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Kurt Cobain's Favorite Books: A Dive into the Mind of a Grunge Icon
Introduction:
Beyond the iconic riffs, the angst-ridden lyrics, and the tragically short life, Kurt Cobain remains a captivating figure. For many, understanding his creative genius requires exploring the influences that shaped him. One significant aspect often overlooked is his reading material. This in-depth exploration delves into the books that captivated Kurt Cobain, examining the titles he cherished and how they may have informed his music, art, and worldview. We'll dissect his literary tastes, uncovering the themes and authors that resonated most deeply with the Nirvana frontman, offering a unique perspective into the mind of a legend. Prepare for a journey into the literary landscape that inspired one of the most influential musicians of all time.
1. The Power of Literature in Shaping Kurt Cobain's Artistic Vision:
Kurt Cobain's artistic output wasn't created in a vacuum. His lyrics, album art, and even his public persona all hint at a profound engagement with literature. Unlike many rock stars who may dismiss intellectual pursuits, Cobain actively sought out books that explored themes of alienation, societal critique, and the human condition – themes that permeate Nirvana's music. Understanding his reading habits offers valuable insight into the creative wellspring from which his art flowed. His choices weren’t random; they were deliberate selections that reflected his internal struggles and artistic aspirations.
2. Confirmed Titles and Their Significance:
While a definitive list of every book Cobain read remains elusive, several titles have been consistently mentioned by those close to him and have surfaced in various biographical accounts. These books weren't just casual reads; they were deeply impactful, shaping his worldview and influencing his artistic expression. These include:
_Positively Fourth Street: The Lives and Times of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mimi Farina and Richard Farina_ by David Hajdu: This biography, shedding light on the turbulent lives and complex relationships within the folk music scene, likely resonated with Cobain's own experiences navigating the complexities of fame and interpersonal relationships.
_The Catcher in the Rye_ by J.D. Salinger: A quintessential coming-of-age novel exploring themes of alienation and rebellion, Holden Caulfield's cynicism and disillusionment found a clear echo in Cobain's own sentiments. The book's rebellious spirit and critique of societal hypocrisy would have strongly resonated with the young musician.
_The Communist Manifesto_ by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels: Cobain's interest in socialist and anarchist ideologies is well-documented, and this seminal text, outlining the principles of communism, likely provided a framework for understanding his critiques of capitalism and societal inequality. Its focus on class struggle and revolution mirrored his own rebellious spirit and critique of the status quo.
_Autobiography of Malcolm X_ as told to Alex Haley: Malcolm X's powerful story of self-discovery and social activism likely inspired Cobain’s own journey towards self-expression and his advocacy for marginalized groups. The themes of racial injustice and the fight for equality connected with Cobain's own struggles against societal norms and expectations.
_Siddhartha_ by Hermann Hesse: This philosophical novel exploring themes of spirituality and self-discovery likely resonated with Cobain’s ongoing search for meaning and purpose in life. Hesse’s exploration of Eastern philosophy and the quest for enlightenment likely mirrored Cobain's own spiritual explorations.
3. Unconfirmed but Likely Influences:
Beyond the confirmed titles, several other books align with Cobain’s known interests and the prevalent themes in his music and art. These books, though not definitively proven to be part of his personal library, offer further insight into the literary landscape that likely influenced him:
Works by William S. Burroughs: Burroughs’ experimental writing style and exploration of dark and taboo subjects would have likely appealed to Cobain's own artistic sensibilities.
Works by Charles Bukowski: Bukowski's gritty realism and unflinching portrayal of societal outsiders would have resonated strongly with Cobain's own experiences and perspectives.
Beat Generation literature: The rebellious spirit and counter-cultural ethos of the Beat poets likely informed Cobain’s own artistic rebellion and his rejection of mainstream values.
4. Connecting the Dots: Literature's Influence on Nirvana's Music and Art:
The themes of alienation, rebellion, societal critique, and existential questioning present in Cobain's favorite books are strikingly evident in Nirvana's music. The lyrics of songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Lithium," and "Heart-Shaped Box" directly reflect the emotional turmoil and societal critique prevalent in the books he read. Even the album art often incorporated imagery and symbolism drawn from the literary world, furthering the connection between his reading and his artistic output.
5. Conclusion:
Exploring Kurt Cobain's literary preferences provides a deeper understanding of the complex and multifaceted individual behind the music. His reading wasn't merely a pastime; it was a vital component of his artistic process, shaping his worldview and influencing the music that defined a generation. By examining the books he cherished, we gain a richer appreciation for the depth and complexity of his artistic vision and the enduring legacy of Nirvana.
Book Proposal: "Kurt Cobain: A Literary Portrait"
Outline:
Introduction: Brief overview of Kurt Cobain's life and artistic influence, highlighting the importance of understanding his literary influences.
