Reed, Ethel, 62–63, 64, 65–66
Reed, Jesse, 61–70, 315
and drug use, 172, 242–43
Kurt’s letters to, 116, 138
Kurt’s phone calls to, 266
reunions with, 152, 177–78
teen years of, 47, 50, 51, 61–68
“Reefer Madness” (TV), 62
Reese, Tom, 357
Reeves, Garth, 150
Reeves, Keanu, 223
Reid, Larry, 315
Reilly, Ignatius J., 51
R.E.M., 70, 311, 313, 328, 350
REO Speedwagon, 45
“Return of the Rat,” 238
Rhino Records, Los Angeles, 135
Richards, Keith, 232
Richrod, Hilary, 74–75
Riemer, Marty, 356
“Rio,” 274
riot grrl, 158, 159, 313
Ritalin, 20–21
Robert Lang Studios, Seattle, 317, 319
Robinson, John, 135, 311
Rock, Lisa, 23–24
“Rock Against Rape” benefit, 298
Rocket, The, 63, 97, 102, 103, 107, 109, 118, 133, 146, 212, 268, 348
“Rockin’ in the Free World,” 150
rock ’n’ roll, on television, 2
Rock ’N’ Roll Wax Museum, London, 252
Rockwell, Norman, 12, 66, 289
Rodriguez, Jamie, 250–51, 262, 270–1, 282
Rolling Stone, 183, 225, 240–41, 300, 301
Rome:
Cobain family in, 322–23
Kurt’s overdose in, 323, 324–25, 326, 327, 330, 331, 332–33, 340–41
Romero, Damon, 122, 139, 153
Ronco, 179
Rose, Axl, 249, 258, 268, 270, 273
Rosenfelder, John, 192, 193
Roth, Robert, 300
Rotterdam, tour in, 196, 199
Roxy, Los Angeles, 193
Rue, Carolyn, 217, 236
Rumours, 181
Ruthenberg, Georg, 299
Saccharine Trust, 122
“Safer Than Heaven,” 115
St. Thomas, Kurt, 228
“Samurai Sabotage,” 65
Sandinista, 174
“Sappy,” 149, 182
Sassy, 225, 228
Satsop Nuclear Power Plant, 61
Saturday Evening Post, 12
“Saturday Night Live” (TV), 2, 3, 14, 29, 226–28, 299
Satyricon, Portland, 177, 185
Savage, Jon, 295
Scappa, Steven, 337, 338
“Scentless Apprentice,” 276
Schemel, Patti, 275
Schindler’s List (film), 247
“School,” 134, 153
Schultz, Howard, 313
Scratch Acid, 111, 121–22
Scream, 164
Screaming Trees, 115, 142, 251
“Seasons in the Sun,” 13, 274, 292
Seattle:
club scene in, 103, 131, 273
in-store in, 201–2, 212
memorials to Kurt in, 360–64
Nevermind released in, 199–201
Nirvana in, 101–6, 125, 131, 132, 163, 175, 180, 262–64, 297
Northwest music scene in, 132–33
punk rock in, 150–51
University of Washington in, 131
Seattle Center, 45, 297, 360, 362
Seattle Guns, 346
Seattle Times, 199, 290, 357
Select, 323
Sellouts, 80
“Serve the Servants,” 38, 271
Sex Pistols, The, 47, 219
Seymour, Stephanie, 258
Sheep, 154, 189
Shepard, Sam, 247
Shillinger, Eric, 50, 73
Shillinger, Kevin, 67, 73
Shillinger, Lamont, 71
Shillinger, Steve, 50, 69, 70, 79, 121, 212
Shining, The (King), 92
Shocking Blue, 95
Shonen Knife, 146, 232–33
“Should I Stay or Should I Go,” 274
Silva, John, 174–75, 181, 189, 194, 233, 309–10, 320, 333
Silver, Susan, 160–61, 175, 273, 360
“Skid-marks,” 318
Skid Row, 95
Skin Yard, 103, 131
Skynyrd, Lynyrd, 77, 150
Slade, Sean, 299
Slash Records, 175
Slayer, 189
“Sliver,” 162, 164, 182, 186, 202
Slovenia, tour in, 321
Sluggo, 136–37
Smart Studios, 154–55, 160, 182
Smashing Pumpkins, 188, 204
Smear, Pat, 299, 300, 312, 323, 333, 335, 340, 342
“Smells Like Teen Spirit,” 2, 3, 167, 169, 180, 189, 190, 193, 198, 201, 204–5, 215, 216, 223–24, 226–27, 252, 257, 268, 289, 301
Smith, Gary, 356
Smith, G. E., 227
Smith, Patti, 121, 201
Smithereens, 70
Snyder, Jon, 153
Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr, 321
“Something in the Way,” 58–59, 60, 182, 240
Sonic Youth, 138, 163, 166, 174, 175, 176, 187, 188, 193, 194, 196, 210
Sony, 175
Soul Asylum, 185
Sound City Studios, 180, 181, 183
Soundgarden, 122, 161, 175, 273
