Dead People you should know: Kurt Cobain

In 1988, Kurt Cobain created the band Nirvana, which went on to usher in a new different type of music that would shape a generation. He then released four award-winning albums along with multiple iconic singles. Tragically on June 15, 1994, Cobain committed suicide under dubious circumstances and gave an abrupt end to his burgeoning legacy.

Early Life

Cobain was born on February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. For the first few years of his life, he had a typical family. However, at the age of nine, his parents got divorced, and he was separated from his sister and mother while he stayed with his father. Nine years later, after a series of quarrels with his father, Cobain moved back to live with his mother and sister. 

Not long after, Cobain's mother remarried, and soon, problems began to arise between Cobain and his new stepfather. After multiple arguments with his stepfather, Cobain became nomadic, staying in public buildings or at friends’ houses.

Claim to Fame

In 1988, after enduring multiple failed attempts at creating a band, Cobain started Nirvana.  The unique “Seattle Sound” would be the calling card of the new punk rock band, and, eventually, one of the keystones for the creation of grunge. In Cobain's words, he believed “Punk is musical freedom. It's saying, doing, and playing what you want. In Webster's terms, 'nirvana' means freedom from pain, suffering, and the external world, and that's pretty close to my definition of Punk Rock.” 

That same year Nirvana released their first track “Love Buzz.” However, disagreements between the drummer Aaron Burckhard and Cobain led to Burckhard being replaced with Chad Channing. The next year, Nirvana released their first album Bleach which showcased Cobain's skill in writing lyrics but failed to make an impression on the Seattle music scene. Yet again, two years later, Chad Tanning and Cobain disagreed with the band's direction, so the final drummer ever to be in Nirvana was the ex-member of Scream Dave Grohl.

In 1990, they released “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which quickly became number 1 on the music charts, cementing Cobain’s skill in songwriting. As Nirvana was thrown into mainstream popularity, Cobain was unsure of where his band's new direction. Due to his ongoing stress of being so popular, he started using drugs such as heroin to calm himself and ease his mind. 

Cobain’s Struggle With Drugs

Soon before the release of “Nevermind”, Cobain went into a whirlwind relationship with Courtney Love of the band Hole. Soon later, in February of 1992, the two got married and had a daughter, Frances Bean. In 1993 Nirvana released “In Utero” which quickly soared to the top of the charts. This album again showed Cobain’s prowess in songwriting with it showing his softer side in songs like “Heart-Shaped Box.” 

However, while in Europe after performing the acclaimed MTV’s “Unplugged” show Cobain fell into a coma after purposely overdosing on drugs. On March 18, 1994, after returning home, Cobain locked himself in his closet with medication and guns. After much begging from Love to come out, she ultimately called the police, and they came to confiscate his weapons. Shortly after, Cobain stayed at a rehabilitation clinic as Love was doing in order to get clean.  Unfortunately, Cobain soon left rehab and returned to Seattle.

The Death And Legacy Of Kurt Cobain

In the guest house behind his home in Seattle, on April 5, 1994, the 27-year-old Cobain committed suicide via a single shotgun blast. He left a lengthy suicide note explaining his motives and addressing his friends family and fans. Although his death was officially ruled as suicide, there are multiple conspiracy theories attributing his death to Love. Soon after his tragic death, Nirvana released their “Unplugged” session which topped all of their former album charts. This further solidified Cobain in history as an excellent songwriter that will forever be remembered for his creation of grunge that went on to inspire generations.

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