Al Barger isn't happy with the way some people revere Kurt Cobain
With all due respect, Kurt Cobain makes a poor excuse for a cultural icon. I don't mean to discount his personal pain, or anything like that. Ten years ago today, though, the cat offed himself. Since then, a lot of people have set him up as some kind of great symbol, like some cheap rock and roll Christ figure who died for our sins or something.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments76 - clash77
First off a caveat before anybody reads this - remember that opinions are like the anal orifice - everybody has one. Bluntly put, if Kurt Cocaine, er, Cobain, was as miserable as he professed, he should have been crouched in the corner of a blank white room somewhere instead of in the music biz. Imagining him as some sort of prophet, even a gutter prophet, is the stuff of myth and pipedream. Instead of complaining about the trappings of his success, he should have been down on his knees every night thanking the deity of his choice that the masses had been swindled into buying the turgid miasma he passed off as "art." Although "Nevermind" had a few barely tolerable songs, by the end, Nirvana was plumbing new depths of musical blandness and embracing the corporate dollar just like everyone else in the 90's, a dark, dark decade for rock and roll. Live with it...
77 - Anthony G
Rock Sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rap Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
78 - donna_dixon
[edited]
79 - clash77
Anthony,
For a guy who hates rock so much, you sure do read a lot of blog about it. Hope you have a good time in junior high this year...
80 - Anthony G
Dash77
What do you mean that I read a lot about it. And why do you end all you comments with ...
(edited)
(edited)
(edited)
81 - Jools
Just came across this as i'm doing some research on suicide and copycats. I have lost 2 of my brothers to suicide and find it completely offensive, some of the comments posted here.If any one person here had bothered to think about what was leaking from the hole in their face, before opening it, we may not have been subjected to such a huge amount of verbal diahorrea.
Regardless of the mans musical talents or lack there of, he was still a human being. A son, a brother, a husband, and a father. These things are the sum total of Kurt Cobains life. Not how many records he made and whether they were good enough to make him a rock god.
Does anyone here really think that he gave a shit about all of that in his last moments? He probably felt so bad that death for him was the only way out.So you sit there on your rock of judgement, but don't judge the man, because you know nothing about him.
If you must pass comment, do it about the music, thats in the public domain, its fair game. But his life isn't, he still has a family, that love and miss him. Give the guy a break, he died 10 years ago.
82 - Ken Byrne
I don't know how old this is but I would like to put my worthless 2 cents in. I can't change any of the anti-Cobain posse's mind's so I'm not going to try. All I can say is that, to me, Kurt deserves every bit of credit for his musical genius that he gets. Before Kurt I only had a passing interest in music, but when I first heard Kurt's voice and the gritty detuned guitars I was instantly touched.
Regardless of technical merits, the music was powerful. Kurt always said that they were a vocally oriented band because he didn't feel that he was a great guitarist.
I don't think his guitar playing was all that bad...at worst it was average.
Anyway, it doesn't matter because Kurt is to people whatever he is to an individual. Why is there such an arguement about Cobain by people who claim to be irritated by his over-protective over-admiring fans?
Just go back to listening to prince if that's your idea of musical genius and we'll listen to Nirvana.
All I can say is that to me the guy was great. He was interesting, vulnerable and could write killer hooks.
It's also well known that Kurt was divorcing Courtney just before he was found dead. If you've ever heard his final song 'you know you're right' he says 'Theres talk about someone else, steaming soup against her mouth.'
She was having an affair.
You know you're right is one of my favourite songs even though it's pro-tooled to bits.
Let me end this meaningless drivel by comparing Robert Johnson and Jimi hendrix...oh, wait! To do so is pointless just like this post.
'He may be dead, but at least all you people know his name.'
