kurt cobain biography movie

Advertisement

Supported by

Review: ‘Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck,’ a Documentary by Brett Morgen

• Share full article

By Mike Hale

• April 23, 2015

“Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck,” Brett Morgen’s family-approved documentary about the prodigiously talented and troubled leader of Nirvana, opens with a credit for its source material. Mr. Morgen was given access to Cobain’s archives — “art, music, journals, Super 8 films and audio montages” — and his exhilarating, exhausting, two-hour-plus film, both an artful mosaic and a hammering barrage, reflects years of rummaging through that trove.

Clip: ‘Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck’

A clip from the hbo documentary film “kurt cobain: montage of heck,” screening in the tribeca film festival, in theaters april 24 and coming to hbo may 4..

“Montage of Heck” is really a series of montages, both visual (Mr. Morgen and Joe Beshenkovsky were the editors) and aural (Cameron Frankley did the sound design). Swirls of images flash by — childhood family movies, journal and notebook entries, Cobain’s drawings and paintings, scenes of life on the road, concert footage, magazine articles, the home movies of Cobain and his wife, Courtney Love — set to an intricately layered soundtrack of Nirvana songs, archival interviews and the semiconfessional audiotapes he made as part of his diverse, constant artistic output.

You’re never unaware of this virtuosity — “Montage” is, more than anything, an editing tour de force — or of the highly constructed nature of Mr. Morgen’s narrative. The film stops short of Cobain’s suicide in 1994, which is recounted in a one-sentence title card. But a portrait is assembled of Cobain as relentlessly self-aware and self-critical, and a theory is advanced involving insecurity and shame. And Mr. Morgen — able to choose from the archives — finds abundant clues and premonitions in Cobain’s writings and uses a full bag of film tricks to make them tell the story he wants told.

Ultimate answers about the suicide, or about the nature of Cobain’s relationship with Ms. Love, are still elusive, though. When it comes down to it, Mr. Morgen is faced with the opacity and the nondramatic, self-fulfilling nature of the drug addiction story. This is partly why the first hour, with its home-movie footage of an angelic, hyperactive Cobain as a child and its animated sequences of his adolescence, set to his own taped narration, is the best part of the film. (Though the later scenes of Cobain and Ms. Love living in comfortable, generally cheerful rock-star squalor have their own fascination.)

Mr. Morgen’s reliance on Cobain’s personal material goes along with an unusual sparseness of interview subjects for a biographical documentary — just seven, including his mother, father and sister, his bandmate Krist Novoselic and Ms. Love. (The Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl was interviewed but not included in the film .) You can speculate about how complete a picture we’re getting, given that Ms. Love’s and Cobain’s daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, was an executive producer of the film, but that’s all you can do.

Cobain’s and Nirvana’s music is heard throughout, and there are unusual bonuses, like a shot of Cobain fiercely running through “Drain You” at a sound check or a poignant tape of him singing the Beatles’ “And I Love Her.” Oddly, we don’t really see Cobain’s development as a musician — he seems to appear fully formed, while the film concentrates on Cobain the writer, draftsman and personality. You’re not likely to mind, though, for the duration of Mr. Morgen’s seamless mystery ride.

Explore More in TV and Movies

Not sure what to watch next we can help..

As “Sex and the City” became more widely available on Netflix, younger viewers have watched it with a critical eye . But its longtime millennial and Gen X fans can’t quit.

Hoa Xuande had only one Hollywood credit when he was chosen to lead “The Sympathizer,” the starry HBO adaptation of a prize-winning novel. He needed all the encouragement he could get .

Even before his new film “Civil War” was released, the writer-director Alex Garland faced controversy over his vision of a divided America  with Texas and California as allies.

Theda Hammel’s directorial debut, “Stress Positions,” a comedy about millennials weathering the early days of the pandemic , will ask audiences to return to a time that many people would rather forget.

If you are overwhelmed by the endless options, don’t despair — we put together the best offerings   on Netflix , Max , Disney+ , Amazon Prime  and Hulu  to make choosing your next binge a little easier.

Sign up for our Watching newsletter  to get recommendations on the best films and TV shows to stream and watch, delivered to your inbox.

Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck

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 around the world. His story is told for the first time in KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK, a fully authorized feature documentary co-produced by HBO Documentary Films and Universal Pictures International Entertainment Content Group.

Brett Morgen, the Oscar®-nominated filmmaker behind such acclaimed documentaries as the HBO presentations “Crossfire Hurricane,” which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones, and “The Kid Stays in the Picture,” is writer, director and producer of KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK. Visual artist Frances Bean Cobain, Cobain’s daughter, is executive producer.

KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK explores the indelible record of a life lived on the fine edge between madness and genius, painting a searing and unforgettable portrait of the iconic musician as it mirrors his quicksilver mind. Using Cobain’s own words and images, this intimate look at an elusive and conflicted artist marks the first documentary to be made with the cooperation of his family.

Morgen weaves together moving first-person testimony from Cobain’s mother and sister; his widow, Courtney Love; former girlfriend Tracy Marander; ex-bandmate Krist Novoselic and others with Cobain’s own words, providing an unflinching tribute to a contentious and contradictory talent, who is still revered by millions around the world 20 years after his tragic death.

Given unprecedented access to Cobain’s personal and family archives by the late rocker’s estate, Morgen uncovered a wealth of new material that documents the emotional rollercoaster of his personal life and celebrates his uncompromising creative spirit, including the inspiration for the film’s title, a circa-1988 “sound collage” he titled “Montage of Heck.” Recorded by Cobain on a four-track cassette recorder, it’s a free-form mash-up of song bites, manipulated radio recordings, elements of demos and disparate sounds created or recorded by Cobain.

Using Cobain’s artwork, photography, journals and family photographs as inspiration, the filmmakers have produced original animation to illustrate important moments in his life. Also featured are dozens of Nirvana songs and performances, as well as previously unheard Cobain originals.

“I’m extremely grateful to Courtney Love and Frances Bean Cobain for granting me unfettered access to Kurt’s possessions,” says Morgen. “There were over 200 hours of unreleased music and audio, a vast array of art projects, countless hours of home movies and over 4,000 pages of writings, which together provided a new perspective on an influential and prolific artist who rarely revealed himself to the media.”

In 1991, Seattle-based rockers Nirvana released their breakout hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” taking the music world by storm with a sound that came to represent the youth of the decade. Kurt Cobain became one of the dominant voices of the era, producing songs that were an unlikely combination of nihilism and jubilation. In April 1994, Nirvana fans around the world were devastated by the news of Cobain’s suicide at age 27.

Eight years in the making, KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK chronicles the life of the legendary musician through a lifetime’s worth of work. As a child in rural Aberdeen, Wash., Cobain was clearly gifted, as well as hypersensitive, hyperactive and relentlessly perfectionistic. With seemingly boundless creative drive, he began writing, drawing and making music at an early age.

