Cobain, Kurt (1967-1994), an American rock musician, was the leader of the popular rock band Nirvana. The band revolutionized rock music in the early 1990’s with its fiery, raw sound and passionate songs about apathy and anger. Cobain shocked the rock music world with his suicide at the age of 27. He became even more famous after his death than during his lifetime.
Kurt Donald Cobain was born in Hoquiam, Washington, on Feb. 20, 1967. He grew up in Aberdeen, Washington, where he began playing drums. Cobain and his friend Krist Novoselic formed Nirvana in 1987, with Cobain playing guitar and Novoselic the bass. They added drummer Chad Channing and guitarist Jason Everman and recorded the band’s first album, Bleach, in 1989. Channing and Everman left the group and were replaced by drummer Dave Grohl in 1990.
Nirvana released the best-selling album Nevermind in 1991, which included the hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” In 1992, the band issued Incesticide, a collection of previously recorded material. That album was followed by another hit album, In Utero, in 1993.
Cobain had originally viewed Nirvana as a band that challenged establishment attitudes. He became displeased when the group achieved mainstream popularity. In addition, Cobain suffered from depression and drug addiction. He took his own life on April 5, 1994. Two albums of live Nirvana performances were issued after his death, MTV Unplugged in New York (1994) and From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah (1996). Selections from Cobain’s notebooks were published as Journals in 2002.
See also Nirvana ; Rock music (Alternative rock) .
