Comments on: Kurt Cobain: About A Son (DVD)

By: Randy B.

Randy B. — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:44:09 +0000

I’ve loved Nirvana since I first heard them back in 1989 or so. But like Clark, my favorite album, far and away, is Unplugged.

At the same time, it can scarcely be denied that Susan has impeccable taste when it comes to such issues. I’m glad to see I’ve at least got some company with this cognitive dissonance.

By: Susan M

Susan M — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:17:01 +0000

I don’t know, he didn’t mention anything about specific songs. But it sounds likely.

Speaking of Nirvana’s Unplugged, I saw the Meat Puppets again this weekend, and they were amazing.

By: Clark

Clark — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:52:48 +0000

I never got into Nirvana until later. Right after Cobain’s death. To me it was Unplugged that did it. Especially that Leadbelly song. Wow. Every time Susan dishes them I just think to that album and go, “wha?”

I would agree that Cobain seems immature and probably dysfunctional at best. (Not Courtney Love messed up – but not good) They had an interview with Dave Grohl on Fresh Air I heard last month. He comes off as really normal, humble and down to earth. It’s kind of interesting how talented he was, but was not allowed to do a lot in Nirvana. (Not that I’m a big Foo Fighters fan, but it’s undeniable he’s talented) While he’s probably a tad too respectful of Cobain it’s understandable. Some of his anecdotes are funny though. I hadn’t realized he’d come from back east to play with the band though.

Regarding that whole immaturity to all the locals. Didn’t Cobain come to hate Smells Like Teen Spirit simply because it was popular with everyone he hated?

By: Susan M

Susan M — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:52:24 +0000

I just added the movie trailer to the post. It gives a good idea of what it’s like.

By: Susan M

Susan M — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:43:08 +0000

Oh, and the interviewer asks him if it’s true he pulled off the freeway to call a request in to KCMU (UW’s radio station) for “Love Buzz,” their first single, and waited until it came on.

He said yeah, he was about to drive out of range of the station, so he waited there for it.

By: Susan M

Susan M — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:39:56 +0000

I don’t remember a single Nirvana song. Lots of bands that influenced them, though.

I was especially interested to hear that it was Buzz from the Melvins who made Kurt a mix tape to introduce him to punk rock.

Kurt does talk about eventually going solo and trying out different sounds. Oh, and there’s a bit where a bunch of guys are sitting in a room smoking and goofing off, and he’s talking about how being on the cusp of breaking big is the best place to be, and if he could, he’d form a new band every two years to recapture that. Then the guys get up, walk down a hallway and onto a stage, and you realize it’s Band of Horses.

By: Ronan

Ronan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:03:35 +0000

Susan,
Thanks for this.

Nirvana is pure early 90′s zeitgeist for me, a time I never really grew out of. I was a serious Nirvana obsessive back then. I don’t listen to their music much anymore, but given that In Utero was such a great follow-up to Nevermind, I think Cobain had plenty of other places to go musically. Shame.

I thought about renting this DVD, but am I right in assuming there’s not much in the way of Nirvana music on it? Given my own geographical horizons, it’s the music that interests me not Aberdeen, Wa. lumber yards!

By: tracy m

tracy m — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:10:54 +0000

Oh, don’t forget the people who don’t beleive in using soap or deodorant. I discovered them around the same time as I found the co-ops.

By: Susan M

Susan M — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:36:46 +0000

Co-ops! Haha. Jen and I were roommates at Evergreen. We also learned there are people who don't believe in bathing more than once a month. And those are people you don't want for roommates.

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:32:46 +0000

i learned about co-ops and carab-fake chocolate (blech!) at Evergreen!