Kurt Cobain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kurt Cobain
|
|
|---|---|
Kurt in 1991
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kurt Donald Cobain |
| Also known as | Kurdt Kobain |
| Born | February 20, 1967 Aberdeen, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | April 5, 1994 (aged 27) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative rock, grunge |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, artist |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1982–94 |
| Labels | Sub Pop, DGC/Geffen |
| Associated acts | Nirvana |
Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 - c. April 5, 1994) was an American musician. He was the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana, which also included bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl.
He is remembered as one of the most iconic and influential rock musicians in the history of alternative music.
Early life
Kurt Donald Cobain was born at Grays Harbor Hospital in Aberdeen, Washington, on February 20, 1967, the son of waitress Wendy Elizabeth (née Fradenburg; born 1948) and car mechanic Donald Leland Cobain (born 1946). His parents married in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on July 31, 1965. Cobain had Dutch, English, French, German, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. The Cobain surname comes from his Irish ancestors, who emigrated from the Northern Irish town of Carrickmore in 1875. His younger sister, Kimberly, was born on April 24, 1970.
Cobain's family had a musical background. His maternal uncle, Chuck Fradenburg, played in a band called the Beachcombers; his aunt, Mari Earle, played guitar and performed in bands throughout Grays Harbor County; and his great-uncle, Delbert, had a career as an Irish tenor, making an appearance in the 1930 film King of Jazz. Kurt was described as a happy and excitable child, who also exhibited sensitivity and care. His talent as an artist was evident from an early age, as he would draw his favorite characters from films and cartoons, such as the Creature from the Black Lagoon and Donald Duck, in his bedroom. He was encouraged by his grandmother, Iris Cobain, a professional artist.
Cobain developed an interest in music at a young age. According to his aunt Mari, he began singing at the age of two. At age four, he started playing the piano and singing, writing a song about a trip to a park. He listened to artists including Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and, from a young age, would sing songs including Arlo Guthrie's "Motorcycle Song", the Beatles' "Hey Jude", Terry Jacks' "Seasons in the Sun", and the theme song to the Monkees television show.
When Cobain was nine years old, his parents divorced. He later said the divorce had a profound effect on his life, and his mother noted that his personality changed dramatically; Cobain became defiant and withdrawn.
Cobain, his father, Westeby, and her two children, Mindy and James, moved into a new household. Cobain liked Westeby at first, as she gave him the maternal attention he desired. In January 1979, Westeby gave birth to a boy, Chad Cobain. This new family, which Cobain insisted was not his real one, was in stark contrast to the attention Cobain was used to receiving as an only boy, and he became resentful of his stepmother.
Cobain behaved insolently toward adults during this period and began bullying another boy at school. Cobain's teenage rebellion quickly became overwhelming for his father who placed him in the care of family and friends.
Although uninterested in sports, Cobain was enrolled in a junior high school wrestling team at the insistence of his father. He was a skilled wrestler but despised the experience. Later, his father enlisted him in a Little League Baseball team, where Cobain would intentionally strike out to avoid playing.
Cobain often drew during classes. When given a caricature assignment for an art course, Cobain drew Michael Jackson but was told by the teacher that the image was inappropriate for a school hallway. He then drew an image of then-President Ronald Reagan that was seen as "unflattering". Through art and electronics classes, Cobain met Roger "Buzz" Osborne, singer and guitarist of the Melvins, who became his friend and introduced him to punk rock music.
During his second year in high school, Cobain began living with his mother in Aberdeen. Two weeks prior to graduation, he dropped out of Aberdeen High School upon realizing that he did not have enough credits to graduate. His mother gave him an ultimatum: find employment or leave. After one week, Cobain found his clothes and other belongings packed away in boxes. Feeling banished, Cobain stayed with friends, occasionally sneaking back into his mother's basement.
In late 1986, Cobain moved into an apartment, paying his rent by working at the Polynesian Resort, a themed resort on the Pacific coast at Ocean Shores, Washington approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Aberdeen. During this period, he traveled frequently to Olympia, Washington, to go to rock concerts.
Career
Cobain was very influential in creating what came to be known as grunge music. Grunge musicians pushed back against music they saw commercial and shallow. Grunge was a reaction against 1980s stadium rock and metal bands that were more concerned with appearance than sound.
Cobain played left-handed, despite being forced to write right-handed.
Nirvana
.jpg)
Kurt Cobain started Nirvana with his friend Krist Novoselic in 1987. They often would practice on the second floor of Novescelic's Mom's hair salon.
Nirvana's first album, Bleach, was released in 1989. they went through five different drummers and finally they decided to hire Dave Grohl from the band Scream in 1990.
After the 1991 release of their hit album Nevermind, Nirvana became one of the most popular bands of that time. Nirvana's best known song is "Smells Like Teen Spirit", which was often referred to by the media as an anthem for Generation X and grunge itself.
Often Cobain expressed frustration with his fame, because he thought they where getting the wrong side of him.
They went on to release one more album, In Utero. it wasn't as famous as Nevermind, but it was still very successful. Cobain said that this album was the one he was looking for, the sound he had in his head for their last two albums. He decided that he wanted to have a more mellow sound.
The band broke up after Cobain died in 1994.
On February 20, 2014, Aberdeen had its first Kurt Cobain Day. In 2017, toy manufacturer Funko revealed their new Pop! Rocks Series 3 collection featuring three vinyl figures of Cobain.
Artistry
Cobain believed that music comes first and lyrics second; he focused primarily on the melodies. Though Cobain insisted on the subjectivity and unimportance of his lyrics, he labored and procrastinated in writing them, often changing the content and order of lyrics during performances.
Equipment
Cobain's first guitar was a used electric guitar from Sears that he received on his 14th birthday. He took guitar lessons long enough to learn AC/DC's "Back in Black" and began playing with local kids. Upon forming what would be Nirvana, Cobain was playing a Fender Champ amplifier and a righthanded Univox Hi-Flier guitar he flipped over and strung for lefthanded playing.
Despite receiving a $287,000 advance upon signing with Geffen Records, Cobain retained a preference for inexpensive gear. He became a fan of Japanese-made Fender guitars ahead of recording Nevermind, due to their slim necks and wide availability in lefthanded orientation. These included a 1969 Competition Mustang, which Cobain cited as his favorite.
Personal life
Cobain met Courtney Love in 1990. On February 24, 1992, a few days after the conclusion of Nirvana's "Pacific Rim" tour, Cobain and Love were married on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. Love wore a satin and lace dress once owned by Frances Farmer, and Cobain wore green pajamas, because he had been "too lazy to put on a tux." Eight people were in attendance at the ceremony, including Grohl. Love was pregnant at the time with their daughter Frances Bean Cobain who was born August 18, 1992.
In 2002, some of Cobain's private journal entries were published in a book called Journals.
Images for kids
-
Cobain (right) performing with Nirvana at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards
-
Cobain's former home, and the site of his death.
-
A minibus in Nepal with a portrait of Kurt Cobain on rear window
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Kurt Cobain para niños