83 - Dan
Personally, I worship Kurt Cobain. He was not a person who flaunted his talent. Al, you act like he acts like Bono onstage. He KNOWS FOR A FACT that he doesnt know a thing and that he has no right to talk politically, since he doesnt have any idea. He knows he is stupid. But he will say what he wants to say because he knows that he has a right and if he didnt he wouldn't want to live. He didnt surround himself with an entourage. He didnt buy a 5,000,000,000,000,000,000 sq. ft. house. He spent that money on his fans. THAT is why I worship him, and his lyrics blow my mind. He can be deep and profound and then, in the next song, just want to jump around and rock out. And just so you know, this is coming from a person who grew up listening to ZZ Top and George Thorogood. I didnt grow up in a house where punk rock was liked. If I had liked them I would have been made fun of. I found Nirvana on my own. I have never in my life found a band who created such good songs. I have watched VH1 and have looked into all of these bands that are "the greatest," and not a one of them is as good as Nirvana. Sure, I love the Rolling Stones and Led Zep and Black Sabbath and all of the rebel bands, but they cannot compare to Nirvana. Dave Grohl can play the drums with the best. Krist has killer baselines that rival JPJ (Led Zep) And Kurt Cobain, is a God. I mean, look at the name, Nirvana. Do you think they named the band after a group of peoples form of heaven by accident. HELL NO!!! The Band will stay the greatest until they are put into the shadow by a band better, which will be tough, obviously. If Nirvana sucks so bad, why cant anyone make everyone forget about them. Look at yourself, even you cant forget about Kurt Cobain's death, and the death of Nirvana
84 - Ken Byrne
Well said! I just can't wait for the box set to come out. Counting the days. Looking forward to hearing the solo stuff and the first rehersal of teen spirit.
The gig in novoselic's house (DVD) is going to be cool. Alot of exciting stuff in that box set.
Doll Steeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeak!
Test Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaat
85 - Oli Hayes
Why the fuck are you making a complaint at a great musician and one of the most influencial rock bands of the 90's, We choose who we want to like and why we like it. None of your business so shut up, go home and cry.
86 - Douglas Mays
Take a look and listen to the new Nirvana box set "With the Lights Out". Anyone who doubts Cobain's validity will be eating crow over this one.
Probably the best anthology box set ever put out in the record industry.
peaceloveguidance
87 - Kenner Byrne
Anyone that questions Cobain's validity either has no smarts or just doesn't get it. How could someone touch so many people if he did not have something special?
In my book no-one matches up to Kurt Cobain. He was the best. And i like a lot of different artists, but not one of them had the intensity and power that Cobain had.
Fuck anyone that says any different because they are exactly the type Cobain was trying to alienate in the first place.
I see a lot of people mentioning different musicians and comparing Cobain with them. What the hell has this got to do with cobain? It's chalk and cheese. He was on a different planet. LIstening to Prince and paul simon and then saying that Kurt could never express musically what they could is complete horseshit. For me it's those that couldn't do what Kurt did. He was an Artist...those guys are posers and techies. Kurt Cobain put himself out there and made a difference, and I would chose him over any of the self-indulgent, posing, gibson-les-paul-playing assholes that morons keep calling real musicians!
Oh, and as Columbo says: just one more thing. Why does everyone that complains about Cobain always harp on about drugs? People saying he is a junkie.....hello. 90% of rockstars where junkies; Jimi Hendrix, the beatles, elvis, red hot chilis,Jim morrison, Guns n roses, sex pistols ect. The list goes on and on! All except Frank zappa. Stop talking shit, pull your head out of your ass and throw away your prince CDs.
88 - sophie
Kurt Cobain did not Commit Suicide! He was Murdered by his Psyco Wife Courtney! Read Love and Hate!
89 - Eric Olsen
Nostradamus predicted in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion that Tupac would murder Kurt with a lead pipe in the library
90 - Adamn
ok, so kurt cobain wasn't the most wholesome human to ever live, but he didn't have the best past either, if eddie vedder's parents had deserted him at age 7, perhaps pearl jam's music would be more angry. i am a person who glorifies cobain, and, being a teenager myself, i believe that he is the person that helped us nerds stand up to the jocks and preps. anyone who disagrees, i'm going to assume is a jock or prep.