Idealized by his mother and belittled by his father, Cobain discovered punk rock as a troubled teen. “A friend of mine… made me a couple of compilation tapes,” he remembers in an audiotaped interview. “I was completely blown away. They expressed the way I felt socially and politically. It was the anger that I felt, the alienation. And I realized that this is what I’ve always wanted to do.”

Cobain dropped out of high school shortly before graduation and worked as a janitor while trying to find an outlet for his artistic energy and emotional turmoil. “He was searching for whatever made him feel like he wasn’t alone and that he wasn’t so different,” remembers his sister, Kim Cobain.

By the time Cobain, bass player Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl were leading the northwest rock circuit, the seeds of his destruction had already taken root. Long prone to depression, Cobain began experimenting with heroin and was soon addicted. As his fame grew, so did his appetite for drugs and his self-destructive behavior.

“It’s a superficial label to put on a band that they’re going to become the next big thing without us really wanting to do it,” Cobain told a reporter at the time. “We’re prepared to destroy our careers if that happens.” Cobain’s marriage to controversial fellow musician Courtney Love followed. Coming from a broken home and blended family, Cobain’s lifelong dream was to create the family he felt he missed out on throughout his difficult childhood. The pair made an attempt at domesticity after the birth of their only child, Frances Bean, but drama followed them everywhere they went.

Throughout his life, Cobain continued creating almost compulsively, producing work both poetic and disturbing, often manifestations of his violent dreams and fantasies. He was, in his mother’s words, on a collision course with the world.

“You see his art,” says Novoselic. “A lot of those messages are as plain as day.”

Finally, tormented by his addiction, his inexplicable but excruciating physical ailments and his own unquiet mind, Cobain was unable to escape the troubles that had haunted him since childhood, and took his own life.

KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK had its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

HBO Documentary Films and Universal Pictures International Entertainment Content Group in association with Public Road productions and The End of Music present KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK. A film by Brett Morgen. Written and directed by Brett Morgen; produced by Brett Morgen and Danielle Renfrew Behrens; executive produced by Frances Bean Cobain, Larry Mestel, David Byrnes; co-executive producer, Dave Morrison; edited by Joe Beshenkovsky and Brett Morgen; sound design by Cameron Frankley and Kurt Cobain. For HBO: senior producer, Sara Bernstein; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

3 responses

感受学习的力量！

Hi, From the looks of the Kurt Cobain story, his life and death my own personal opinion of this is I’m totally not in agreement of suicide. This man did not take his life. His drug use is used as an excuse to make it look like it was s suicide. I strongly believe this musician was murdered, this looks like it was plotted by some people he would never expect and people around him and associated with him. Someone he was very familiar with him. He was setup and taken by surprise by his attacker along with a prepared suicide note placed at the death scene or whomever was waiting for him forced him to write the note that day, gave him the drug injection then shot him placing the shotgun in his hand making it appear suicidal. People were paid off so this was a hit. Someone behind this was a wicked untrustworthy savage. Whoever this is that was behind the death of this late musician that wanted him dead obviously he trusted this person, but he really didn’t know them like he thought he did. May this person’s mind be confused, you will no longer have peace and what goes around shall following you. You know you’re responsible for this so called made it look like suicide but really a murder in cold blood by masterminded killer. .

I’m not dead. God brought me back to life! Kurtkurdt.bandcamp.com. SoundCloud.com/nirvanawarnerbrothersindependentwebsite

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Kurt on Film: A Guide to Cobain’s Cinematic Legacy

• By Daniel Kreps

Daniel Kreps

While Montage of Heck will soon be considered the definitive Kurt Cobain documentary, it's not the only time the Nirvana singer has either appeared on the big screen or been a primary influence for a character in a film. In fact, the rock star's history with Hollywood goes back to late 1993, when Quentin Tarantino considered casting the Nirvana singer and his wife Courtney Love in the drug dealer roles later filled by Eric Stoltz and Rosanna Arquette in the 1994 classic Pulp Fiction . (Cobain later thanked "Tarentino, Quentin" in the In Utero liner notes .)

While the man who wrote "Smells Like Teen Spirit" missed out on co-starring in that particular pop-culture touchstone, his presence and essence has appeared in nearly a dozen films, whether it was grunge-era time capsules, unauthorized docs, or movies inspired by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend. Here's a quick breakdown of Cobain on film.

‘1991: The Year That Punk Broke’ (1992)

Dave Markey's alt-rock travelogue follows Sonic Youth as they embark on a European tour in the months before Nevermind and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" changed the face of music. While Nirvana is just the elder avant-punk band's opening act in the film, Cobain is "supporting" in the same way Heath Ledger's Joker supported Christian Bale's Batman: His charisma and magnetism ooze out of every scene he's featured in, and the frontman's onstage chaos is often the highlight of each tour stop. Soon after 1991: The Year Punk Broke , Cobain would transform from someone who was just happy to be here into a rock god. Nearly out-of-print for two decades, 1991 was thankfully made available on DVD in 2011.

‘Hype!’ (1996)

The most thorough cinematic document of the grunge scene to date, Doug Pray's survey told the story of the rock genre borne out of the Pacific Northwest through interviews with Mudhoney, Pearl Jam, Tad, Screaming Trees, Soundgarden, and, of course, Nirvana, who appear in archival footage. Hype! also features video of the first ever live performance of "Teen Spirit," captured on video from the band's April 1991 gig in Seattle. Sub Pop in-house producer Jack Endino also recounts how Cobain, "a friend of the Melvins," came from "middle of nowhere" Aberdeen to record Bleach for the indie label.

‘Kurt & Courtney’ (1998)

Perhaps the most infamous film to feature Cobain, this absolutely unauthorized profile was the first work to plant the controversial seed that Courtney Love was in same way responsible for Cobain's death. Directed by notable documentarian Nick Broomfield ( Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer ), Kurt & Courtney investigates the tumultuous relationship between Nirvana's singer and the Hole frontwoman. Although the filmmaker himself believes Cobain committed suicide, he still offers up insane interviews with odd characters like El Duce, a local punk rocker who claims Love offered him $50,000 to kill her husband.

Thanks to the efforts of Love's legal team, the doc never received a widespread release – a Sundance Film Festival premiere in 1998 was similarly nixed over threat of a lawsuit – but the documentary still inspired a nation of conspiracy theorists to flood YouTube with their own "Kurt was murdered" videos .

‘The Vigil (for Kurt Cobain)’ (1998)

This 1998 Canadian indie starring a cast of unknown actors doesn't feature Cobain or his music — but as you might have guessed from the parenthetical in the title, it was certainly inspired by the Nirvana frontman. The premise: In the days after the singer's suicide, a group of British Columbians band together to travel from north of the border to Seattle in order to attend his vigil. Not much is known other than the fact that Vancouver Province claims "this road movie rocks," but the film is available via Netflix for any curious completists.

