Kurt Cobain, the eternal rock icon and frontman of the legendary band Nirvana, continues to captivate fans and music scholars decades after his death. Born in 1967 in Aberdeen, Washington, Cobain not only revolutionized the music scene with his raw and emotional approach to grunge but also left a lasting legacy through his complex life and groundbreaking work.
This text aims to explore intriguing curiosities about the man behind the guitar that transformed rock in the 90s. From his turbulent childhood and unexpected musical influences to secrets from his personal life and his iconic live performances, we will dive deep into Kurt Cobain’s story and uncover what made him such a fascinating and enigmatic figure in music history.
Get ready for a journey behind the scenes of a rock legend’s life.
1 – KURT LOVED TO DRAW
Kurt Cobain was born on February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington, USA. From an early age, Cobain showed a passion for drawing. When he was just six years old, he presented a drawing of Mickey Mouse to his grandfather, Leland, who doubted that his grandson had created something so impressive and suggested he might have copied it.
To prove his talent, Leland asked Kurt to draw again in his presence. The result was remarkable illustrations of Goofy and Donald Duck. In the documentary “Montage of Heck”, several of Kurt’s drawings can be seen, including those of Goofy and Donald Duck.
2 – HE WAS A FAN OF THE BEATLES AND TERRY JACKS
Kurt’s passion for music began in his childhood when he frequently tried to play on the piano the songs he heard on the radio.
During this time, he was a great admirer of the Beatles and Terry Jacks. Later, when Nirvana had already achieved global fame, he covered Terry Jacks’ song “Seasons in the Sun”.
During each band performance, whenever this song was played, the members would swap instruments, and Kurt would take over the drums.
3 – KURT COBAIN WAS A PECULIAR CHILD
Kurt was very restless during his childhood. His sister, Kim, recalls that his hyperactivity would increase when he consumed foods high in sugar.
To manage this, he was prescribed Ritalin, a medication that many feared could predispose him to future substance dependency.
Courtney Love, his wife, also used Ritalin in her childhood, and this topic was often discussed between the couple.
Additionally, from a young age, Kurt demonstrated a peculiar sense of humor. On one occasion, he remarked to a firefighter, “How can you ruin such a perfect fire just to make smoke?”
4 – HE MENTIONED SUICIDE SINCE HIS TEENAGE YEARS
As a teenager, Kurt used to make homemade movies, and one of them was titled “Kurt Commits Suicide”, in which Cobain pretended to kill himself by slashing his wrists. In fact, suicide had been a frequently discussed and experienced topic for Kurt since he was 14.
Besides the movie he recorded, he would tell friends that he would become a very famous musician and then kill himself.
His great-uncle committed suicide, and when Kurt was in the eighth grade, he and two friends found a boy from their school hanging from a tree.
5 – HE WAS VERY LAZY
After his parents’ separation, Kurt’s mood began to change. In his teenage years, his father and stepmother offered to pay him for doing household chores. However, Kurt was so reluctant to work that he ended up in debt to them.
6 – THE IDEA OF PUNK ROCK
Meeting the band Melvins had a profound impact on Kurt’s life, and he documented his impressions in his journal. In one entry, he wrote: “They played faster and with more energy than any of my Iron Maiden records. It was exactly what I was looking for. Ah, punk rock”.
Years later, Kurt ended up living with one of the band’s members and also had the opportunity to open shows for the Melvins.
7 – LOSING HIS VIRGINITY
Kurt lost his virginity on a rather peculiar night. During a party, he met an acquaintance named Jackie Hagara. Jackie and her friend Shannon wanted to leave, so Kurt invited them to his house. When they arrived, Shannon was so drunk that she fell asleep in a bed, while Kurt took Jackie to his room.
Just as they were undressing, Kurt’s mother burst in furiously and kicked all three of them out of the house. Once outside, Shannon had sobered up a bit, and the group decided to go to Jackie’s house.
However, when they arrived, they found Jackie’s boyfriend, who had just been released from prison. Kurt then pretended to be Shannon’s boyfriend, and the two ended up spending the night together.
8 – LIVING IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES
Due to his complicated relationship with his parents, Kurt moved around frequently during his teenage years. On several occasions, he ended up spending the night at the Grays Harbor Community Hospital.
To get food, he would often stand in line and place orders for rooms that didn’t actually exist.
9 – KURT, RELIGIOUS?
