17 years ago
Today is the 17 anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death. Many people don’t understand Nirvana’s music, but to those of us who do, they were my generations Beatles. From the second I inserted the Nevermind cassette I was hooked. It was probably the first album that I could listen to straight through without a bad song and I could listen over and over and never got sick of it. They were my gateway band. I believe everybody who is into underground, less popular music, has a mainstream band that shows them the light and introduces them to the much greater music that doesn’t get radio play.
After hearing Nevermind, my tastes in music totally changed. No longer was I into the 80s hair metal bands. I would go out of my way to find new music. Back then, before the internet, it was much harder to discover new music. MTV actually played videos back then, but really only played videos I liked for two hours on Sunday nights during 120 Minutes. That’s when I first saw the video for “Rhinoceros” and fell in love with Smashing Pumpkins, I saw “Behind the Sun”, and fell in love with the Chili Peppers, I saw “Undone-The Sweater Song” and fell in love with Weezer. Those are just a few videos that stick out in my head. Those bands would then go on and be huge. Many of my other favorites like Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement would also have moderate success. It always makes me feel good when bands I have been listening to for years suddenly became popular. During the mid 90s bands I liked were getting radio play left and right, not so much anymore, but I don’t care. I listen to what I like, and go out of my way to find it.
I remember April 8th like it was yesterday. April 8th was the day that Kurt Cobain was discovered dead. He shot himself on the 5th. April 8th was a Friday. I was in college living in a dorm. Usually Fridays were slow days with not many classes. I took advantage of that and did a bunch of errands that day, and never turned the TV on. I went from my errands, to class, then to work. I didn’t hear the news about Kurt Cobain until that evening when I went out with friends. I was shocked when I heard the news, but wasn’t surprised. It was a sad ending to my favorite band that had so much more music to make.