‘Last Days’ (2005)

Until someone officially makes a movie that recreates Cobain's life from first guitar to untimely passing, director Gus Van Sant's almost-a-biopic of the Nirvana singer's titular "last days" may be the closest we'll get to his version of Walk the Line. It's not technically a film about Cobain, though the lawsuit-avoiding film does feature a 1994 timeline, a Pacific Northwest setting and Kurt lookalike actor Michael Pitt in the leading role, playing a rocker named "Blake." But Van Sant's film does attempt to delve into the real-life icon's struggles with isolation and depression in the hours before his suicide. And adding some credence to Last Days is an appearance by Sonic Youth singer and Cobain confidante Kim Gordon, cast as a record exec who's worried about the musician's mental state. Still, this fictionalized retelling was met with more scorn than appreciation from Nirvana fans.

‘Kurt Cobain: About a Son’ (2006)

Michael Azerrad's intimate 1993 book Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana is considered one of the best profiles of the band, and in 2005, filmmaker AJ Schnack teamed with the author to construct this abstract look at the environment that produced the future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. The film benefits from using audio from Azerrad's Cobain interviews (he had over a day's worth of conversations with Nirvana's singer on tape) to help paint a portrait of the late singer, but since the documentary was made without the estate's cooperation — and with no actual performance footage to project — the movie failed to resonate with Nirvana fans. In fact, About a Son is perhaps more of interest to Death Cab for Cutie fans, since frontman Ben Gibbard collaborated with Sub Pop and K Records fixture Steve Fisk to create the film's score.

‘Pearl Jam Twenty’ (2011)

It's hard to tell the story of grunge, Seattle and Pearl Jam without at least mentioning Nirvana (although Cameron Crowe's Singles manages to pull it off). Nevermind and Ten were released just a month apart in 1991, and although the two bands enjoyed a bit of a sibling rivalry early on – Cobain himself admitted he used to "talk shit" about Eddie Vedder – the groups ultimately realized they shared the same fans. The Nirvana frontman even admitted later that he discovered Vedder was a "really cool guy."

Their minor feud dissipated entirely when the two musicians danced together at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards; grainy footage of that moment features in Pearl Jam Twenty . "Sometimes people elevate you, whether you like it or not. And it's really easy to fall," Vedder told an audience on April 8, 1994 after Cobain's body was found. "I don't think any of us would be in this room if it weren't for Kurt Cobain."

The Authorized Concert Films (1993-2011)

While Nirvana only released three albums and an odds-and-sods compilation during their short time together, the past two decades have seen a treasure trove of posthumous and officially licensed Nirvana concert videos hit shelves. Two of the band's greatest live performances are readily available on DVD: Their beautiful swan song MTV Unplugged in New York and Live at Reading , which captures Nirvana's historic 1992 concert at the famed British festival.

Nirvana's legacy is also captured in the rehearsal footage DVD that accompanied 2004's With the Lights Out ; the 1994 live comp Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! ; the shot-on-16mm Nevermind reissue companion concert Live at the Paramount ; and, most recently, a DVD of the band's long-out-of-print Live and Loud concert special that was originally broadcast on MTV to celebrate New Year's Eve 1993.

‘Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck’ (2015)

The unanimous acclaim that greeted Brett Morgen's documentary after its Sundance Film Festival premiere last January tells you all you need to know about the first Cobain film made with complete cooperation from Courtney Love. Packed with heartbreaking never-before-seen home movies and lots of Kurt's own tape recordings, journals and drawings — as well as interviews with close friends and family — this intimate look at the man behind the music presents offers an unprecedented peek into his life. Not only is this the definitive film about the singer, it's on a shortlist of the best music documentaries of all time. This is the Gimme Shelter that Cobain's life has long deserved.

'9 to 5' Remake in the Works From Jennifer Aniston

• way to make a living

Harvey Weinstein Survivors Saddened by Overturned NY Conviction: ‘Disappointing for All of Us’

• 'Shocked'
• By Nancy Dillon

'Hollywood Con Queen': See First Trailer for Docuseries About Scam That Shocked the Film Industry

'baby reindeer' is tv's latest tortured-poet show.

• Truth Be Told
• By Alan Sepinwall

Sacha Baron Cohen Passages Redacted From Rebel Wilson's Memoir in U.K.

• By Emily Zemler

Most Popular

Anne hathaway says 'gross' chemistry test in the 2000s required her to make out with 10 guys: that's the 'worst way to do it' and 'now we know better', 'the lord of the rings' trilogy returning to theaters, remastered and extended, sources claim hugh jackman’s worrying behavior may have something to do with his breakup, first queen elizabeth ii memorial statue unveiled, with a smile and three corgis, in england, you might also like, variety and sony pictures announce television fyc showcase, dua lipa delivers coquette glamour in custom chanel lace dress at time 100 gala 2024, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, andrew ahn to direct ‘reimagining’ of ‘the wedding banquet’ starring lily gladstone and bowen yang, ncaa names nil registry partner after five-year process.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, kurt cobain: montage of heck.

Now streaming on:

I'll never forget the day I heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit". I had a show on my high school radio station at the time and once a week my co-host and I would sit in a booth and just randomly listen to what came in that day. Most of it was garbage, of course. The early ‘90s were not as wonderful a time for music as VH1 would have you believe. We knew of Nirvana and so the arrival of Nevermind grabbed our attention quickly. But neither of us were prepared for the first track. No one in the world was. I remember the look on my co-host's face. It’s that rare feeling when you know what you’re hearing is not only going to be popular but influential. We put it on the air immediately. And my obsession with grunge music began.

I offer this anecdote to make clear that my personal relationship with Nirvana is a very strong one (even if I have listened to Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains way more in the decades since)—I can also still picture a friend of mine openly weeping when she heard about Kurt Cobain ’s suicide, too-few years later. However, even with my card-carrying fan status in mind, I think people on the other end of the grunge spectrum of taste would find something special in “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck”. Just as Nirvana took elements of music we had heard before and made them sound new, filmmaker Brett Morgen deconstructs the music documentary and makes it feel new again. In fact, this is one of the best music documentaries ever made.

“Montage of Heck” is the product of eight years of production by Morgen, the genius behind “ The Kid Stays in the Picture ”, " Chicago 10 ", and “Crossfire Hurricane,” and the first Nirvana doc authorized by the estate. It’s almost as remarkable for what it’s not as for what it is. It is not hagiography. A VAST majority of music documentaries are made “by fans for fans.” They merely gild the pedestal on which music history has already placed someone or argue for their underrated importance. There are also documentaries that serve the opposite purpose—to pull a Rock God from the heavens down to Earth. “Montage of Heck” doesn’t do that either. It is more intimate, more emotional, and more personal than either of those easy extremes. It is a true peek into the life of a private superstar. How did he become a rock icon? How did he turn his childhood pain into art? How did his emotional demons overtake him? These are much more difficult questions for a filmmaker to answer than “Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam” or other such garbage of the traditional rock doc. 