Chapter 1: Confirmed Reads: Detailed analysis of the confirmed books, examining their themes and how they relate to Cobain's life and art.
Chapter 2: Probable Influences: Exploration of likely influences based on Cobain's known interests and the themes in his work. This section would include analysis of works by Burroughs, Bukowski, and other Beat Generation writers.
Chapter 3: The Literary Echo in Nirvana's Music and Art: Detailed analysis of how themes and imagery from Cobain's reading manifest in Nirvana's music, lyrics, and album art.
Chapter 4: Conclusion: Summary of findings and reflections on the significance of understanding Cobain's literary influences.
(The following sections would be expanded upon in the full book, providing detailed analysis of each point outlined above.)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. Did Kurt Cobain have a favorite author? While there's no single definitive favorite, authors like J.D. Salinger, Hermann Hesse, and potentially William S. Burroughs, seem to align strongly with his known tastes.
2. Where can I find a complete list of Kurt Cobain's books? A definitive, complete list doesn't exist. Information comes from interviews, biographical accounts, and recollections from those close to him.
3. How did Kurt Cobain's reading influence his lyrics? Themes of alienation, rebellion, and existential questioning prevalent in his reading directly inform the emotional intensity and social commentary found in Nirvana's lyrics.
4. What type of books did Kurt Cobain enjoy reading? He gravitated towards works exploring themes of alienation, rebellion, societal critique, and the human condition. He also showed an interest in political and philosophical texts.
5. Did Kurt Cobain's reading influence his art style? The symbolism and imagery present in some of Nirvana's album art suggest a connection to the themes and imagery found in the books he read.
6. Are there any primary sources documenting Kurt Cobain's reading habits? Primary sources are limited; information comes largely from secondary sources like biographies and interviews with those who knew him.
7. How can understanding Kurt Cobain's reading help us understand his music better? It provides crucial context, revealing the underlying intellectual and emotional framework behind his artistic vision.
8. Did Kurt Cobain ever mention his reading in interviews? While not extensively discussed, snippets of information about his reading choices have emerged in interviews and biographical accounts.
9. Where can I find more information about Kurt Cobain's life and work? Numerous biographies, documentaries, and websites provide extensive information about Kurt Cobain's life, career, and creative influences.
Related Articles:
1. Kurt Cobain's Artistic Influences: An exploration of the broader artistic influences on Cobain, encompassing music, art, and film.
2. The Nihilistic Themes in Nirvana's Music: A deep dive into the themes of nihilism and despair prevalent in Nirvana's lyrics and music.
3. The Social Commentary in Nirvana's Lyrics: An analysis of the social and political critiques embedded in Nirvana's songwriting.
4. Kurt Cobain's Personal Struggles and Their Impact on His Art: A detailed examination of Cobain's personal battles and their reflection in his music.
5. The Legacy of Nirvana and Grunge Music: A look at Nirvana's lasting impact on the music industry and culture.
6. Kurt Cobain's Relationship with Courtney Love: An analysis of their complex relationship and its influence on both their lives and careers.
7. The Evolution of Nirvana's Musical Style: A detailed exploration of the band's musical progression across their albums.
8. Nirvana's Album Art and Its Symbolic Meanings: An analysis of the symbolism and imagery used in Nirvana's album artwork.
9. A Comparison of Kurt Cobain's Lyrics to Other Grunge Artists: A comparative study of Kurt Cobain's lyrical style and themes in comparison to other influential grunge musicians.