At 17, Kurt adopted a religious faith and converted to evangelical Christianity. He gave up alcohol and marijuana, even going so far as to criticize his friend Jesse for using drugs. However, this phase was brief; Kurt not only resumed drinking and smoking marijuana but also began to rebel against God.
10 – HE WAS ARRESTED SEVERAL TIMES
Kurt faced legal troubles on multiple occasions. The first incident involved a US$ 180 fine for graffiti. In a second incident, he was charged with trespassing after climbing onto a rooftop and was also caught with alcohol while still underage. Since he hadn’t paid the previous fine and had no money for bail, he ended up spending eight days in jail.
11 – HE LOVED SMASHING GUITARS ON STAGE
Kurt always had the habit of smashing his guitars, a behavior that began before he was famous. The first time he broke a guitar on stage was when Nirvana had not yet released their first album, and he was only 21 years old.
12 – THE “NEVERMIND” ALBUM COVER
Kurt was responsible for the idea of the Nevermind album cover, which features a baby swimming towards a dollar bill. Initially, there was a discussion about whether or not to include the baby’s penis in the image.
13 – THE SUCCESS OF “NEVERMIND”
Before the release of “Nevermind,” the record label Geffen expected to sell 50,000 copies. However, after a pre-release performance, the vice president of Geffen, excited, predicted sales of 100,000 copies.
Nirvana, however, topped the charts so quickly that the 46,251 available copies sold out rapidly, and “Nevermind” was out of stock for a few weeks. The album only left the Billboard charts on July 17, 1993, almost two years after its release. “Nevermind” has since sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
14 – THE DEATH OF KURT COBAIN
Kurt was found dead on April 8, 1994, by electrician Gary Smith, who was working on installing a new security system at the residence. It is believed that he passed away on the 5th, although the death could have occurred a day earlier or later. It is noteworthy that many think he could have died on the same day without shooting himself in the head due to the large amount of heroin found in the autopsy. The suicide note was addressed to his childhood imaginary friend, Boddah.
Kurt was only 27 years old and joined the list of singers who died at the same age, such as Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Johnson, and Amy Winehouse.
15 – THE SUICIDE NOTE
Kurt shares very intimate thoughts in his suicide note. For example, he states that he can no longer feel any emotion on stage, as seen in the excerpt:
“I haven’t felt the excitement of listening to, as well as creating music, along with reading and writing, for many years now. I feel guilty beyond words for these things. For example, when we’re backstage, and the lights go out, and the insane roar of the crowd begins, it doesn’t affect me the way it did Freddie Mercury, who seemed to love, relish in the love and adoration of the crowd, which is something I admire and envy greatly. The fact is, I can’t fool you, any of you. It simply isn’t fair to you or me. The worst crime I can think of would be to trick people by being fake and pretending as if I’m having 100% fun. Sometimes I feel like I have to punch in a time clock before I step out on stage”.
Kurt also mentions his wife and daughter, Frances, saying he fears the little one will become self-destructive, just like him:
“I have a goddess of a wife who sweats ambition and empathy and a daughter who reminds me too much of how I used to be, full of love and joy, kissing every person she meets because everyone is good and will do her no harm. And that terrifies me to the point that I can barely function. I can’t stand the thought of Frances becoming a miserable, self-destructive death rocker like I’ve become”.
Kurt also confesses that he felt hatred towards human beings:
“I have a lot, a lot really, and I am grateful for it, but since I was seven, I’ve become hateful towards all humans in general. Just because it seems so easy for people who have empathy to get along. Just because I love and feel sorry for people too much, I guess.”
And in the end, he states that he is a sad person who no longer has passion for anything:
“Thank you all from the pit of my burning, nauseous stomach for your letters and concern over the past years. I’m a moody, sad baby! I don’t have the passion anymore, and so remember, it’s better to burn out than to fade away”.
Kurt Cobain, the iconic leader of Nirvana, left a lasting legacy that transcends music and resonates deeply in pop culture. His career, marked by authenticity and emotional intensity, redefined 90s rock and influenced countless subsequent bands and artists. Despite his tragically short life, his influence lives on through his music and the cultural impact he made.
Cobain was not just a musician; he was a symbol of a generation, representing the struggles and complexity of youth at the time. His compositions and unique style continue to inspire and resonate with new generations, ensuring that his memory and contribution to music are never forgotten.
Kurt Cobain’s story is a testament to the power of art to reflect and shape the world around us, even when the artist who created it is gone too soon.