Morgen’s approach is as multi-layered as Nirvana’s music. There are interviews (including Courtney Love and Krist Novoselic , but, sadly, not Dave Grohl ) but it’s FAR from a talking head doc as Morgen focuses on archival footage more than anything else. And it’s not a performance doc although Nirvana’s music can be heard through almost all two-hours-plus of the piece. Morgen varies styles—going from home movies to animated recreations of Kurt’s own autobiographical recordings to concert footage to interviews and back again. It all fits tonally with Nirvana. There’s something about listening to the music that Kurt would write later in life while watching home movies of a hyperactive young Cobain that almost feels like a music video that the band itself would have produced. At one point, Morgen plays a version of "All Apologies" that almost sounds like it's coming out of a child's music box, almost as if it's a melody that Cobain has in his head from childhood.

“Montage of Heck” is layered with emotion throughout. Morgen holds a shot after discussing Kurt’s emotional abuse as a child—“ The sad part of the whole thing is that Kurt just really wanted to be with his mom ”—and then those words lead into the opening lines of “Something in the Way”; it’s difficult not to cry at the little boy lost who turned that into art later in life. Morgen uses still photos, drawings Kurt made, animations, and then works with his editor to cut them together in rhythm with Nirvana’s music in ways that are completely mesmerizing.

“Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck” gets slightly repetitive in the second half as Cobain’s issues with fame and relationship with Love dominate the narrative, but even those commonly-discussed chapters of the Cobain legacy have a different, almost tragic energy here. Watching Kurt joke around with Courtney (mocking Axl Rose and Chris Cornell) reveals the friendship dynamic of the two in a different way than we've seen before. And the filmmaking always crackles. Every song choice, every intimate home movie, every personal moment—they have been carefully chosen from eight years of research for maximum impact. There’s an important critical dictum when one reviews documentaries that we need to be careful to focus on the form of the filmmaking as much as the content. Filmmaking matters more than subject matter. In this case, both are brilliant.

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

Now playing

Kaiya Shunyata

The First Omen

Tomris laffly.

Glenn Kenny

Food, Inc. 2

The Sympathizer

Nandini balial.

Knox Goes Away

Robert daniels, film credits.

Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015)

132 minutes

• Brett Morgen

Original Music Composer

• Kurt Cobain

Latest blog posts

25 Years Later, Alexander Payne’s Election Remains as Relevant as Ever

Sharp Writing, Excellent Cast Keep Spy Thriller The Veil Engaging

Take Another Trip to the End of the World with Sony’s Stellar Blade

He's Got Something Going On: David Proval on Mean Streets, and Acting for Martin Scorsese

Search for: Search Button

The 15 Best Documentaries About Kurt Cobain and Nirvana

Jul 9, 2023 | Best Of , Music , People

Kurt Cobain was an extraordinary figure in the music industry and a true legend that left an indelible mark on pop culture. His presence is still felt today, with many people eager to learn more about him and his life. Fortunately, there are some amazing documentaries out there that explore various aspects of Kurt Cobain’s story and Nirvana’s story. In this article, we will be looking at eight of the best documentaries about Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana that give us insight into who he truly was as a person and performer. So read on if you want to find out more!

1. Montage Of Heck (2015)

2. Kurt Cobain: About A Son (2007)

3. Soaked in Bleach (2015)

4. Nirvana: Up Close And Personal (2007)

5. Kurt and Courtney (1998)

The 10 Best Free Documentaries About Kurt Cobain

1. did courtney love murder kurt cobain.

Are you a fan of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana? Then check out this video where we have compiled 8 of the best documentaries about his life. Get ready to dive deep into the mysterious death of one of music’s most iconic figures. We’ll explore the theories surrounding Courtney Love, who some believe had something to do with his death. Soaked in Bleach is also included, which follows an investigator hired to find Cobain after he left rehab only to discover his body within a week. Watch now and draw your own conclusions about what really happened on that fateful day!

2. The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain

This documentary is an inside look at the last 48 hours of Kurt Cobain’s life. Directed by John Dower, it features interviews with artists such as Duff McKagan and shows detailed footage of those final days. It also explores Cobain’s frequent visits to Aurora Avenue where he took drugs. Get a firsthand account of one of the most iconic musicians in history when you watch The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain!

3. All Apologies

Kurt Cobain, the frontman of Nirvana, left a huge impact on millions of people when he died. The circumstances surrounding his death remain mysterious and controversial to this day. All Apologies: A Documentary about Kurt Cobain is an exploration into the life of this iconic musician in his final days. This film dives deep into the details behind Kurt’s untimely demise and provides insight from Courtney Love, who was married to him at the time. Fans of Nirvana will not want to miss out on this compelling look at one of music’s most beloved figures!

4. Last Days: A Gus Van Sant film

Are you looking for a documentary about Kurt Cobain, the legendary lead vocalist of Nirvana? Last Days is an insightful film that explores the life of the musical icon and delves into his untimely death. It was written, produced and directed by Gus Van Sant in 2005.

This documentary offers an interesting look into Cobain’s life, exploring his fame as well as its overwhelming demands on him. If you’re curious to learn more about this rock star’s journey and legacy, then don’t miss out on this must-see film!

5. Kurt Cobain Biography

Kurt Cobain was an iconic figure in the music world, and his life story is one that deserves to be told. This documentary brings together essential information about Cobain’s life – from his childhood up to the tragic day of his death. It will give you a better understanding of how he entered the music industry, met his wife Courtney Love, and what might have been behind the cause of this tragedy. Be sure to watch this amazing documentary to know more about Kurt Cobain!

6. Soaked in Bleach

This 2015 movie entitled “Soaked in Bleach” explores the events that led to Kurt Cobain’s death. Written by Donnie Eichar, Richard Middelton, and directed by Benjamin Statler, this documentary dives into the perspective of a private detective hired by Courtney Love. It examines the possibility that Cobain’s death was not suicide and recreates his final days.

7. Kurt Cobain: The Paradox of a Generational Icon

Kurt Cobain was a rock star, songwriter and artist who changed the world with his music. If you’re looking to understand more about him and his legacy, then these 8 documentaries are a great place to start. Featuring interviews from those closest to him, rare archival footage of Kurt in action, and insight into the man behind the myth, these films will give you an intimate look at one of music’s most influential figures. And if someone you know is struggling or in crisis don’t hesitate – help is available 24/7 just by calling or texting 988 in the US for free and confidential emotional support.

8. Kurt Cobain’s Last Days

Kurt Cobain’s legacy still lives on today. He was the lead singer of Nirvana and his music continues to inspire people all around the world. In this series of documentaries, we explore Kurt’s life from his early days as a musician to his untimely death and beyond. We will also look into the controversial circumstances surrounding Kristen Pfaff’s death and how it relates to Kurt’s story. Watch these 8 best documentaries about Kurt Cobain and find out more about one of rock music’s most iconic figures!