91 - Adamn
P.S.: Dan on comment 83, email me sometime, on the account listed at myspace.com/thebeef. i would love to discuss your take on some of cobain's music.
92 - Abe
Wow you guys.....I cant believe that you are so nieve to see what Kurt was trying to tell you the whole time......By putting down his music he just won the battle and the war. He was all about sticking it to the man...He never wanted to be famous...He dident kill himself .....neither did Courtney....It was MTV....Kurt was generally a happy guy till MTV tried to make him an icon....I'm happy to see that some of you guys aggree that he was not an icon....He wasn't .....He was a truth that needed to be told.....He prooved that being different is o.k....he proved that you should do what you want....I totally disaggree with the people that say Kurt was only famous becasue of his depressing life. He was famous for a message that could not be put in any other way other than the way he did.......He said that you should come as you are....As I want you to be....Dowse in mud, soaked in bleach.
He was saying he wanted you to be yourself....he dident care what you were as long as you were urself....he dident care if you were black, white, gay, dumb, he just wanted you to be happy....He wasent happy because a lot of people of the early 90's only liked him because he was on MTV...He wanted people to like him for him....he was mad MTV was making him a...
Flower Sniffen
Kitty Pettin
Baby kissin
Corporate Rock Whore
He was mad that he was turning into a sell out.
Kurt wanted to question your question.
He wanted to make you think about your thoughts. He wanted to let you be you. He dident want to be your Icon...
93 - Abe
Thank you Adamn! of comments 90 and 91!......I really believe in what you said about Cobain and how he made it possible for the Nerds or fags or what not to stand up to other people......He did an article once for a magazine that told of how he used to go around and right GOD IS GAY on cars....it was not a dis to God or anything....it was just a statement that said be who you are....you never know might have the same feelings as you and wont or cant express them.
94 - M-Dizzle you fucks, remember the name!
Beatles > ALL
John Lennon > GOD
Pearl Jam > Nirvana
Although, contrary to the original arguement - I do believe Kurt was in fact talented. *However*, at the same time, I feel the pedestal his legacy has been bestowed upon, is completely unwarranted, and a slap in the face to those fallen forgotten rock legends who perished amongst the depths of mediocrity.... Personally, an icon should radiate confidence, and such said strengths - to lead, and or at the very least, "reach" his audience in an effective, positive manner - of which Cobain accomplished, however, his efforts (to reach) were detered by his own self-empathy, "leading" youths much like myself in disarray. Practically encouraging pain, by Super-fans who would like to live vicariously thru his emotions/music. Seems entirely too pretentious....lastly, I will reiterate this sentiment once more, an icon should show strength. Anyone who resorts to suicide, ESPECIALLY with millions of dollars - is not a strong individual, as such, any praise...should be minimal, if any. No rewards for taking an 'escape route'. We all encounter the pressures/hardships of life. Difference is, millions of dollars better accommodates these "hardships".
If you want emotional/deep record:
John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band
Word the fuck up, you little cum buckets.
95 - Yada
I would see art as a way of expressing the emotions. I also see that Kurt perhaps created art based on these emotions. I would say that adolescents growing up at the time (myself), had a voice in Kurt. He was not a positive role model in the sense of going out and doing volunteer work and such or being involved in the community. But he did do something that was pretty big. I related to the power of the music and it inspired me to play and to write. But the lifestyle, I could leave it.
96 - eve123
NIRVANA SUCKS ASS, If Kurt hadnt offed himself then they would have just faded away with most of the other fucking shitty 90s music!!!!!!!
I really love the 80s. If only i could go back in time. The 80's = Amazing !!!
It would be before the early to mid 90's!
That was when rock n roll slowly began to rot and die! It went stale and now its six feet under
NIRVANA/KURT IS TO BLAME IN MOST PART! So i hold somewhat a grudge againsed this band!
He sould NOT be called a rock ledgend, jeez he complained in every one of his songs, people say he was murdured!
riiiight............
He Killed himself
Im glad
End of story
97 - eve123
he also made depression into some kind of a trend
98 - eve123
ok, i just gotta add!