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Queer William S. Burroughs, 2022 „Una dintre cele mai zguduitoare confesiuni scrise vreodată. Allen Ginsberg Scris între anii 1951 și 1953, dar publicat abia în 1985, legendarul roman al lui Burroughs este o enigmă — atât un autoportret plin de cruzime, cât și un roman politic mușcător, cea mai realistă poveste de dragoste a autorului, dar și un montaj de scene fantastice comicgrotești. Plasat în Mexico City, la începutul anilor 1950, Queer îl are în centru pe William Lee și căutarea deznădăjduită a intimității și a ostoirii dorinței prin toate barurile ce alcătuiesc scena expiaților americani din capitala mexicană. Queer este și cronica pasiunii homosexuale a personajului principal pentru tânărul Eugene Allerton, desfășurată într-un Mexico City desprins parcă dintr-un tablou suprarealist. Textul introductiv al romanului, o teribilă confesiune insuflată de evenimentul care l-a determinat să devină scriitor — împușcarea accidentală a soției sale, Joan Vollmer —, este fundamental pentru identificarea multora dintre resorturile operei lui Burroughs. „Șocând încă o dată pe toată lumea, Burroughs a scris un studiu profund și plin de sensibilitate despre dragostea neîmpărtășită. Romanul acesta umanizează retroactiv întreaga sa operă. Martin Amis „În Queer se întâlnesc multe dintre temele, tehnicile narative și personajele lui Burroughs. Prin intermediul acestui roman înțelegem umorul negru, energia violentă și viziunea tulburătoare a unui scriitor care și-a croit drum în conștiința noastră, cucerindu-și un loc definitiv în istoria literară. The New York Times Book Review |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Nirvana Everett True, 2009-03-17 As the assistant editor of Melody Maker, Everett True was the first journalist to cover the Seattle music scene in early 1989 and interview Nirvana. He is responsible for bringing Hole, Pavement, Soundgarden, and a host of other bands to international attention. He introduced Kurt Cobain to Courtney Love, performed on stage with Nirvana on numerous occasions, and famously pushed Kurt onto the stage of the Reading Festival in 1992 in a wheelchair. Nirvana: The Biography is an honest, moving, incisive, and heartfelt re-evaluation of a band that has been misrepresented time and time again since its tragic demise in April 1994 following Kurt Cobain's suicide. True captures what the band was really like. He also discusses the music scene of the time -- the fellow bands, the scenes, the seminars, the countless live dates, the friends and allies and drug dealers. Drawn from hundreds of original interviews, Nirvana: The Biography is the final word on Nirvana, Cobain, and Seattle grunge. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: I Found My Friends Nick Soulsby, 2015-03-31 I Found My Friends recreates the short and tempestuous times of Nirvana through the musicians and producers who played and interacted with the band. The guides for this trip didn't just watch the life of this legendary band—they lived it. Soulsby interviewed over 150 musicians from bands that played and toured with Nirvana, including well-known alternative and grunge bands like Dinosaur Jr., The Dead Kennedys, and Butthole Surfers, as well as scores of smaller, but no less fascinating bands. In this groundbreaking look at a legendary band, readers will see a more personal history of Nirvana than ever before, including Nirvana's consideration of nearly a dozen previously unmentioned candidates for drummer before settling on David Grohl, a recounting of Nirvana's famously disastrous South American shows from never-before-heard sources on Brazilian and Argentine sides, and the man who hosted the first ever Nirvana gig's recollections of jamming with the band at that inaugural event. I Found My Friends relives Nirvana's meteoric rise from the days before the legend to through their increasingly damaged superstardom. More than twenty years after Kurt Cobain's tragic death, Nick Soulsby removes the posthumous halo from the brow of Kurt Cobain and travels back through time to observe one of rock and roll‘s most critical bands as no one has ever seen them before. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Come As You Are Michael Azerrad, 2013-01-23 The definitive biography of the revolutionary band Nirvana and its star-crossed frontman Kurt Cobain, hailed by Rolling Stone as “the first [book] to comprehensively tell the band’s tale from Aberdeen, Wash., to world domination” “Amazingly raw and candid . . . an unsparing and extremely honest depiction of the group’s highly tumultuous history . . . Come As You Are is as good as rock bios get.”—Billboard “Just tell the truth. That’ll be better than anything else that’s been written about me.”—Kurt Cobain Nirvana came out of nowhere in 1991 to sell nearly five million copies of their landmark album Nevermind, whose thunderous sound and indelible melodies embodied all the confusion, frustration, and passion of the emerging Generation X. Come As You Are is the close-up, intimate story of Nirvana—the only book with exclusive in-depth interviews with bandmembers Kurt Cobain, Krist Noveselic, and Dave Grohl, as well as friends, relatives, former bandmembers, and associates—now updated to include a final chapter detailing the last year of Kurt Cobain's life, before his tragic suicide in April 1994. Vivid, evocative, and thought-provoking, Come As You Are is an essential document not just for Nirvana fans but for anyone interested in the cultural legacy of the 1990s. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Perfume Patrick Süskind, 2015-06-25 An erotic masterpiece of twentieth century fiction - a tale of sensual obsession and bloodlust in eighteenth century Paris 'An astonishing tour de force both in concept and execution' Guardian In eighteenth-century France there lived a man who was one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages. His name was Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, and if his name has been forgotten today. It is certainly not because Grenouille fell short of those more famous blackguards when it came to arrogance, misanthropy, immorality, or, more succinctly, wickedness, but because his gifts and his sole ambition were restricted to a domain that leaves no traces in history: to the fleeting realm of scent . . . 