9. The Final Days Of Kurt Cobain

The documentary follows Kurt Cobain’s personal journey from success to pain, culminating in his death in 1994. Featuring never-before-seen footage, interviews with friends and family, and music by Nirvana & Kurt Cobain himself, this film provides a unique insight into Cobain’s life and legacy. Through its exploration of his struggles with addiction, mental health issues, relationships, and fame, The Final Days Of Kurt Cobain paints a portrait that is both heartbreaking yet inspiring. Ultimately it leaves us with a sense of respect for Cobain’s resilience and determination as he tried to make sense of his untimely demise.

10. Something In The Way

If you’re looking for an even deeper dive into Kurt Cobain’s life, Montage Of Heck is the documentary for you. This film follows Cobain from childhood up until his untimely death. Through home movies, animation and audio recordings, viewers get a unique perspective on what made Cobain such an icon. Prepare to be taken through the highs and lows of Kurt’s life and musical career as you dive deeper into his story.

Read On – Our Latest Top Documentaries Lists

The 5 best documentaries about loretta lynn, the 7 best documentaries about aerosmith, the 7 best documentaries about def leppard, the 15 best documentaries about mariah carey, the 7 best documentaries and videos about weird al yankovic, the 6 best documentaries about lisa marie presley, the 5 best documentaries about bobby brown, the 10 best documentaries about mary j blige, the 11 best documentaries about machine gun kelly, the 7 best documentaries about jonas brothers.

Discover New Content

Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "kurt-cobain"

• Movies or TV
• IMDb Rating
• In Theaters
• Release Year

1. Last Days (2005)

R | 97 min | Drama, Music

A Seattle musician's life and career are reminiscent of those of Kurt Cobain .

Director: Gus Van Sant | Stars: Michael Pitt , Lukas Haas , Asia Argento , Scott Patrick Green

Votes: 23,756 | Gross: $0.45M

2. Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015)

TV-MA | 132 min | Documentary, Animation, Biography

An authorized documentary on the late musician Kurt Cobain , from his early days in Aberdeen, Washington to his success and downfall with the grunge band Nirvana .

Director: Brett Morgen | Stars: Kurt Cobain , Wendy O'Connor , Don Cobain , Jenny Cobain

Votes: 32,127

3. Kurt Cobain About a Son (2006)

Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary, Music

In this visual essay style documentary, intimate audio of journalist Michael Azerrad's interviews with Kurt Cobain is played over more recently photographed footage of Cobain's Washington state homes and haunts.

Director: AJ Schnack | Stars: Kurt Cobain , Evan Fortin , Nathan Streifel , Michael Azerrad

Votes: 3,848 | Gross: $0.08M

4. Life Lessons (2013 Video)

27 min | Short, Drama, Mystery

In this Story by Richard Price , Lionel Dobie is an acclaimed artist who finds himself unable to paint before a gallery exhibition and uses his messy lifestyle to create artwork.

Director: Alexander Raye Pimentel | Stars: David Fichtenmayer , Kellie Marie McGhee , Hayley Pendergrass , Alexander Raye Pimentel

5. Lions (2012)

82 min | Drama

Five young people are involved in a serious car accident that leaves four of them dead. Isabel, the youngest, is the only survivor and helps her four friends realize they have passed on.

Director: Jazmín López | Stars: Julia Volpato , Pablo Sigal , Macarena del Corro , Diego Vegezzi

6. The Target Shoots First (2000)

70 min | Documentary, Comedy, Music

An NYU philosophy grad struggles to maintain artistic and personal integrity as a production manager for Columbia House.

Director: Christopher Wilcha | Stars: Christopher Wilcha , Marie Capozzi , Rick Hunt , John S. Wilcha

7. Forever 27

Drama | Announced

After unexpectedly meeting the mum she never met, a self-destructive British pop star decides to reconnect with her music while battling her addictions and her inevitable fate of joining the 27 club.

Stars: MJ Lee , Emmy Happisburgh , Olivia Orgill

8. Kurt (2012)

12 min | Short

Abstract portrayal of the myth and personality of the late Kurt Cobain.

Director: Adarsha Benjamin | Stars: Adarsha Benjamin , Alex Levine , Avalon Ainsley , Ericka Clevenger

9. The Vigil (1998)

86 min | Drama

Set in 1994, a group of young people drive from Lethbridge to Seattle for Kurt Cobain's vigil.

Director: Justin MacGregor | Stars: Damon Johnson , Donny Lucas , Allan Franz , Trevor White

10. DollParts (2007)

R | 7 min | Animation, Short

A look at the murder conspiracy surrounding the last days of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

Director: Jason Hawkins | Stars: Victoria Bonilla , Michael De Palma , Mike Lindsay , Liz Young

11. Biting Bullets: Death by Rock Excess (2013)

57 min | Documentary

Rockstar Grave Tour.... Visit the grave memorial sites of Hutchence, Joplin, Bon Scott, Brian Jones, Keith Moon, Hendrix, Lennon, Vicious and Cobain. The same crew from Welcome 2 Wherever U... See full summary  »

Director: Aaron Stevenson | Stars: Laurie Basten , Brett Sharpe , Aaron Stevenson

12. Too Young to Die (2012– ) Episode: Kurt Cobain - Eine Überdosis Ruhm (2012)

52 min | Documentary

On April 5, 1994, the 27-year-old rock star took his own life at his home in Seattle. Kurt Cobain was the voice of his generation. The film traces the short dramatic life of the rock rebel ... See full summary  »

Director: Niels Negendank | Stars: Kurt Cobain , Paul Bendelow , Charles Cross , Aaron Burckhard

Recently Viewed

Kurt Cobain

(1967-1994)

Who Was Kurt Cobain?

Kurt Cobain started the grunge band Nirvana in 1988 and made the leap to a major label in 1991, signing with Geffen Records. Cobain also began using heroin around this time. After releasing the highly successful album Nevermind , Nirvana's highly acclaimed album In Utero was released in 1993 and catapulted to the top of the music charts. On April 5, 1994, in the guest house behind his Seattle home, Cobain committed suicide.

Kurt Donald Cobain was born on February 20, 1967, in the small logging town of Aberdeen, Washington. As a child, Cobain was artistic and had an ear for music. Although he had a younger sister Kim (b. 1971), the two were separated when their parents got divorced. At age nine, Cobain went to live with his father who eventually remarried, which put more strain on their relationship.

In the early 1980s, Cobain went to live with his mother and her boyfriend who were back in Aberdeen. It was during his high school days back home that Cobain was able to demonstrate his artistic talents through his love for drawing.

Troubled Youth

When Cobain was introduced to punk rock music, a seed was planted that would forever change his life. He discovered the Melvins, a local punk rock group, and became friends with one of its members, Buzz Osbourne. It was Osbourne who exposed Cobain to more punk bands, but his newfound interest didn't take Cobain away from self-destructive habits. Throughout high school, Cobain would get deeper into the drinking and drug scene. He also was fighting with his troubled mother and didn't get along with his stepfather.

Cobain spent much of 1984 and 1985 living a nomadic life, staying with friends or sleeping in public buildings to avoid his family problems. In July 1985, Cobain was arrested for vandalizing some buildings and was later fined and given a suspended sentence. Months later, Cobain got his first band together, Fecal Matter. Despite recording some tracks, the band never went anywhere.

