Fans of rock music, particularly grunge rock, wholeheartedly agree that Kurt Cobain was a legend. As the vocalist of Nirvana, he, along with drummer Dave Grohl and bassist Krist Novoselic, was extremely influential and instrumental in shaping the music of the 21st century.
According to Musiclipse, Cobain was born on February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. His parents were Donald Leland Cobain and Wendy Fradenburg Cobain, and he was their eldest son. At the time of his birth, Donald was 21, while Wendy was 19.
Cobain reportedly developed an interest in music from a very young age. He loved playing guitars, pianos, and drums and displayed songwriting skills when he was just a little boy. Interestingly, his family had a background in music. His maternal uncle, Chuck Fradenburg, played in popular Washington-based bands such as The Beachcombers and The Fabulous Wailers.
Little Kurt also had an interest in art and reportedly spent hours drawing and sketching. He was very close to his grandmother, Iris Cobain, who supported him in his artistic endeavors. The deceased frontman of Nirvana also had three siblings: Kimberly “Kim” Cobain, Chad Cobain, and Brianne O’Connor.
Reports suggest that Kimberly, who was born on April 24, 1971, had the same parents as Kurt. Kurt and Kimberly lived with their parents in Aberdeen until their divorce. Eventually, Donald and Wendy married Jenny and Patrick O’Connor, respectively. Donald and Jenny had a son, Chad, while Wendy and Patrick had a daughter, Brianne. This made Kurt Cobain their half-brother.
Over the years, several filmmakers have created documentaries about the singer/guitarist’s life and career. However, the most well-known is the 2015 HBO documentary Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck.
When did Kurt Cobain get his first electric guitar and how was his school life?
Kurt Cobain received his first-ever electric guitar from his uncle Chuck on his fourteenth birthday in 1981. Per Musiclipse, this instrument was an inexpensive second-hand Japanese model.
Although this guitar had issues with its strings, young Cobain adored it, and it hardly ever left his side. Soon, he upgraded to a $125 Ibanez guitar and played iconic songs such as AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” As years passed, his interest in the instrument surged, and he began taking songwriting and composing music seriously.
Interestingly, his relationship with guitars was complicated; some of his actions prove this. During Nirvana’s shows, his emotions would take over and as an ode to the God of music, he used to smash the instrument after the band’s performance concluded. For the musician, the guitar was more than an instrument. It was an extension of his unfiltered emotions.
As a student, Cobain was never consistent with his studies, as traditional educational structures didn’t help him much. He regularly skipped school; however, his interest in art classes was unmatched. Cobain was also a passionate reader. He loved immersing himself in literature and spending hours in Aberdeen’s Public Library. Since he was constantly in conflict with academics, he dropped out right before graduation. His rebellious attitude is also credited for this decision.
How and when did Kurt Cobain die?
Per History.com, Kurt Cobain committed suicide on April 5, 1994. Nobody realized that he had died for three days. Eventually, someone found the musician’s body in his Seattle residence.
Kurt Cobain’s body was discovered by an electrician named Gary Smith. Reports indicate that Smith was installing a security system in the house when he came across the Nirvana member’s body. He immediately dialed 911, and officials did not take too long to show up. Officer Von Levandowsky later confirmed Cobain’s identity after discovering a wallet with his ID on the corpse.
Before taking his own life, Cobain wrote an emotional suicide note, which remains controversial to this day. In fact, over the years, this note has spawned numerous conspiracy theories. It was addressed to Boddah, his imaginary friend, whom the musician fabricated when he was very young. In this note, he described how he lost his passion for making music and performing on stage. He stopped feeling the admiration of fans, and no matter what they did, it did not motivate him.
Cobain also mentioned how he was bitter about Queen’s Freddie Mercury because, unlike the latter, his desire to get on the stage faded. According to All That’s Interesting, the note read, “For example, when we’re back stage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowds begins, it doesn’t affect me the way in which it did for Freddie Mercury. Who seemed to love, relish in the love and adoration from the crowd, which is something I totally admire and envy.”
Following Cobain’s death, Nirvana went defunct. Dave Grohl went on to form Foo Fighters and is currently one of the biggest names in rock, while Krist Novoselic has placed in several bands such as Sweet 75 and Eyes Adrift.
