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The World According to Kurt Cobain

01/09/2013
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(Gibson) Before Nirvana released their sophomore album Nevermind in 1991, punk rock and indie music was considered niche-- something the masses would never touch. Punk certainly wasn't getting any mainstream airplay, and the focus was on the hair metal bands of the era: M�tley Cr�e, Poison, Warrant. With Nevermind, Nirvana brought punk and indie rock into the popular music realm and made alternative music ubiquitous.

Nirvana's success story was short-lived, as tormented frontman Kurt Cobain's body was found at his house outside of Seattle in 1994. It wasn't a huge surprise, as he had threatened to commit suicide for a while, but it left a young generation stunned and without a leader. In this piece, we look back at some quotes from Cobain's life and career.

On handling � or not handling � overnight success, as told to Rolling Stone: "It was so fast and explosive. I didn't know how to deal with it. If there was a Rock Star 101 course, I would have liked to take it. It might have helped me."

On what young bands he was digging before the release of Nevermind, as remembered by CA.MSN.com: "I think the Breeders. I like the Pixies. I don't like their last album though... I like R.E.M. I like the Jesus Lizards, the Melvins, [inaudible] Shonen Knife, Bikini Kills. There are a few other bands I like. I'm kind of picky."

On Ozzy Osbourne digging Nevermind, as told to Kerrang! magazine (via NirvanaClub.com): I can understand Ozzy liking us, because we have some similarities with his former band. Ozzy was also in the same mixing studio that we were in for our last record. There were a few times when we were coming towards each other and I had to move against the wall because he was stumbling past. He also asked us to go on tour with him, but we turned it down. It would have been kind of exciting, but we don't really wanna play in huge arenas supporting someone.

On being labeled the "next big thing," as told to Kerrang! magazine (via NirvanaClub.com): "I think it's embarrassing to have so many expectations of us. It's a superficial label to put on a band, because it is a big let-down if the band doesn't become the next big thing. People are putting the tag on us without really wanting to do that. � We're not going to be. We're prepared to destroy our career as it happens." More.

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