Kurt Cobain, the enigmatic and troubled musician, was born on February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington, to a family that would later experience a tumultuous childhood. For the first few months of his life, Kurt and his family resided in Hoquiam, before relocating back to Aberdeen, where he enjoyed a relatively happy childhood until his parents' divorce. The divorce had a profound impact on Kurt, leaving him forever scarred and withdrawn. He became increasingly anti-social, often being placed with various relatives, friends, and even experiencing homelessness.
Kurt's high school years were marked by social struggles, as he was not particularly popular in public school. However, in 1985, he made the bold decision to leave Aberdeen and relocate to Olympia, where he would eventually form the iconic band Nirvana in 1986. Under the independent label Sub-Pop records, Nirvana released their debut album, Bleach, in 1989, which garnered moderate success.
The band's popularity soon skyrocketed, particularly in Britain, and by 1991, they had signed a contract with Geffen Records. Their next album, Nevermind, would go on to become a 1990s masterpiece, catapulting Nirvana to global stardom and cementing Kurt's status as a rock legend. However, the pressures of fame took a toll on Kurt, who struggled to cope with the new lifestyle.
In February 1992, Kurt married Courtney Love, who was already pregnant with their daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. The couple welcomed their child in August 1992. Nirvana released their next album, Incesticide, later that year, which featured liner notes that showcased Kurt's open-mindedness and sensitivity. In September 1993, the band released their highly acclaimed album, 'In Utero', which topped the charts.
Tragedy struck on March 4, 1994, when Kurt was hospitalized in a coma, allegedly due to an accident, although many believed it to be an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Family and friends convinced Kurt to seek rehabilitation, but he fled rehab after only a few days, prompting a missing person's report filed by Courtney Love.
On April 8, 1994, Kurt's body was discovered in his Seattle home, with a shotgun lying next to him, which had been fired into his head. A suicide note, written in red ink, was found near his body, addressed to his wife, Courtney Love, and his daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. The note concluded with the poignant words, "I love you, I love you."
In the days that followed, fans gathered in Seattle, setting fires, chanting profanities, and engaging in violent clashes with police officers. They also listened to a tape of Courtney reading sections of the suicide note, with the final words echoing through the streets: "I love you, I love you."