Eventually, Cobain began collaborating with bassist Krist Novoselic and a local drummer named Aaron Burckhard joined them. The fledgling band's first public performance was in 1987 at a house party.

Around this time, Cobain began his first serious relationship with a young woman named Tracy Marander. Despite financial restraints, the couple lived a relatively happy life in Olympia.

Starting in 1988, Cobain's musical ambitions began moving forward. His band agreed on the name Nirvana and released their first track "Love Buzz" on a small label. Around the same time, Burckhard was replaced by Chad Channing on drums and the band was making headway in Seattle's music scene. In 1989, Nirvana released their first album, Bleach , which failed to make a big impression. What was evident, however, was Cobain's songwriting skills and what would become their hallmark blend of heavy metal and punk.

'Nevermind'

In 1991, Nirvana signed with a major label, Geffen Records, and released their second studio album, Nevermind , which henceforth, gave them their "grunge" label.

Rapid Rise: "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

Nirvana's single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became their biggest hit, pushing their album to no. 1 on the music charts and establishing Cobain as an exception songwriting talent of his era.

With Nirvana's popularity skyrocketing into the mainstream, Cobain was conflicted on the direction his music was going. As someone who built his artistry on anti-establishment sentiments, Cobain began feeling he was losing control of his future. He began using heroin to ease his stress and some health issues.

Before the release of Nevermind , Cobain had reconnected with Courtney Love, who was fronting the band Hole. The two dove into a whirlwind romance, and in February 1992 Cobain and Love got married and had a daughter, Frances Bean, that August.

But the relationship was built on unsteady ground, as both were heavy drug users. At one point, social services threatened to take their daughter away after Love's Vanity Fair interview came out, in which she admitted to shooting up heroin while carrying Frances. After a difficult and expensive court battle, the couple managed to keep their family intact.

But Cobain and Love also had their fair share of problems with each other. In 1993, the Seattle police had to break up a violent dispute at the couple's house. The two were fighting over Cobain's guns at the residence, which resulted in the police confiscating them, as well as arresting him for assaulting Love.

Struggles with Drugs, 'In Utero' Release

While Cobain dealt with personal struggles, professionally he was at the top of his game. In 1993, Nirvana released In Utero , which soared to no. 1 on the music charts. His deeply personal lyrics reflected his anger towards the recording industry with tracks like "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" as well as his softer side with "Heart-Shaped Box," which is said to have been about Love.

In the fall of 1993, Cobain and the band performed for MTV's Unplugged in New York City and also toured Europe. While in Europe, Cobain took time out to spend with Love and daughter Frances, but while at his hotel in Rome, Italy, he purposely overdosed on drugs and fell into a coma. Love found him, and he was immediately taken to the hospital.

When he returned to the States, Cobain's psychological state worsened. On March 18, 1994, Love called authorities because Cobain had taken medication and locked himself in a closet with guns. When the police arrived, they determined he was not suicidal, but as a safety precaution, confiscated the medication and firearms.

Shortly after, Love pleaded with Cobain to get clean, which she was trying to do herself. He checked into a rehab clinic in L.A. but left days later.

Suicide and Legacy

On April 5, 1994, in the guest house behind his Seattle home, a 27-year-old Cobain committed suicide. He placed a shotgun into his mouth and fired, killing himself instantly. He left a lengthy suicide note in which he addressed his many fans as well as his wife and young daughter. While his death was officially ruled as a suicide, conspiracy theories have circulated that Love may have had something to do with his death.

Soon after Cobain's death, Nirvana released their Unplugged session, which topped album charts, and two years later, From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah , a collection of songs that also was a commercial win for the band.

However, legal battles concerning Cobain's unreleased music began brewing between Grohl and Novoselic and Love. In 2002 the three finally found some resolution, resulting in the release of Nirvana , and later, With the Lights Out (2004) and Sliver: The Best of the Box (2005).

Related Videos

Quick facts.

• Birth Year: 1967
• Birth date: February 20, 1967
• Birth State: Washington
• Birth City: Aberdeen
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: A talented yet troubled grunge performer, Kurt Cobain was the frontman for Nirvana and became a rock legend in the 1990s with albums 'Nevermind' and 'In Utero.'
• Astrological Sign: Pisces
• Death Year: 1994
• Death date: April 5, 1994
• Death State: Washington
• Death City: Seattle
• Death Country: United States

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Kurt Cobain Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/kurt-cobain
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: February 18, 2020
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014
• We're just musically and rhythmically retarded. We play so hard that we can't tune our guitars fast enough. People can relate to that.
• I'm a much happier guy than a lot of people think I am.
• I just hope I don't become so blissful I become boring. I think I'll always be neurotic enough to do something weird.
• You create attention to attract attention.
• I've never been more confused in my life, but at the same time I've never been more satisfied with what we've done.
• Grunge is as potent a term as New Wave. You can't get out of it. It's going to be passé.
• Zits are beauty marks.
• I don't blame the average 17-year-old punk-rock kid for calling me a sellout.
• All drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and your self-respect and everything that goes along with your self-esteem.
• It's like Evian water and battery acid."[On the chemistry between himself and Courtney Love]
• Dreaming of the person you want to be is wasting the person you already are.
• I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.
• If there was a Rock Star 101 course, I would have liked to take it. It might have helped me.
• I'm not afraid of dying. Total peace after death, becoming someone else is the best hope I've got.
• I still can't get over the frustration, the guilt and empathy I have for everyone.

Famous Musicians

Mick Jagger

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn’s Private Relationship

Taylor Swift

How Dickey Betts Wrote “Ramblin’ Man“

How Did Bob Marley Die?

No Doubt Surprises Fans With Olivia Rodrigo

Lana Del Rey

Gwen Stefani

• Arts & Photography

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

• Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
• Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
• A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
• Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Buy new: $12.94 $12.94 FREE delivery Thursday, May 2 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35 Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com

Return this item for free.

Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select the return method

Buy used: $12.27

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime.

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain Paperback – April 2, 2019

Purchase options and add-ons.

• Print length 448 pages
• Language English
• Publication date April 2, 2019
• Dimensions 5.25 x 1.13 x 8 inches
• ISBN-10 0316492442
• ISBN-13 978-0316492447
• See all details

Frequently bought together

Similar items that may deliver to you quickly

Editorial Reviews

About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hachette Books; Updated,Expanded edition (April 2, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316492442
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316492447
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.4 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1.13 x 8 inches
• #63 in Rock Music (Books)
• #69 in Rock Band Biographies

About the author

Charles r. cross.

Charles R. Cross graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a degree in creative writing. At the UW, he served as editor of the Daily in 1979, and caused a major ruckus when he left the front page of the newspaper blank. The only type was a small line that read “The White Issue,” in deference to the Beatles’ White Album.