Nirvana - Smells like something crappy
If i could i would take their "heart shaped box"
and flush it down the oval shaped hole in the bathroom.
99 - do you even know what nirvana means?
ok lets get this straight, Kurt cobain was an idol of grunge music because he was good at it. He never wanted to be famous, and to make money, he just loved music and to play it.and if you think he was such a downer, the only downer he was would be down to earth, you want to listen to happy music, go ahead, but the people who are sierrous and talk about life for what it really is,we'll listen to nirvana.
100 - seane
jeez eve123! im glad to see that we're all adults discussing this topic in a grown-up fashion. NIRVANA SUCKS ASS. Wow. Genius, clearly.
I spose enough has already been said about this but id just like to put in my own two cents. Kurt Cobain was a normal person like u or me. normal people think and feel fucked up things all the time, but we dont let on to others about it. Ive felt the anger he felt, so i take an attack on his character as an attack on mine. Judge not lest ye be judged. Give a guy a break.
And please, please please please! Before anybody else insults his writing style, read Naked Lunch by William Burroughs and u will find a startling similarity. Therefore do u think William Burroughs is a poor writer? If so i suggest u take a look at how many copies of Naked Lunch have been sold throughout this (and the last) century.
And kurt cobain played guitar well enough that it didnt detract from the melodies he wrote, which were his first and foremost priority. Which is a damn sight better then alot of "stars" these days.
101 - fan of nirvana
I believe Kurt Cobain deseves every bit of respect. He was and is and always will be a rock god. Sorry for sounding how i did but thats me and my opinion it doesnt have to care or matter to u or kurt cobain to be honest he hated attention but i dont care. Nirvana may have not been the only grunge band but there certaintly one of the best and still are played on the radio today and sound as good as they did 11 yrs ago. So dont go hating, think about it did he ever say anything bad about you???? do u know him did u ever really listen to Nirvana if so listen again feel the energy which drove a generation and sold millions of copys certaintly u can not deny Nirvanas impact on rock and roll.
102 - Whiskah
Kurt was a person who did his own thing teenagers are so stupid today thanks to mtv. they think rap is actually music which it isent its just manufactred crap like new wave. Not letting fame goto to your head is a good thing he was humble, and defintly not a rockstar rocker yes star no. he atracted people by just being himself he was actually cool and didnt use a visade of expensive clothing and jewlery to get people intrested, his music was new inovative and fresh, hes an excelnet role model, if you dont want to be just another stupid drown. and as for his drug use that was his problem and his problem only and its none of your fucking bussiness. Al Barger go fuck your self ----------HOMO---SEX----RULES----------
103 - blake
Ok this is what i think kurt wrote music with alot of methaphors that can convey diffrent meanings to diffrent people so his songs essientially have a universal meaning and his guitar playing wasnt great but it got the job done and never interfered with his songs and he was good dude he was fucked up from the drugs and i love nirvana but sadly i do know its because he killed himself that he gets this much credit his music was fresh but it didnt inspire shit and if it did it would have to be people like my chemicalromance i do think nirvana is overhyped alothough he is excellent lyrcists and they were a great band
104 - CosmiqCobain
I knew Kurt Cobain. His main purpose was spiritual, and the music was a vehicle. He made mistakes, he was very naive, got involved in drugs early, was neglected, abused by others and starving, had some head-twisted ideas,etc. This all messed up his ability to function of course.
If you listen to some of the songs such as a good version of Rape Me, you can hear the spiritual voice. That is where the inexplicable success lies. This was (is) a mystical and supernatural phenomenon, a gift that he possessed.
Believers, believe: unbelievers, we don't care about you.
You can say he was a god, you are not far from the truth. I knew him to be endowed with spiritual light at times that was literally brilliant,glow-in-the-dark, in private. It came and went, came back again...
Expect something from this man still, as a true son of God, that will blow you away. He is not done yet.
And no, he did not kill himself. Someone else did.