'A fantastic tale of murder and twisted eroticism controlled by a disgusted loathing of humanity . .. Clever, stylish, absorbing and well worth reading' Literary Review 'A meditation on the nature of death, desire and decay . . . A remarkable début' Peter Ackroyd, The New York Times Book Review 'Unlike anything else one has read. A phenomenon . . . [It] will remain unique in contemporary literature' Figaro 'An ingenious and totally absorbing fantasy' Daily Telegraph 'Witty, stylish and ferociously absorbing' Observer |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Provocations Camille Paglia, 2019-09-17 Much has changed since Camille Paglia first burst onto the scene with her groundbreaking Sexual Personae, but the laser-sharp insights of this major American thinker continue to be ahead of the curve—not only capturing the tone of the moment but also often anticipating it. Opening with a blazing manifesto of an introduction in which Paglia outlines the bedrock beliefs that inform her writing—freedom of speech, the necessity of fearless inquiry, and a deep respect for all art, both erudite and popular—Provocations gathers together a rich, varied body of work spanning twenty-five years, illuminating everything from the Odyssey to the Oscars, from punk rock to presidents past and present. Whatever your political inclination or literary and artistic touchstones, Paglia’s takes are compulsively readable, thought provoking, galvanizing, and an essential part of our cultural dialogue, invariably giving voice to what most needs to be said. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Where Did You Sleep Last Night Lynn Crosbie, 2015-05-02 Does true love have supernatural power? Where Did You Sleep Last Night is a love story about a teenage girl who embarks on a relationship with Kurt Cobain. Evelyn Gray is a sad and lonely sixteen-year-old from Carnation, Washington who is terrorized by her classmates at school. She spends most of her time in her room reading, writing letters to dead people, listening to old records and talking to the poster of Kurt Cobain above her bed. Her mother is an alcoholic grunge relic from Seattle, whose recollections, books and music help ignite Evelyn’s love for Cobain—a love so painfully strong that it summons the deceased singer to her side. When Evelyn is taken to the hospital after an overdose, she awakens to find Cobain—who has little to no memory of his former life—convalescing in the bed beside her. Once united, they quickly become addicted to drugs and each other. Cobain—renamed Celine Black—and Evelyn escape the hospital and run off together, determined to have everything they want. Inevitably, they become infamous musicians, but despite their mutual devotion, the couple is tormented by strong passion and jealousy. As their celebrity grows, their relationship becomes more excessive, and an episode of sexual violence explodes, shockingly, into murder. A highly original work of haute fan fiction, written in Crosbie’s poetic and emotionally evocative prose, Where Did You Sleep Last Night is an imaginative, surprisingly funny, and touching novel about the adamant persistence of love. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Nirvana FAQ John D. Luerssen, 2014-03-01 (FAQ). Nirvana FAQ traces the band from its genesis to its end. Founded by friends Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, Nirvana had a rocky start and a succession of drummers, but by the end of 1990, its debut album, Bleach , had garnered international attention and the group's sixth drummer, Dave Grohl, had joined the fold. Following its mentors Sonic Youth to Geffen Records, Nirvana had hoped for modest success. Instead came unexpected wealth and fame on the strength of 1991's Nevermind and its iconic, breakthrough single Smells Like Teen Spirit. Success didn't sit well with Cobain, who began to numb the stresses of rock stardom with heroin. Despite 1993's hit album In Utero , Cobain's unhappiness became increasingly apparent. His suicide in April 1994 shocked the music world and put an end to a band at the height of its popularity. Nirvana FAQ answers such questions as, What guitar teacher did Cobain and Novoselic have in common? Where did Cobain record his first demo? What was the cause of his first arrest? How was second guitarist Jason Everman hired and fired? What was the name of Grohl's first band, and where did he meet Cobain and Novoselic? Who is Teen Spirit about? How did Nirvana's war with Guns N' Roses begin? And more. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Serving the Servant Danny Goldberg, 2019-04-02 NATIONAL BESTSELLER On the twenty-fifth anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death comes a new perspective on one of the most compelling icons of our time In early 1991, top music manager Danny Goldberg agreed to take on Nirvana, a critically acclaimed new band from the underground music scene in Seattle. He had no idea that the band’s leader, Kurt Cobain, would become a pop-culture icon with a legacy arguably at the level of that of John Lennon, Michael Jackson, or Elvis Presley. Danny worked with Kurt from 1990 to 1994, the most impactful period of Kurt’s life. This key time saw the stratospheric success of Nevermind, which turned Nirvana into the most successful rock band in the world and made punk and grunge household terms; Kurt’s meeting and marriage to the brilliant but mercurial Courtney Love and their relationship that became a lightning rod for critics; the birth of their daughter, Frances Bean; and, finally, Kurt’s public struggles with addiction, which ended in a devastating suicide that would alter the course of rock history. Throughout, Danny stood by Kurt’s side as manager, and close friend. Drawing on Goldberg’s own memories of Kurt, files that previously have not been made public, and interviews with, among others, Kurt’s close family, friends, and former bandmates, Serving the Servants sheds an entirely new light on these critical years. Casting aside the common obsession with the angst and depression that seemingly drove Kurt, Serving the Servants is an exploration of his brilliance in every aspect of rock and roll, his compassion, his ambition, and the legacy he wrought—one that has lasted decades longer than his career did. Danny Goldberg explores what it is about Kurt Cobain that still resonates today, even with a generation who wasn’t alive until after Kurt’s death. In the process, he provides a portrait of an icon unlike any that has come before. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Cobain Unseen Charles R. Cross, Cross R, Charles, 2008 The first authorised, illustrated biography of Kurt Cobain is a treasure trove packed with rare material, inserts, and keepsakes. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Journals Alexander Mackenzie, 2022-02-28T19:10:34Z Alexander Mackenzie was the first European to complete a land crossing of the continent of America north of Mexico, preceding the famous Lewis and Clark expedition by twelve years. In his journals he details two separate voyages: one up what is now known as the Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean in 1789, and another to what is now Bella Coola on the Pacific Ocean in 1792 and 1793. Both journals provide a detailed description of the many difficulties in navigating and traveling in a country that had yet to be mapped. Having to rely on Native guides and rumors, and enduring hardships that almost beggar belief, Mackenzie and his team were able to achieve their objective of finding an east to west land crossing through the Rocky Mountains and to the Pacific Ocean. Although his route didn’t prove as practical as routes found by later explorers, Mackenzie has cemented himself as a key explorer of Western Canada. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Kurt Cobain Jeff Burlingame, 2006 Traces the life, career, and impact of rock musician Kurt Cobain. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Save Me, Kurt Cobain Jenny Manzer, 2016 A chance discovery makes Nico, fifteen, believe that not only is Kurt Cobain, lead singer of the 1990s grung band Nirvana, still alive, but that he might be her real father. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Letters to Kurt Eric Erlandson, 2012-03-27 an anguished, angry, and tender meditation on the octane and ether of rock and roll and its many moons: sex, drugs, suicide, fame, and rage.--Jacket. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Nirvana Rob Jovanovic, 2004 Session-by-session, track-by-track, the full story of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana's musical evolution and their recorded legacy. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Dark Slivers Nick Soulsby, 2012 |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Kurt Cobain Brett Morgen, Richard Bienstock, 2015-05-05 The companion book to the HBO film about the Nirvana singer and songwriter, “the most intimate rock doc ever” (Rolling Stone). Kurt Cobain, legendary lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of Nirvana, “the flagship band of Generation X,” remains an object of reverence and fascination for music fans. For the first time, his story was told in the fully authorized feature documentary, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, in 2015. Brett Morgen—the Oscar®-nominated filmmaker behind such acclaimed documentaries as the HBO presentation Crossfire Hurricane, which celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Rolling Stones, and The Kid Stays in the Picture—was writer, director, and producer of film. Visual artist Frances Bean Cobain, Cobain’s daughter, was executive producer. This riveting book accompanied Morgen’s documentary and delved further into the material created for the film, presenting an illuminating and honest portrait of the Nirvana frontman that captured the contradictions that made up his character. The book is composed of the extended versions of the exclusive interviews featured in the film. It also showcases the film’s incredible visuals with a mixture of animation stills, rare photography, and other treasures from Kurt Cobain’s personal archive. Director Brett Morgen offers his personal thoughts on the creation of the film and the need to shatter the mythos that surrounds Cobain. Taking fans into and beyond Morgen’s movie with unparalleled insight into the world of the late musician, this book is the perfect complement to a milestone documentary that forever changed the way fans view Kurt Cobain. “The film offers the bells and whistles but the book provides the real guts of the tale.” —Examiner |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Everybody Loves Our Town Mark Yarm, 2011-09-06 Twenty years after the release of Nirvana’s landmark album Nevermind comes Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge, the definitive word on the grunge era, straight from the mouths of those at the center of it all. In 1986, fledgling Seattle label C/Z Records released Deep Six, a compilation featuring a half-dozen local bands: Soundgarden, Green River, Melvins, Malfunkshun, the U-Men and Skin Yard. Though it sold miserably, the record made music history by documenting a burgeoning regional sound, the raw fusion of heavy metal and punk rock that we now know as grunge. But it wasn’t until five years later, with the seemingly overnight success of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” that grunge became a household word and Seattle ground zero for the nineties alternative-rock explosion. Everybody Loves Our Town captures the grunge era in the words of the musicians, producers, managers, record executives, video directors, photographers, journalists, publicists, club owners, roadies, scenesters and hangers-on who lived through it. The book tells the whole story: from the founding of the Deep Six bands to the worldwide success of grunge’s big four (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains); from the rise of Seattle’s cash-poor, hype-rich indie label Sub Pop to the major-label feeding frenzy that overtook the Pacific Northwest; from the simple joys of making noise at basement parties and tiny rock clubs to the tragic, lonely deaths of superstars Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley. Drawn from more than 250 new interviews—with members of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Screaming Trees, Hole, Melvins, Mudhoney, Green River, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season, L7, Babes in Toyland, 7 Year Bitch, TAD, the U-Men, Candlebox and many more—and featuring previously untold stories and never-before-published photographs, Everybody Loves Our Town is at once a moving, funny, lurid, and hugely insightful portrait of an extraordinary musical era. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Cobain on Cobain Nick Soulsby, 2016-02-01 Cobain on Cobain places the reader at the key moments of Kurt Cobain's roller-coaster career, telling the tale of Nirvana entirely through his words and those of his bandmates. Each interview is another knot in a thread running from just after the recording of their first album, Bleach, to the band's collapse on the European tour of 1994 and Cobain's subsequent suicide. Interviews have been chosen to provide definitive coverage of the events of those five years from as close as possible, so that the reader can see Cobain reacting to the circumstances of each tour, each new release, each public incident, all the way down to the end. Including many interviews that have never before seen print, Cobain on Cobain will long remain the definitive source for anyone searching for Kurt Cobain's version of his own story. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Love & Death Max Wallace, Ian Halperin, 2004-04-09 A stunning and groundbreaking investigation into the death of one of the great rock icons of our times -- revealing new evidence that points to a terrible conclusion. On Friday, April 8, 1994, a body was discovered in a room above a garage in Seattle. For the attending authorities, it was an open-and-shut case of suicide. What no one knew then, however, and which is only being revealed here for the very first time, is that the person found dead that day -- Kurt Cobain, the superstar frontman of Nirvana -- was murdered. In early April 1994, Cobain went missing for days, or so it seemed; in fact, some people knew where he was, and one of them was Courtney Love. Now a star in Hollywood and rock music, in early 1994 she was preparing to release her major label debut with her band, Hole, and what she knew then, though few others did, was that Cobain was planning to divorce her. Love & Death paints a critical portrait of Courtney Love; it also reveals for the first time the case tapes made by Love's own P.I., Tom Grant, a man on a mission to find the truth about Kurt Cobain's demise; and introduces us to a number of characters who feature in various theories about plots to kill Cobain. In addition, Cobain's grandfather goes public, charging that his grandson was murdered. Drawing on new forensic evidence and police reports obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, the book explodes the myths that have long convinced the world that Cobain took his own life, and reveals that the official scenario was scientifically impossible. Against a background of at least sixty-eight copycat suicides since 1994, award-winning investigative journalists Max Wallace and Ian Halperin have conducted a ten-year crusade for the truth, and in Love & Death they are finally able to present a chilling and convincing case that each and every one of these suicides was preventable -- and in doing so, they call for this case to be reopened and properly investigated. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: The Sarah Book Scott McClanahan, 2017 McClanahan is the only real successor we have to Breece D'J Pancake. Old-fashioned storytelling from modern Appalachia. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Heavier Than Heaven Charles R. Cross, 2012-03-13 The New York Times bestseller and the definitive portrait of Kurt Cobain--as relevant as ever, as we remember the impact of Cobain on our culture twenty-five years after his death--now with a new preface and an additional final chapter from acclaimed author Charles R. Cross. It has been twenty-five years since Kurt Cobain died by his own hand in April 1994; it was an act of will that typified his short, angry, inspired life. Veteran music journalist Charles R. Cross fuses his intimate knowledge of the Seattle music scene with his deep compassion for his subject in this extraordinary story of artistic brilliance and the pain that extinguished it. Based on more than four hundred interviews; four years of research; exclusive access to Cobain's unpublished diaries, lyrics, and family photos; and a wealth of documentation, Heavier Than Heaven traces Cobain's life from his early days in a double-wide trailer outside of Aberdeen, Washington, to his rise to fame, success, and the adulation of a generation. Charles Cross has written a new preface for this edition, giving readers context for the time in which the book was written, six years after Kurt's death, and reminding everyone how fresh that cultural experience was when the interviews for the book were done. The new final chapter will update the story since, regarding investigations into Cobain's death, Nirvana's induction into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and how their place in rock history has only risen over the decades. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Of Grunge and Government Krist Novoselic, 2017-11-14 The Nirvana bassist “offers specific platforms for electoral reform . . . as well as charming anecdotes about rock ‘n’ roll as a pursuit of happiness” (Sarah Vowell, The New York Times Book Review). A memoir of both music and politics, Of Grunge and Government tells Krist Novoselic’s story of how during his years with Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, the band made a point of playing benefits—the Rock for Choice show, a concert for gay rights, a fundraising gig for the Balkan Women’s Aid Fund—and how in the ensuing years he has dedicated himself to being a good citizen and participating in American democracy. In this book he shares stories about making music and making a statement—as well as inspiring ideas for anyone who wants to advance progressive causes, to become a more active part of the community, and to make sure our votes count and our voices are heard. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Nirvana Andrew Earles, 2022-10-04 Nirvana, the immortal grunge Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is as relevant and influential as ever. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Never Fade Away Dave Thompson, 1994-06-15 Never Fade Away is Dave Thompson's inside look at the life of one of the most thought-provoking men of all time - Kurt Cobain. Examining an artistic grunge rock genius who was light years ahead of his time, this is an unfailing account of Nirvana's rise and Cobain eventual descent. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Courtney Love Poppy Z. Brite, 1998-12-18 The incredible story of one of rock's most controversial stars, featuring excerpts from her letters and journals, interviews with friends speaking openly for the first time, and dozens of revealing, candid photos. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Kurt Cobain Jesse Frohman, 2014-11-18 On the 20th anniversary of his death, a powerful portrait of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana—including many previously unpublished images—taken during their last formal photo shoot before his suicide In August 1993, when Nirvana was in New York to perform at the legendary Roseland Ballroom, Jesse Frohman photographed them for the London Observer’s Sunday magazine—the last formal photo shoot in which Cobain participated before he committed suicide on April 5th, 1994. Over the course of ninety photographs, Cobain seems an almost feral creature, by turns gentle, playful, defiant, suffering, or absorbed in his music. There’s a diverse range of shots of Cobain with fellow band members Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl and on his own, posing, performing, and greeting fans. Jon Savage’s original interview, which appeared with Frohman’s photographs in the Observer is also reproduced, giving us Cobain in his own words. The book is a touching tribute to Cobain twenty years after his tragic demise, and following Nirvana’s recent induction in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Love Letters to the Dead Ava Dellaira, 2014-04-01 “Dear Ava, I loved your book.” —Award-winning actress Emma Watson For fans of Kathleen Glasgow and Amber Smith, Ava Dellaira writes about grief, love, and family with a haunting and often heartbreaking beauty in this emotionally stirring, critically acclaimed debut novel, Love Letters to the Dead. It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more—though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was—lovely and amazing and deeply flawed—can she begin to discover her own path. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Experiencing Nirvana Bruce Pavitt, 2013 Experiencing Nirvana is a photo journal, grunge rock micro-history and an inside look into a crucial eight-day period in the touring life of Nirvana. In this brief period, the young band goes from breaking up in Rome to winning over the influential British music press at Sub Pop's LameFest U.K. showcase in London, setting the stage for their imminent popularity. Opening for Tad and Mudhoney at the Astoria Theatre in 1989, Nirvana's heart-pounding performance won over the crowd and changed the band's fate. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Kurt Cobain and Nirvana - Updated Edition Andrew Earles, Charles Cross, Gillian G. Gaar, Bob Gendron, Todd Martens, Mark Yarm, 2016-09-01 Nirvana, the immortal grunge Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is as relevant and influential as ever. Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, and Krist Novoselic comprised Nirvana, the band that unintentionally tore the music world asunder with the 1991 album Nevermind. The record that includes hits such as Smells like Teen Spirit, Come as You Are, and Lithium continues to rattle speakers with grunge that truly rocks. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, Updated Edition tells the fully illustrated story of the band that spoke for Generation X in the '90s. Here we are, a quarter century after Nirvana irrevocably changed rock and roll, and the band continues to make headlines and influence music lovers. A documentary about the band and Cobain's solo album Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings were released last year, demanding a closer look at one of rock and roll's geniuses. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana reveals the band's history with fresh eyes, telling the story of a group that instigated a return to punk-inspired rock. This updated edition of the first-ever complete illustrated history of Nirvana features the writing of a sparkling team of grunge-rock experts and word slingers. The book also includes performance and backstage photography, as well as handbills, singles, ticket stubs, gig posters, and other memorabilia that complement the narrative. You'll also find album reviews, gear breakdowns, and mini synopses of Cobain's fifty all-time favorite albums. Nirvana's ride was a wild one - and all too brief. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Who Killed Kurt Cobain? Ian Halperin, Max Wallace, 2002-05-01 When the body of rock icon Kurt Cobain was found in his Seattle home with aullet through his head, the reverberations were felt across the world. Hisntimely death in 1994 was instantly labelled a suicide, and his millions ofans resigned themselves to the loss of their angst-ridden hero. But was iteally the obvious suicide his fans accepted. Ian Halperin and Max Wallaceeveal an alarming array of inconsistencies. They offer compelling reasonsor reopening this suicide case, so that fans will know how their hero died. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Nirvana Kurt St. Thomas, Troy Smith, 2004-04-22 For the fifth anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death comes a you are there look at the career of Nirvana, by the world's authority on the Voice of Grunge. 