Nirvana fans to mark Cobain death

BBC On Line/Entertainment ^ | Monday, 5 April, 2004 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Last Updated: Monday, 5 April, 2004, 07:35 GMT 08:35 UK

Nirvana fans to mark Cobain death

Fans sign a shrine in a London record shop

Rock fans are expected to begin marking the 10th anniversary of the death of Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain on Monday. Cobain, 27, was found dead with a gunshot wound at his home in Seattle, Washington, on 8 April 1994. It is believed he shot himself on 5 April.

Fans of the influential singer usually mark the date with candlelit vigils in Seattle's Viretta Park.

Former Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic said: "I go into privacy mode at this time of year."

Novoselic - who made up Nirvana alongside Cobain and drummer Dave Grohl - added: " It's something I don't like to think about, much less talk about."

COBAIN REMEMBERED

Cobain, born in Aberdeen, Washington, is legendary among fans as leader of a band widely considered to be one of the most important of all time.

Nirvana were at the vanguard of the 1990s US grunge movement, creating a hard but melodic style of rock that appealed to millions.

In combining the do-it-yourself ethics of punk rock with an anti-corporate stance, they came to define what the media labelled "Generation X".

Their 1991 album Nevermind, containing the band's anthem Smells Like Teen Spirit, has sold more than 14 million copies.

Success

Cobain was married to former Hole singer Courtney Love, mother of their daughter Frances Bean, now aged 11.

Cobain's musical legacy has influenced many young artists

According to his suicide note, Cobain had found it difficult to come to terms with fame and success. He was also suffering from acute stomach pains, and was using heroin.

Fans are expected to gather in Viretta Park to sing Cobain's songs and leave flowers.

Jennifer DeSilva, born in Aberdeen and now living in Seattle, said: "I try to come here every month. It's just so sad."

Geoff Mayfield, editor of Billboard magazine, said Cobain's youthful death would preserve his legend. "These artists that die so young are frozen," he said.

Rolling Stone magazine has dedicated several pages to Cobain and declared him one of 20 legendary figures in the history of music. MTV said no one could compare to him.

[Xenalyte]

Jennifer DeSilva, born in Aberdeen and now living in Seattle, said: "I try to come here every month. It's just so sad."

Get a life, bimbo.

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[martin_fierro]

TURN BACK! HAVEN'T YOU HEARD?

Kurt Cobain says life in these United States is .. JUST ... TOO ... HARD!

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

A great songwriter, but one messed-up guy. Being married to Courtney Love didn't help, either.

[Xenalyte]

We're doomed . . . DOOMED!

[Eddie Dean]

Kurt Cobain on Monday. Cobain, 27, was found dead with a gunshot wound at his home in Seattle, Washington, on 8 April 1994. It is believed he shot himself on 5 April.

Problem is... his fingerprints weren't on the gun.

[OXENinFLA]

Nirvana fans mark Cobain death

[antiRepublicrat]

What has more brains than Kurt Cobain? The wall behind him.


Seriously, I saw them back when they were unknown, opening for Sonic Youth. They were pretty good. I just wish I'd caught one of those demo tapes they were throwing out to the crowd. However, Cobain's future didn't sound too good when he said "I'd like to thank the alcohol" at the end of the concert.

[Lost Highway]

I liked Nirvana as much as the next guy but I get so tired of the "I don't want to be a rock star" rock star. If you don't want to be a rock star, stop making records. It's a lot less painful than making wall art out of your brains.

[Xenalyte]

You got to see Sonic Youth? I am SO jealous! I consider them one of the top five bands ever.

[thefactor]

grunge ping

[smiley]

Read an article in the Sunday paper where two authors are writing a book about the possibility of Cobain being "murdered" by Courtney.....coming soon to a book store near you...

[nonliberal]

Cobain was one of the few "musicians" with even less talent than his wife.

Nirvana fans simply mistake a lack of talent for genius.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

There's a website devoted to the proposition that Courtney killed Kurt. To their credit, they look at both the pro and con side. Wish I had the URL...saw it a year or two ago.

[MJM59]

I refuse to "honor" anyone who places a loaded shotgun up to his own head and pulls the trigger. Kurt Cobain was a loser!

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

I saw Sonic Youth open for Neil Young on the Ragged Glory tour...the Neil fans in the crowd hated 'em! That's when I started to like SY. Then Neil came out and made twice the guitar squall of SY, and the crowd went nuts. Go figure...

[Skooz]

While flipping channels last year I came across a film that said much the same thing. Courtney's step-father is convinced she murdered him. Initially skeptical, after hearing some of the evidence, it seems a not unreasonable (though unproven, of course) assumption.

[GreenLanternCorps]

Will ther be a 21 shotgun salute?


Seriously, I get a little tired of mediocre musicians like Kurt Cobain or Jim Morrison getting lionized because they die young.

The real tragedy is that the child Cobain fathered will always have to deal with the aftermath of this suicide.

[Alberta's Child]

I was never a Nirvana fan, and to be honest I don't think I even knew who Kurt Cobain was while he was still alive. But I must give that band credit for perhaps summing up the culture in America in the 1990s in two short lines from their song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" . . .

I feel stupid -- and contagious,
Here we are now -- entertain us.