Rafael Montes Barrera - Week 14 - The Prevailing Memory a Legacy Creates: Kurt Cobain

  Kurt Cobain at the December 1993 "Live and Loud" concert via Entertainment Weekly

Upon saying goodbye to Ye’s character and listening exclusively to Kanye West for over a week, I’ve found it almost relieving to finally listen to other genres outside of rap or hip-hop. The pressure to nail the POAS presentation and Ye’s character placed a certain amount of strain on me, listening to his music alone. One of the bands I used to pivot from rap was Nirvana. As I’ve already mentioned late Nirvana’s guitarist, Kurt Cobain, I never got to focus solely on his legacy and the ideals he stood—and stood out—for.

Almost thirty-eight years ago, Nirvana released Bleach, their first studio album, which met some commercial success and developed some of their fanbase. While the album’s sound and melodic structure was a far cry from what they would do in Nevermind (1991), it was their first album that received large success whilst also a stepping stone in each band member’s musical evolution. However, after signing to DCG Records, the band members remained largely unchanged as individuals Among them, Cobain was at the forefront of the band and vocalist, would be the most outspoken in interviews and in track lyrics. Whether it was his shock at commercial ticket prices (they charged ~$20) or advocating fiercfully against anti-misogyny on stage, Cobain had ironically made himself almost a “man for the people,” despite his distaste of the celebrity status pushed upon him. 

Along with an intense pressure to be more commercial and profitable from DCG Records, Much of Cobain’s values for “raw” sounding tracks was challenged commercially. Cobain had unfortunately found much from the stress from his career to add to his own self-loathing. After a childhood in a broken family, a two-year relationship with a partner who wasn’t exactly a “good influence” on him, and more cash than Cobain knew how to spend, he turned to drugs early on. Cobain started using drugs with good intentions. What first was a self-medicated cocktail of heroin and painkillers for his chronic stomach pain had spiraled into regular misuse and addiction with other opioids in order to cope with broader struggles in his life. Leading up to his death, Cobain had been in-and-out of rehab centers, His issues were now surfacing, and his instability became unpredictable. The world of rock was then turned on its head when an on-site electrician discovered a deceased Cobain lying in his greenhouse on his Washington estate. Cobain’s cause of death had been officially ruled to suicide by a shotgun—one he purchased from his friend, Dylan Carlson, after skipping a flight to a rehab center set up by Nirvana member Kris Noveselic. Neither of whom would know what he would do shortly after. 

Given the change in the industry and the near-absence of anti-capitalism in the media, Cobain’s legacy stands even more relevant as a symbol of never-ending authenticity despite the rising push for profit he and Nirvana were given. His raw lyricism and rejection of corporate influence stand to inspire artists like ex-Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters founder, Dave Grohl. Even decades later, his legacy still rocks industry principles whilst urging musicians to stay true to their vision through industry pressures.