“Sound of Dentage,” 72
“Spam,” 70
“Spank Thru,” 72, 74, 88, 98, 112, 119
Spin, 16
Spungen, Nancy, 186
SST, 102
“Stain,” 140, 141
“Stairway to Heaven,” 41
Stan Baker’s Sports, 338
Stax, 107
Stephens, Vail, 85, 88
Steps recovery center, 331
Stew (rabbit), 92, 139, 191
Stewart, Damon, 175
Stiff Woodies, 80
Stimson, Nial, 340–41
Stipe, Michael, 311, 328, 350, 352
Stout, Gene, 359
Straight to Hell (film), 153, 184
Strummer, Joe, 153, 273
Sub Pop Records:
demo tape to, 102
disillusionment with, 147–48, 160–61
financial problems of, 111–12, 115, 119, 126, 132, 151
founding of, 106–7
Indie singles produced by, 108, 118
and marketing, 132
and Nirvana contracts, 106, 123, 160–61
and Nirvana gigs, 106, 130, 132
and Nirvana management, 123, 151, 154, 161
and Nirvana recordings, 108, 115, 117, 118–19, 150, 154–55, 180
and Nirvana tours, 142, 144–45, 147, 263
Singles Club of, 113, 119
Sub Pop Sunday, 102, 105
Sub Pop 200, 119, 125
Subterranean Pop/Sub Pop (fanzine), 107
Sugarcubes, 123
“Suicide Samurai,” 72
Supersuckers, 273
Suskind, Patrick, 270
Sweet, 122
“Sweet Home Alabama,” 150
Swingers, 187
Tad, 123, 132, 144–45, 147, 151, 152, 162, 317
Tadpoles (Bonzo Dog Band), 45
Targus, Stan, 21
“Taxi” (TV), 30, 352
“Tears in Heaven,” 259
Teenage Fanclub, 204
“Teen Spirit,” see “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Tennant, Susie, 180, 200–1, 205
“Tequila,” 29
Terminal Eins, Munich, 321
“Territorial Pissings,” 226, 227, 253
Thayil, Kim, 174
This Is Spinal Tap (film), 61
Thompson, Charles, 165
“Tie a Yellow Ribbon,” 179
“Time in a Bottle,” 179
Timmins, Bob, 236–37
T/K Records, 301
“Token Eastern Song,” 140, 141
To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee), 35
Toole, John Kennedy, 51
Too Many Humans, 126
Touch and Go, 102, 115, 123, 160
Tower Records, N
ew York, 205, 225
Towles, Rev. Stephen, 363
Townshend, Pete, 222
Toyra, Roni, 25, 31
Toy Story (film), 153
“Traveler, The,” 362
Troggs, 180
Troutman, John, 192
True, Everett, 133
Truly, 300
“Turnaround,” 180
Turner, Steve, 152
Tyler, Steven, 297
U2, 70
Underground, Seattle, 125
Underwood, Michelle, 290
Union Station, Seattle, 116
Unity Church of Truth, Seattle, 362
USA Today, 300
Utsunomiya, Kaz, 174, 232
Vail, Tobi, 161, 183, 278, 312–13
breakup of Kurt and, 168–69, 172, 197, 312
friendship of Kurt and, 190, 201, 212
relationship of Kurt and, 157–58, 166, 167, 187, 203, 208
and riot grrl, 158, 159, 313
Van Blarcum, Turner, 208
Van Camp, Theresa, 43
Vance, Andrea, 48, 50
Van Halen, Eddie, 300
Vanity Fair, 245, 247, 248–49, 251, 257, 259, 265, 268, 271, 273, 279
Vaselines, 146, 167, 179, 195, 197, 203, 207, 236
Vedder, Eddie, 223, 259, 273, 279
Velvet Underground, 122, 135, 155, 175, 224
Venom, 122
Verse, Chorus, Verse, 278, 284
“Very Ape,” 281
Vicious, Sid, 265, 270
Video Music Awards (VMA), 256–60, 270, 297
Vig, Butch, 154, 155, 180, 181, 188
Virgin Publishing, 174, 232
Vlasimsky, Michelle, 139, 160
Vogue, Seattle, 103–4, 105, 108, 111, 113, 114
Wall, The, 45
Wallace, Andy, 189
Walsh, Joe, 340
War of the Worlds, 33
Warrant, 181
“Wattage in the Cottage,” 65
West, Phil, 131
Westby, James, 25, 32, 33, 61
Westby, Jenny, see Cobain, Jenny Westby Westby, Mindy, 25, 32–33
Westmoreland, Darrell, 212
“We Will Rock You,” 274
Whalen, Pat, 279
Wheeler, Alice, 112–13, 158, 311
“Wheelie, The,” 65
“Where Did You Sleep Last Night?,” 142, 298, 298, 305
White, Paul, 60
Who, The, 222
Wilde, Kim, 274