He was not Bodda (his childhood word for God whom he knew), but a boddhisatva, a being of spiritual light, who had lessons to learn early on in life, until he remembered what he was sent here to do.
We have not seen the last of him, because his kind do not always stay dead. Ever hear of people coming back alive after they had died? I have.
His work is far from over. I could say more but I won't. But in this, he will again lead the way for many.
God Bless Kurt Cobain, Protect Him and Let us who Love Him See Him Again on the Earth!
TLJC amen.
105 - Cosmiq Cobain
I hope that really blows away your non-icon premise ... so (not) sorry I can't conform to the point of your article... You are forcing us who call him a Lord, to come out of our shadows and speak...
106 - Mike Hunt
its a shame SONIC YOUTH dont seem to get the credit Nirvana do/does.
I think its because he sucked on the end of a shotgun and blew his own brains all over the place.
A lot of people dig that for some reason - Suicide always makes you an icon if your a celebrity.
Then theres the idiots who blame Courtney love.
107 - kiri
how dare u pll say kurt cobain is a crap idol he was the most sexy man alive hes a great singinger n a good guitarist he was a bi n he was pround if i could bring him back i wouldnt because he wanted to die anyway!! xxxx r.i.p kurt i love u!
108 - alex
the simplicity and elegance of his nature and playing is undeniably the most mysteriest of any music, not just rock.... there are some people you cant beat and one must understand that in this forum filled with the talent of loving egotistical, self gloryfing so called musicians remains true... if one must be exposed to music nothing comes closer to human nature
109 - chris
you're my hero...kurt cobain is gay..and i don't understand why people like him at all...he raped a retarded girl in highschool
110 - DarkAngel
Courtney love problay killed Kurt.
and he didnt rape a retarded girl in highschool. Kurt deseves some respect.
He was and is and always will be a rock god.and i think Kurt makes a great cultural icon.Nirvana Rocks.........XR.I.P Kurt cobain 167-1994X I luv u!!
111 - Lilly
I love Nirvana's music. It's deeper than alot of the other stuff you get. They did GREAT work.
Kurt Cobain is an icon partly BECAUSE he was in so much pain, and people can relate to that. He went through so much shit he was tough to withstand it for so long.
112 - Michelle
This was written by someone who has no clue what Kurt Cobain meant and means to his fans. He also has not done any research to see that many people do not believe that Kurt "blew his brains out". Elvis was a drug addict and so were the Beatles at one time.
The people who attack Kurt now are the same people who attacked Kurt 15 years ago... jealous and petty. "I Hate Myself and Want to Die" was a joke... listen to both versions of the song before you judge it!
Kurt was an icon and still is... do you hear Purple Rain on a popular radio station in 2007?? Hell no... but I hear Nirvana everyday. Comparing Nirvana to Prince or Terrence Trent D'Arby is like a bad joke, apparently the author does not have much taste. D'Arby was a one hit wonder and while he might have talent, no one cared in the 90's and no one cares now. Write about something you have the brain power to understand next time, music is not your forte.
113 - Cedde
This will be one comment and only one. So dont write back on this
First of all, Al, music doesnt have to be complicated to sound good, and thats my and probably alot of other persons around the worlds opionion, i dont care what yours is.
Second i'm not going to criticize Prince, or who ever you listend to because i respect the diffrent gengres and styles that follow with them, but this i'll tell you, if had been a fan of Nirvana when Kurt died(i was like 2 years old at that time) i really think i would have cried, and i'm dead serius. Even if i had been like 28 years old. Sure the man had some bad habits but it's not the bad habits that make him a icon, i respect the man because of the music he created. His voice was like no others. The music they created made me feel something i had never really felt before, like when i first heard Smells Like The Teen Spirit. And i dont know if it's because your like 40 and thats why you cant relate to the song, the way it's composed is just pure genius to MY ears, and alot of other people think that aswell.
Your right about one thing though. He was a rather "Crappy" role model what with the drugs and all that, but i respect him even though the drugs, he was obviusly sick of depressions and fought it with them, and being drug addicted isnt always the smokers own fault, maybe he was in group or clique, where they forced him over and over agin.
