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.

[Badeye]

We're doomed!....Doomed!

One of my all time favorite commercials....LOL!

As for Curt Cobain.....and the "grunge" bands.....they did nothing that wasn't done by Humble Pie rocking the Filmore, thirty years ago.

[Constitution Day]

In college, I did concert security for a couple of years.

On their "Goo" tour, I got to meet Thurston & co., get all their autographs & talk to them at length.

They even invited me to have a beer with them!!
Even though I was working, my boss at the time was cool about it.

[Skooz]

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

And imagine this nightmare scenario: Courtney Love is your mom.

[JesseHousman]

A great way for fans to honor Colbain is to gather around a large tub of arsenic-laced Kool-Aid and drink heartily!

[AD from SpringBay]

Man - I almost forgot the anniversary of his death. Thanks for reminding me. What a poetical talented genius he was. Looking back after all these years it really, truly does feel like team spirit. A modern-day prophet he was! Sorely missed at our house I tell you what. I think I'll leave work early before the tragic tremors make my body quake in remembrance.

[Valin]

Very Well Put!

[socal_parrot]

"Did somebody say party?"

[thoughtomator]

The brains behind Kurt Colbain? His own! ;)

[Freedom4US]

Why anyone would "worship" these idiots is beyond me. Ted Nugent called it - Cobain was a p&^$$y. Nobody should idolize a loser.

[realwoman]

Let me get this straight. Cobain was a heroine addict that couldn't handle his "fame" and so, probably whacked out of his mind on dope, shot himself in the head. THIS is what people are holding candlelit vigils and feeling dispair over? Okie dokie. And to think when I was a kid we idolized airline pilots and the president. How silly of us.

[af_vet_1981]

A great songwriter

A one hit wonder on a death spiral ...

[LoudRepublicangirl]

This one's a toughy. I still adore Elvis and he slowly killed himself with the drugs he did. Cobain just got it over with quickly.

[Xenalyte]

I am absolutely pea-green.

[Constitution Day]

LOL.
I have lots of other cool autographs from that period, but meeting Sonic Youth was the pinnacle.

(PS - I forgot to mention they also autographed my Daydream Nation album) :P

[antiRepublicrat]

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

I went there to see them around '91-92 in a club in Germany. They were quite good. Then this band called Nirvana that nobody had ever heard of opened for them... I've probably seen several hundred groups in concert in my life. Iggy Pop was by far the loudest, and Skinny Puppy the freakiest.

[antiRepublicrat]

It's a lot less painful than making wall art out of your brains.

LOL! I can see a frame around it and a gay curator "Just look at the existential expression of angst the artist is communicating here."

[antiRepublicrat]

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

How about hanging? Ian Curtis of Joy Division hung himself, but that was because of depression due to ill health with constant pain and epilepsy, not "I can't handle the fame."

[antiRepublicrat]

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

Did you actually understand his screaming or did you cheat and read the liner notes? :)

[mudblood]

I say we should mourn the death of good singing. Good singing gasped its last ragged breath in the late 80s, if you ask me. At some point, bad singers convinced people that "singing bad is cool". Metalica, Nivana, Bruce Springstien, and ACDCs lead singer, whomever he is: they can't sing at all. The good singers (and pardon the spelling): Lou Rawls, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, the Doobie Brothers, Stevie Wonder, and many many more; these folks had a quality product to sell.
Regarding Janice Joplin...ok, she sounded like she gargled with whiskey - but she did more in 3-4 minutes of vocalizing than Kurt could ever hope for.
ACDC, Bad singers: though good singing is dead, I still find myself liking much of it - Nirvana sucked, their clones, and new music in general (especially modern R&B) suck, though.

[Skooz]

I used to be a huge Lou Reed fan, but the boy can't sing his way out of a paper bag.