Kurt Cobain died 20 years ago today

I still remember hearing their version of Man Who Sold The World as a ten year old and not knowing who it was, what it was about, but absolutely loving it! It was one of the first riffs i figured out on guitar when i started playing and like most teenagers in the 90s, i felt Kurt was someone who understood my angst and hatred at a lot of things in the world.

20 yrs later, if i close my eyes listening to that, i could be any age between 10 & 30, it's like a time machine-as is almost all of the Unplugged album. It would've been interesting to see where his career path would've gone had he lived-would we have had the Foo Fighters anyways?!
Think today will be a work day full of Nirvana songs!

I was actually in my teens at the time, and whilst I was aware of a band called Nirvana, and that its front man had shot him, was not really into that type of music at the time.

Years later and I mean now, I would occasionally listen to some of their music, and I mean other that Smells Like Teen Spirit and Come As You Are. It was quite possibly listening to The Foo Fighters that introduced me to them, when I learnt that Dave Grohl played drums for them.

The biggest surprise is that, and not just in relation to Kurt Cobain, is being aware of stuff that happened 20 years ago, and even more so, people being 10 years younger than talking about it as well.

First band i got into in any serious way.
Literally wore out my copy of Nevermind, becoming mildly obsessed with the second half in particular. Drain you, Stay Away, Lounge act, On a plain etc.

I still remember when I heard like it was yesterday. Was watching MTV and a newsflash came on to announce it. Was gutted and shocked.

I don't usually hold a grudge but this is one I still harbour slightly. My mother wouldn't allow me to go to Nirvana in the point depot in 1992. She told me I was too young, even though my big sister was going. I was bawling into my pillow all night that night.

I remember this day well. It was a shock because I hadn't really ever heard of someone killing themself before.

Cobain was a great rock star, probably the last, but he was also somewhat different. He was not a bitter, angry misanthrope as some people suggest (see the liner notes of Incesticide: "At this point I have a request for our fans. If any of you in any way hate homosexuals, people of different color, or women, please do this one favor for us– leave us the **** alone!)

I don't think his influence can be underestimated in music generally.

I also think that he had a really awful life, his stomach issues, depression and family history of suicide as well as a crippling addiction meant that he would have probably OD'ed if he hadn't shot himself.

As for Courtney Love . . . i think she saw him as a means to an end, but i also feel that they did geuinely love each other and that she helped him a lot before he died (saved his life in Italy I believe).

His legacy is slightly misunderstood and packaged as a live fast, die young, 27 club package that is horrendous.