The lyrics of In Utero expanded on the same themes of Nirvana’s previous albums and the band’s handle on the dichotomy of primal and pop melodies became stronger. They experimented with more noisy and abrasive soundscapes in the songs that separated them from those of Nevermind. The expectations for the album as a follow up to Nevermind were great. The band and Steve Albini, however, were solely focused on making something they could be proud of, and this kind of artistic integrity is what set Nirvana apart. In Utero debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, but the tour that followed the album’s release would be cut short due to Kurt’s worsening drug addiction and mental state.  

  Kurt’s addiction and relationships were often exploited throughout his life, but his awareness and care for social injustice is often overlooked. In the years that Nirvana was active, Kurt Cobain was consistent and outspoken in his efforts to discourage homophobia, sexism, racism and sexual assault. These themes appear in the lyrics of his songs, in album liner notes, and in personal journals. Not only did he write and speak about the issues openly, but his views were also backed with action. The band participated in benefits such as the first ever “Rock for Choice” series of concerts in support of pro-choice standing. Kurt often appeared on stage and in photos wearing dresses and makeup, in effort to disregard gender stereotypes. These seemingly small actions made a big impact on the public as Nirvana’s following grew. This part of Kurt’s character drew more people to his music and personality. In songs such as “Been a Son”, “Polly”, “Rape Me”, and “Sappy”, Kurt expands on these themes in poetic detail. These statements and songs stand as a testament to his personal legacy and the mark he left on the world.  

On April 8th, 1994, Kurt Cobain was found dead in the greenhouse above the garage of his Seattle home. He died by a declared self-inflicted gunshot to his head and his body was found with a suicide note nearby. The event of Kurt’s death didn’t come as a surprise to people close to him, but it came as a shock to the whole world. Looking back at Kurt’s life and lyrics has led people to draw their own conclusions about the artist. Cobain’s death often overshadows and taints the picture of the artist and man that he was. It’s easy for some to see a depressed, addicted, man, but it takes a good look to see the artist that laid himself bare and sacrificed so much to make the music we know and love today. 

  Posthumously, the legendary MTV unplugged concert was released in November of 1994, and is now one of the most beloved Nirvana releases. Years later, biographies would be written, films would be made, and albums would be released about Kurt and the events of his life. Most notably the documentary and compilation albums Montage of Heck that included recordings of Kurt throughout his life offered up by his close family and friends. Kurt’s own personal journals have been published and countless retellings of his life have been released by writers and fans who try to make sense of his life and death. 

     There is no simple way to describe the lasting impact Kurt Cobain has had on popular culture and music. With Nirvana, he cut through the clutter of an increasingly contrived world. Kurt served as a spokesperson for the overlooked and brought an entire genre out of the underground. His legacy is undeniable and enduring, and he will hold a place in the hearts of people for years to come.  

Links to Used Sources:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/kurt-cobain-the-enduring-legacy-of-grunge-s-reluctant-frontman-1.845910 

https://www.loudersound.com/features/steve-albini-on-nirvana-in-utero 

https://www.theguardian.com/music/from-the-archive-blog/2014/apr/05/kurt-cobain-an-icon-of-alienation 

https://youtu.be/H27BU-P9CIA?si=9fwijwO3x7bJGUuy 

Charles R. Cross, Heavier Than Heaven (Book)