After college, Cross served as editor of The Rocket, the Northwest’s music and entertainment magazine, from 1986 through 2000. The Rocket was hailed as “the best regional music magazine in the nation” by the L.A. Reader, and it was the first publication ever to run a story on Nirvana. Cross wrote stories on such seminal Northwest bands as The Wailers, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and hundreds, if not thousands, of lesser-known bands. In addition to The Rocket, Cross’s writing has appeared in hundreds of magazines, including Rolling Stone, Esquire, Playboy, Spin, Guitar World, Q, Uncut, and Creem. He has also written for many newspapers and alternative weeklies, including the London Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Seattle Times, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. He has lectured and read at universities and colleges around the world, and has frequently been interviewed for film, radio, and television documentaries, including VH1’s "Behind the Music."

Cross is the author of seven books, including 2005’s Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix (published by Hyperion in the U.S., and Hodder in the U.K.). His 2001 release, Heavier Than Heaven: The Biography of Kurt Cobain (Hyperion/Hodder), was a New York Times bestseller and was called “one of the most moving and revealing books ever written about a rock star” by the Los Angeles Times. In 2002, Heavier Than Heaven won the ASCAP Timothy White Award for outstanding biography. Cross’s other books include the national bestseller Cobain Unseen (Little Brown), Backstreets: Springsteen, the Man and His Music (Harmony, 1989); Led Zeppelin: Heaven and Hell (Harmony, 1992); and Nevermind: The Classic Album (Schirmer, 1998).

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Reviews with images

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

The price of authenticity? Kurt Cobain's tragic struggle with fame, identity, and not 'selling out'

T hree decades have passed since the untimely demise of Kurt Cobain , the iconic frontman of Nirvana, whose life ended tragically at the age of 27. In a somber event that shook the music world, Cobain took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his residence in Seattle on April 5, 1994 (that is unless you believe any one of the various conspiracy theories out there). His body remained undiscovered for three harrowing days.

His suicide note read : "I don’t have the passion anymore, and so remember, it’s better to burn out than to fade away," using a lyric from Neil Young’s song "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)."

In the lead-up to this devastating event, Cobain grappled with substance abuse, including a reported overdose on sleeping pills and alcohol. His wife, Courtney Love, recounted instances where he expressed thoughts of self-harm. Despite efforts to intervene, including an arranged intervention and a brief stint in a detox facility in Los Angeles starting on March 30, 1994, Cobain left against medical advice and ultimately met his tragic fate upon returning to Seattle.

Did fear of 'selling out' contribute to Kurt Cobain's death?

As American Songwriter recently noted in an article , the narrative takes a poignant turn when considering Nirvana's slated headline performance at the 1994 Lollapalooza Festival. As the torchbearers of grunge and alternative rock, Nirvana's involvement in such a mainstream event posed a moral dilemma for Cobain. In fact, back in 2021, Josh Bergamin wrote in the Overland Literary Journal that Cobain was a "martyr of authenticity."

On April 6, just before news of Cobain's passing emerged, Nirvana made the unprecedented decision to withdraw from the tour, citing Cobain's health concerns. The canceled appearance at Lollapalooza is explored in depth in the recent docuseries Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza , which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival . This comprehensive three-part series delves into the cultural significance of the festival and its impact on the music industry, offering insights into Nirvana's would-be pivotal role in the festival and Cobain's struggles.

Meanwhile, another documentary by the BBC titled Moments That Shook Music: Kurt Cobain , and more specifically about Kurt's death and its impact on the world recently premiered, and the director John Osborne explained: "We want viewers to witness the impact firsthand, without any embellishments."

What could have been

Cobain's aversion to what he perceived as " selling out " by participating in Lollapalooza is elucidated in the Lolla documentary. He viewed the festival as emblematic of alternative rock's assimilation into mainstream culture — a development he vehemently opposed (Kurt famously went for a more "lo-fI" and experimental vibe on Nirvana's In Utero , after feeling the breakthrough success of Nevermind was too mainstream). Interviews with festival organizers and insiders shed light on Cobain's internal conflict and his fear of losing authenticity in the face of commercial success.

A clip from the docuseries features Lollapalooza co-founder Don Muller reflecting on Nirvana's decision: "We were planning the festival, and Nirvana thought about it but decided that they couldn’t do it. Kurt couldn’t do it." John Rubeli, responsible for booking acts on Lollapalooza's second stage during the mid-'90s, elaborates on Cobain's apprehensions, citing his reluctance to conform to mainstream expectations.

Despite Cobain's reservations, archival footage from February 1994 captures him confirming Nirvana's intended participation in Lollapalooza—a poignant reminder of the path not taken. Amidst the tribulations, Courtney Love, Cobain's widow, made poignant appearances during the tour, paying homage to her late husband by performing songs from her band Hole and inviting moments of reflection for the audience.

Also, for quite some time, Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl was bombarded with questions about which Foo Fighters songs were about Kurt's death. Fame does put people in strange, and sometimes undesirable situations, and Kurt Cobain is one of the most famous examples of an artist grappling with success, as well as assorted personal demons and health problems. Those with enough conscience do miss him, wish he had stuck with it (even if he would have "sold out"), and most certainly created more music that made the world at least somewhat more compelling and honest.

This article was originally published on stairwayto11.com as The price of authenticity? Kurt Cobain's tragic struggle with fame, identity, and not 'selling out' .

What happens when you die on the same day as John Lennon? Artists whose death was overshadowed by another

Heartfelt tributes are being paid to kurt cobain, who left us 30 years ago, but none to lee brilleaux, a british rock figure who died a few hours before him and was relegated to a footnote in an obituary.

In the universe of rock fans — a place where the things that matter are being authentic, knowing more songs than anyone else, being more of a purist, and boasting about knowing a band from its beginnings, since “before they became commercial” — few events stir up the hornet’s nest more than the death of a great star. There’s the type who exaggerates his closeness to the deceased and overacts his sadness; then we have the type who claims to have always been passionate about the dearly departed’s music, even if he had never mentioned it before; finally, there is no shortage of individuals who accuse the rest of being upstarts. But there is also the fan who humbly approaches from a place of genuine curiosity, to discover the legacy of this incredibly relevant musician whose music he never had the opportunity to listen to. Looking at the bright side, this is the good part about an artist’s death: their work gets disseminated, their songs (or excerpts from their books, or scenes from their films) are shared as a tribute, attention is renewed, and sometimes they end up being more popular in death than in life.

There are those, however, who cannot even enjoy those few minutes of post mortem fame, nor do they have the opportunity to pick up new fans at the very last minute. On April 8, 1994, the body of Kurt Cobain, leader of Nirvana, was found. He had killed himself three days earlier by shooting himself in the head. His death at the age of 27, like other figures such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison, and the elements of tragedy involved — the sadness of a very famous guy with terrible demons that tortured him, the source for sensationalism represented by his marriage to Courtney Love, his drug-fueled fatherhood and all the urban legends that originated instantly — surrounded Cobain with a mythical halo that is still in full force: tributes on the 30th anniversary of his death have not been lacking in all the main cultural outlets, and Nirvana (their songs and their t-shirts) are just as present or even more so than they were three decades ago. The same cannot be said of Lee Brilleaux, the frontman of the British band Dr. Feelgood, who died of lymphoma at the age of 41 on April 7, 1994, one day before Cobain’s death was reported.

