Kurt cobain

Kurt Donald Cobain (pronounced /koʊˈbeɪn/, /kəˈbeɪn/; February 20, 1967 – c. April 5, 1994) was an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana.
Contents[hide] * 1 Biography * 2 Musical influences * 3 Artistic intentions * 4 Nirvana * 5 Courtney Love * 6 Health history * 7 Death * 8 Legacy * 8.1 Books andfilms on Cobain * 9 See also * 10 References * 11 Notes * 12 External links |
Biography
Kurt Donald Cobain was born on 20 February 1967, at Grays Harbor Hospital in Aberdeen, Washington,[2] to a waitress, Wendy Elizabeth Fradenburg[3] and an automotive mechanic named Donald Leland Cobain. His father was of Scottish,[4] Irish and French ancestry,[5] and his mother, was of Cuban,Spanish,[4] Irish, German and English ancestry.[6] Cobain's Irish ancestors migrated from County Tyrone of Northern Ireland in 1875.[6] Further research found them to have been shoemakers, originally named Cobane, who came from the village of Inishatieve near Pomeroy, who settled in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, and then in Washington.[7] Cobain had one younger sister named Kimberly, born in 1970.[3][4]Cobain's family had a musical background. His maternal uncle Chuck Fradenburg starred 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. Cobain was described as being a happy and excitable, while sensitive and caringchild. His talent as an artist was evident from an early age. His bedroom was described as having taken on the appearance of an art studio,[2] where he would accurately draw his favorite characters from films and cartoons such as Aquaman, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Disney characters like Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and Pluto.[8] This enthusiasm was encouraged by his grandmother IrisCobain, who was a professional artist herself. Cobain began developing an interest in music early in his life. According to his Aunt Mari, he began singing at two years old. At age four, Cobain started playing the piano and singing, writing a song about their trip to a local park. He listened to artists like the Ramones[9] and would sing songs like Arlo Guthrie's "Motorcycle Song," The Beatles'"Hey Jude", Terry Jacks' "Seasons in the Sun" and the theme song to The Monkees television show at a young age.[10]

A photograph of Cobain from his second grade school yearbook; the picture was handed out at his memorial service.
When Kurt was eight years old, his parents divorced. Later in his life, he said the divorce had a profound effect on his life. His mother noted that his personalitychanged dramatically; Cobain became defiant and withdrawn.[11] In a 1993 interview, he elaborated:
"I remember feeling ashamed, for some reason. I was ashamed of my parents. I couldn't face some of my friends at school anymore, because I desperately wanted to have the classic, you know, typical family. Mother, father. I wanted that security, so I resented my parents for quite a few years becauseof that."[12]
Cobain's parents both found new partners after the divorce. His father had promised not to remarry; however, after meeting Jenny Westeby, he did, to Kurt's dismay.[13] Kurt, his father, Westeby, and her two children Mindy and James, moved into a new household together. Cobain liked Westeby at first, who gave him the maternal attention he desired.[13][14] In January 1979, Westebygave birth to a boy, Chad Cobain.[13] This new family, which Cobain insisted was not his real one, was in stark contrast the attention Cobain was used to receiving as an only boy; he soon began to express resentment toward his stepmother.[13][14] Kurt's mother began dating a man who was abusive. Cobain witnessed the domestic violence inflicted towards her, with one incident resulting in her being...