100 photos, 75 in color. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Kurt Cobain: Alternative Rock Innovator Chrös McDougall, 2012-09-01 This informative title highlights the life of Kurt Cobain. Readers will learn about Cobain's background and his role in the formation of the groundbreaking band Nirvana. Cobain's unstable childhood in Aberdeen Washington is detailed as well as his drug and alcohol use. Cobain's early musical work is discussed, as well as his formation of Nirvana and his collaboration with Dave Grohl and Chris Novoselic. Nirvana's albums Bleach, Nevermind, and In Utero are introduced, as is the band's breakout hit Smells Like Teen Spirit. Cobain's courtship with Courtney Love is included, as is their marriage and the birth of their daughter Frances. Cobain's descent into heroin addiction is included, leading to his death by self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 27. This book includes details of Cobain's life and covers the controversies surrounding his life and death. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: The Summer of Letting Go Gae Polisner, 2014-03-25 Summer has begun, the beach is calling . . . . . . but Francesca Schnell is going nowhere. Four years ago, Francesca’s little brother, Simon, drowned when she should have been watching. Now she is about to turn sixteen, but guilt keeps her stuck in the past. Meanwhile, her best friend is moving on—with the boy Francesca secretly wants—and her father may be having an affair. Then Francesca begins babysitting Frankie Sky, a four-year-old who bears an almost eerie resemblance to Simon. She even wonders if Frankie could be Simon’s reincarnation. Their surprising friendship helps Francesca think she might begin to forgive herself, grow up, and even fall in love, whether or not she solves the riddle of Frankie Sky. “Resonates with real feeling.” —The New York Times Book Review “Haunting, heart-lifting, and impossible to put down.” —A. S. King, author of Please Ignore Vera Dietz “A beautiful story of heartbreak and hope.” —Daisy Whitney, author of The Mockingbirds |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Nirvana Nirvana (Musical group), 2004 Most Nirvana songs are well known and this collection includes all of their commercially released titles, plus a selection of their B-side singles and a handful of rare tracks to round out the collection. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Kurt Cobain & Courtney Love Kurt Cobain, Nick Wise, 1996 Features quotes gathered over the years from family, friends, and the artists themselves, giving the reader a personal insight into their music and world. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Love Kills Hank Harrison, 2017-09-15 Was Kurt Cobain's Death Murder or Suicide? Hank Harrison, author of the best sellers, The Dead Vol I and II, several books on King Arthur and the Holy Grail and two novels, presents an exciting and in depth study of the movement founded by Nirvana Superstar Kurt Cobain. Was Cobain¿s Death an assassination? If so why was he killed? This highly acclaimed author allows each reader to decide this controversial cas. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: The Best of Nirvana (Songbook) Nirvana, 1998-12-01 (Easy Guitar). Features selections from Bleach, In Utero, Nevermind, Incesticide and Unplugged in New York . Includes 16 songs: About a Girl * All Apologies * Come as You Are * Heart Shaped Box * Lithium * Rape Me * Smells Like Teen Spirit * more. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Flowers In The Attic V.C. Andrews, 2011-02-08 Celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the enduring gothic masterpiece Flowers in the Attic—the unforgettable forbidden love story that earned V.C. Andrews a fiercely devoted fan base and became an international cult classic. At the top of the stairs there are four secrets hidden—blond, innocent, and fighting for their lives… They were a perfect and beautiful family—until a heartbreaking tragedy shattered their happiness. Now, for the sake of an inheritance that will ensure their future, the children must be hidden away out of sight, as if they never existed. They are kept in the attic of their grandmother’s labyrinthine mansion, isolated and alone. As the visits from their seemingly unconcerned mother slowly dwindle, the four children grow ever closer and depend upon one another to survive both this cramped world and their cruel grandmother. A suspenseful and thrilling tale of family, greed, murder, and forbidden love, Flowers in the Attic is the unputdownable first novel of the epic Dollanganger family saga. The Dollanganger series includes: Flowers in the Attic, Petals in the Wind, If There Be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday, Garden of Shadows, Beneath the Attic, and Out of the Attic. |
| kurt cobain s favorite books: Entertain Us Gillian G. Gaar, 2012-07-01 Nirvana are one of the most influential bands in rock history, and even now, nearly 20 years after Kurt Cobain's death, the reverence in which they are held is undiminished. Books have been written about Nirvana before, but they tend to concentrate on the band's superstar period and Kurt Cobain's demise, while skating over the early years. In Entertain Us, Gillian Gaar redresses the balance by examining in forensic detail the band's rise to fame, and their first album, Bleach. Seattle native Gaar was one of the first journalists to write about Nirvana, and covered the band's career closely, offering her a unique perspective to write this book. Drawing on extensive interviews with the key characters in the story, including bassist Krist Novoselic, drummer Chad Channing, and producers Jack Endino and Butch Vig, the book charts the band's formation and early years as well as their role at the center of the grunge gold rush. By critiquing every song the band recorded in this period, tracing influences and unpicking complex relationships between band members, associates and record labels, Gaar gets to the heart of a compelling story. |