Uncut magazine — whose April issue features on the cover an interview with the survivors of Nirvana, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic — regretted a few years ago, on the occasion of the publication of Brilleaux’s biography, that “Lee’s passing became a mere footnote to the unfolding drama in Seattle, briefly mentioned.” In 2015, The Guardian went further and drew an antagonism: “To blokes of a certain vintage playing in bands above pubs, he is what Cobain was to Generation X mallrats. Where Cobain created a sardonic, uninterested aura, off which slacker culture fed, Brilleaux helped kickstart British punk rock [...] Viewed today, Brilleaux is the anti-Cobain. His attitude was always one of the hard worker, a cartoon version of a hard-drinking blue-collar Canvey Island geezer. But in many ways Brilleaux was just as nonconformist and disgusted with the record industry merry go round as the Nirvana singer.”

Outlandish comparisons aside, Brilleaux was for more than 20 years the vocalist of a band that some called “the equivalent of John the Baptist” among the prophets of punk. Dr. Feelgood, founded in 1971, represented, in the progressive context, the return to the roots of rock, to primitive sounds and simple structures, which lit the fuse for the explosion of British punk. Songs like Roxette (their biggest hit), She Does It Right , Going Back Home or covers like John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom , made up an energetic and intense songbook, with a staging that was no less impressive. Director Julien Temple, who dedicated the documentary Oil City Confidential (2009) to them, was surprised: “They were the biggest band in England for 18 months and it’s as if they had never existed.”

In the film, guitarist Wilko Johnson (who died in 2022 and who, in the headlines of many obituaries, was identified as an actor in a few episodes of Game of Thrones before being mentioned as a member of Dr. Feelgood) declared: “In rock & roll, things are as important as they are perceived, and today Dr. Feelgood is not perceived at all.” For those who did perceive the band — which is still active without any of the original members — in its golden incarnation of the 1970s, either in person or through YouTube videos, the aggressive image of Dr. Feelgood is memorable: a virtuoso guitarist, Johnson, performing an accelerated and intense blues and looking menacingly at the audience with bulging eyes, along with a singer, Brilleaux, always sweating profusely and doing push-ups live in a suit full of stains.

Josele Santiago, bandleader of Los Enemigos, does not hesitate to describe Dr. Feelgood as a “fundamental band” in his own formative years. “It was thanks to their covers that I discovered the music I love, a wide range from blues to the soul of the [record company] Stax, not forgetting New Orleans. I understood the power of simplicity, of feeling and of passion, of respect for the roots,” he says. “I was perfectly capable of hitchhiking to France just to see them.” He remembers that he found out about Billeaux’s death “in the bar downstairs” of his house. “Lee Brilleaux’s voice and his no less prodigious harmonica were perfect for this type of music. The symbiosis with Wilko’s very Martian [guitar] Telecaster, a forceful and concise rhythmic base like few others and his attitude, simultaneously humble and arrogant, was also perfect to drive the audience crazy.”

However, Santiago believes that “even if Cobain had not died, there would not have been much said about Lee. Cobain changed the lives of many people and the way they understand music. Lee was a great singer, a frontman and harmonica player, but he was a rocker and he only intended to entertain people. They cannot be compared at the level of significance. Kurt was an artist and Lee was a craftsman.”

One step away from glory

If the black masses of the Satanists are based on the parody and subversion of Christian symbols, early punk also had a lot of mocking opposition to rock: ugly and nihilistic people who allowed themselves the luxury of occupying stages and giving openly unpleasant concerts before a fervent audience, in the midst of an unintelligible hubbub of instruments. Among them, Jan Paul Beahm, singer of Germs, had a plan to become their messiah. Under the stage name Darby Crash, at the age of 17 he gave himself five years to put together a band and commit suicide at the peak of his success. With Germs, he managed to attract the attention of the specialized press and fans of the genre: they were the most attractive and scandalous group on the Los Angeles punk scene, and they were also the ones that caught the attention of director Penelope Spheeris when she made the emblematic documentary The Decline of Western Civilization (1981).

After breaking up the band, at age 22 Crash made a death pact with his girlfriend, Casey Cola, to inject themselves with $400 worth of heroin and die like legends. At the last minute, it is not clear whether out of love or egomania, the vocalist decided to give his partner a non-lethal amount so that only he would die. The ground was fertile for the Germs leader to posthumously consummate his final insult and ascend to the status of rock martyr. But a symbol of that very same hegemonic culture against which he rebelled was the one who, ironically, ruined his well-designed plan. The day Darby Crash chose to die was December 7, 1980. A few hours later, John Lennon was murdered at the entrance to the Dakota building in New York, where he lived, and the time for afterlife propaganda that Crash had hoped to obtain dwindled significantly. Kurt Cobain, who did achieve legend status after taking his own life, was a self-confessed admirer of Germs and hired their guitarist Pat Smear as a backing musician in Nirvana.

Far from the part mournful, part frivolous terrain of the great tragedies of rock, the writers Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World (1932), and C.S. Lewis, father of the Chronicles of Narnia saga (1950-56), also did not enjoy much space in the news: on November 22, 1963 it was difficult to talk about anything else beyond the assassination of U.S. president John F. Kennedy in Dallas. The death on June 5, 2004 of another former tenant of the White House, Ronald Reagan, overshadowed the death five days later of another relevant figure of his time, Ray Charles. “In line at the post office, someone asked why the flag was at half-mast. I responded that it was because of Ray Charles. “Ray was, from my point of view, a better American than Ronald,” recalled a prolific Quora user in a debate about, precisely, more and less relevant deaths.

On June 25, 2009, when the death of Michael Jackson unleashed a media storm with several fronts (the lights and shadows of the deceased, the mysteries about his life, the investigation into the responsibility of his doctor in the poisoning that caused his cardiac arrest), many people failed to find out about the death of actress Farrah Fawcett, which occurred shortly before the singer’s. The news apparently did not even reach the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which in March 2010 did not include her in the Oscar tribute to the deceased of the year, unlike Jackson. The journalist Christopher Bonanos of New York Magazine proposed that the star of Charlie’s Angels was joining the “Eclipsed Celebrity Death Club.” As a paradigmatic example, he cited Groucho Marx, who died the same week in August 1977 as Elvis Presley. For a comedian who had boasted of having “worked my way up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty,” that may have been the most fitting ending of all.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition

More information

The quiet life of Elton John, the singer who resists becoming a legend

Harry Styles turns 30: One Direction’s great survivor triumphs beyond music

Archived in.

• John Lennon
• Kurt Cobain
• Francés online
• Inglés online
• Italiano online
• Alemán online
• Crucigramas & Juegos