Why was he depressed? Well maybe the fact that he never wanted to be famous, as he said "Famous is the last thing i wanted to be" , witch is also the answer why he didnt have joy of his succes.
And last it hurts inside when you say all this. You wouldnt like it if we called your idols idiots because of they're unwanting lifestyles.
Bye
114 - matt
just everyone shut the fuck up. no ones going to agree, everyone thinks different things. i dont think kurt really cares what you thought, your not proving anything just leave him and his music alone, it is a thing of the past... and to some of us who have nothing in the future we can hold on to it and have some hope. seriously what the hell do you know.
115 - criticeyourselfandletusknow
i was 6 when he died. so i didnt get to experience nirvana(i was so young). in mid to late 90's ive heard of nirvana and like them. some complains about how kurt was overrated and how he played guitar. i think hes a good guitarist. even though he didnt play guitar like jimmy page, eric clapton, jimi hendrix etc. probably the impact he did on the music scene in the world that made kurt SOMETHING.
116 - Classified
Why does eveyone concentrate on his personal life so much? That isn't what made him famous. Well...I guess he sold a lot of records after he died...a testament to the sanctimoniuos nature of the average human, but Nirvana was pretty damn big before that. It's almost like his music is secondary these days. He was a good songwriter, and a more accomplished musician than most people were aware of, and a good lyricist. He managed to connect with the youth at the time who felt alienated and outcasted from society, THAT is why he became a cultural icon. But mostly, it's because he wrote some damn awesome music.
117 - Kurt Coccaine
And I forget just what I taste
And yet I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it was hard to find
Oh, well, whatever, nevermind.
118 - Sebastian
Do you people realise how pathetic this bicuring is? I my view Nirvana as a fantastic band that i enjoy yet today. But Paul Simon is great aswell. In the end Music is all about taste so theres no right or wrong wich people obviously failes to understand. Fact is that Nirvana and Cobain became extremely successful and theres no suprise that when he died people started to worshipp him. Ridiculous in my view, but so is Al's warped view on music. All this is, is trying to force their opinions on to others.
119 - Christain
lemme just say imma start my own religion and worship Kurt Cobain !!!! Like the Catholics and the Jews believe in different religions this is a matter of my choice and you can f@&#!!!! off .... Oh, no I said a dirty word .... LOL
120 - slackr
Kurt was a great person. Enough said. To the people who think he is not an "icon", he isn't. He never wanted to be. It is what we make of him that he is. In my view, he is the greatest musician ever. You don't have to be great at guitar to become a legend.
121 - katy :P
i think the person that wrote this page dosnt know what the hell there talking about ...thats what i think cuzz kurt was sooo awesome and his band kicked ass thats what i think :P
122 - katy :P
im going to miss him a lot :(
123 - 90's teen
[personal attack deleted] Really Terrance Trent D'arby? Just who in the hell is that. You obviously know nothing about music or art and the fact that you would take your time to trash a dead man whose music influenced more people than most musicians who have actually made it through the 27 and out period that all icons endure. He is the epitome of what a true 90's musician was and his lyrics about anguish and pain seem to ring truer for those who like myself used drugs to medicate their problems. Do yourself a favor and go back to authoring your star trek blog and leave the musical opinions to those who actually know what they are talking about and have attended a concert in their life.
124 - Greg
Your all so fucking stupid. Nirvana is the best band in history and if you don't understand that then your so fucking ignorant and think about music way too fucking critically, if you sit down and listen to a Nirvana record it changes you, for the better, that's why I don't get offended when people don't respect Nirvana because it just shows what kind of a person they are, regardless of what other music they listen too, none of it will even compare to the feeling you get when you hear Kurt bellow out a note. fucking idiots.
125 - Marcia Neil
The RIAA is trying to sue listening audiences when they themselves commit music piracy in their factories -- actions that affect the health of musicians like Kurt Cobain. Much recorded music is all-vocal -- the musicians and their instruments provide staged renditions.