Wilde, Oscar, 218
“Wild Thing,” 180
Willis, Brian, 290
Wilson, Jeremy, 223
Wipers, 180, 238
Wizard of Oz, The (film), 280
Wood, Andy, 173
Wood, Ed, 150
WOZQ, 161
Yamano, Naoko, 233
Yankovic, “Weird Al,” 3, 227
Yesterday and Today (Beatles), 13
YMCA, Montesano, 67, 68
“You Know You’re Right,” 318
Young, Neil, 150, 178, 264, 361
Yow, David, 297
Zander, Robin, 104
Zapata, Mia, 297
Zappa, Frank, 115
Zeppelin, Led, 40, 68, 85, 88, 92, 115, 124, 310
Zimmerman, Bob, 225
Acknowledgments
Writing a book of this length is a task that by its nature is a solitary endeavor, yet one that can’t be accomplished without the help and assistance of interview subjects, friends, and family. My greatest thanks goes to Kurt Cobain’s friends and family, who took time out of their lives to sit for multiple interviews, which on many occasions took up entire days. A book of this scope would not have been possible without their trust and commitment to this story and this author. Additionally, there were dozens of people who provided me with documents, recordings, photographs, permissions, research assistance, and advice, and whose names do not appear in the text. The following are some of the many people who gave me assistance in this process and without whose help this book would not have been possible: Joe Adkins, Shannon Aldrich, Joel Amsterdam, Joris Baas, Stephanie Ballasiotes, Paula Balzer, Jim Barber, Jennifer Barth, Ryan Teague Beckwith, Jenny Bendel, Jim Berkenstadt, Peter Blecha, Janet Billig, Jeff Burlingame, Rose Burnett, Tom Butterworth, Blaine Cartwright, John Chandler, Maura Cronin, Bettie Cross, Cathy Cross, Herb Cross, Nick Cua, Dennee Dekay, Adam DeLoach, David Desantis, Don Desantis, Dwayne DeWitt, Gail Fine, Rick Friel, Deborah Frost, Gillian Gaar, Cam Garrett, Kennedy Grey, Fred Goodman, Nancy Guppy, Joe Hadlock, Manny Hadlock, Heather Hansen, Daniel Harris, Teresa Heacock, Louise Helton, Angela Herlihy, Bill Holdship, Rasmus Holmen, Pete Howard, Josh Jacobson, Larry Jacobson, Miro Jungum, John Keister, Sharon Knolle, John Kohl, Mary Kohl, Ed Kosinski, Thirza Krohn, Robin Laananen, Michael Lavine, Lauren Lazin, Brandon Lieberman, James Lindley, Amy Lombardi, Ben London, Courtney Love, Alison Lowenstein, Cathy Maesk, Tracy Marander, Benoit Martigny, Cindy May, Jeannie McGuire, Carmen Medal, Michael Meisel, Lauren Mills, Richard Milne, Sandy Milne, Curtis Minato, Teresa Parks, Nina Pearlman, Peter Philbin, Marietta Phillips, Rebecca Polinsky, Jonathan Pont, Holly Cara Price, Bernie Ranellone, Rozz Rezabek-Wright, Patrick Robinson, the staff of The Rocket magazine (1979–2000), Phil Rose, Melissa Rossi, Rex Rystedt, Gihan Salem, Robert Santelli, Kristin Schroter, Mary Schuh, Arlen Schumer, Jill Seipel, Deborah Semer, Clint Shinkle, Eric Shinkle, Martha Shinkle, Neal Shinkle, Neal Skok, Matt Smith, Kurt St. Thomas, Denise Sullivan, Sharrin Summers, Carrie Svingen, Susie Tennant, Alison Thorne, Brad Tolinski, Mitch Tuefel, Jaan Uhelszki, Andrew Uhlemann, Josh Van Camp, Alice Wheeler, Drew Whittemore, David Wilkins, Kendall Williams, Mike Ziegler, and Bob Zimmerman.
There were also dozens of Nirvana fans who generously loaned me materials and recordings that weren’t already in my collection. My e-mail contact for any sources with additional information is charlesrcross@aol. com and any addendum to this manuscript will be posted on www.charles rcross.com.
I wish to thank Pam Wilson-Ehrbar for her help in transcribing many of my interviews conducted for this book. Sarah Lazin was essential in seeing this book through, over the course of several years, from conception to completion. Peternelle van Arsdale went beyond the call of her duty in working on this project and being an advocate for me. Several colleagues took the time to read or listen to the manuscript in progress, and for that I owe special thanks to Carla Desantis, Joe Ehrbar, Erik Flannigan, Joe Guppy, John Keister, Carl Miller, Chris Phillips, Christina Shinkle, Adem Tepedelen, and my son Ashland.
I particularly wish to acknowledge the musicians who made the records I listened to as a teenager—especially those who allowed the Columbia Record and Tape Club to license their albums—and those who create the music that continues to make me feel that teen spirit once again.
—Charles R. Cross
April 2001
Picture Section
Kurt Cobain at two months old with his father, Don. Don is wearing his service station uniform with his name above the breast.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LELAND COBAIN.
Even as a child, Kurt had the most remarkable eyes.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LELAND COBAIN.
Wendy, Kim, Don and Kurt Cobain, Christmas 1974.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LELAND COBAIN.
Kurt’s fifth grade photo, 1979.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LELAND COBAIN.
Kurt’s first grade photo.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LELAND COBAIN.
Kurt in his room at the house on 1210 East First in Aberdeen, 1985.
PHOTO COURTESY OF COURTNEY LOVE.
Dave Foster, Kurt and Krist Novoselic outside the Vogue after their first Seattle show in 1988.
PHOTO © RICH HANSEN.
Tracy Marander and Kurt in a Woolworth’s photo booth portrait, 1988. Kurt was going through a phase of wearing scarves on his head.
PHOTO © TRACY MARANDER.
Kurt in the kitchen of his Olympia apartment. He covered the cabinets with clippings from magazines.
PHOTO © TRACY MARANDER.
PHOTO © TRACY MARANDER.
Kurt, Chad Channing, Jason Everman and Krist Novoselic in March of 1989 by the Seattle waterfront.
PHOTO © ALICE WHEELER.
Chad Channing, Krist Novoselic, Kurt and his half-sister Brianne in the Nirvana van.
PHOTO © TRACY MARANDER.
Kurt in the backyard of his house in Olympia, summer 1989.
PHOTO © TRACY MARANDER.
Kurt, his sister Kim and their Aunt Mari, Christmas 1989.
PHOTO © MARI EARI.
Kurt in front of a sign in Olympia.
PHOTO © TRACY MARANDER.
Nirvana live at the Motorsports Speedway in Seattle, September 1990.
PHOTO © ALICE WHEELER.
Courtney Love, Dave Grohl and Kurt on the beach at Waikiki on February 24, 1992, moments after Kurt and Courtney were married.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF COURTNEY LOVE.
Frances, Kurt and Courtney, Christmas 1992.
PHOTO © JACKIE FARRY/COURTESY OF COURTNEY LOVE.
Kurt arriving back at Sea-Tac airport after his Rome suicide attempt—one of the last known photographs of him.
PHOTO © DUANE DEWITT.
Frances, Kurt and nanny Michael “Cali” Dewitt at Sea-Tac, March 1994.
PHOTO © DUANE DEWITT.
The greenhouse at the Lake Washington home, April 1994.
PHOTO © ALICE WHEELER.
Kurt and Frances, 1992.
PHOTO © LELAND COBAIN.
About the Author
Alice Wheeler
Charles R. Cross was editor of The Rocket, the Northwest’s highly regarded music and entertainment magazine and the first publication ever to do a cover story on Nirvana. He is the author of three other books: Led Zeppelin: Heaven and Hell; Backstreets: Springsteen, the Man and His Music; and Nevermind: The Classic Album. His writing has appeared in Rolling Stone, Esquire, and Spy, among many other publications. He lives in Seattle.
Copyright
Lyrics to songs by Nirvana courtesy EMI Virgin Songs and the Estate of Kurt Cobain.
“Serve the Servants,” © 1993, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music; “Polly,” © 1991, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music; “Even in His Youth” © 1991, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music; “Aneurysm,” © 1989, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music; “Drain You” © 1991, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music; “Lounge Act” © 1991, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music; “Rape Me” © 1993, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music; “Sliver” © 1989, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music; “Heart-Shaped Box” © 1993, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music; “Milk It” © 1993, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music; “Penny Royal Tea” © 1993, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music; “Smells Like Teen Spirit” © 1991, by Nirvana, © 1991 EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music/Murky Slough Music/MJ Twelve Music, administered by EMI Music; “You Know You’re Right” © 1993, EMI Virgin Songs, Inc./The End of Music, administered by EMI Music. Used by permission; all rights reserved.
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