Top 10 Interesting Facts
Kurt Cobain
10. Kurt Cobain Voices His Opinion
Kurt Cobain considered Guns N' Roses front man Axl Rose to be a homophobe and a racist, an opinion that other people agreed with thanks to the lyrics of the song "One in a Million."
9. Metaphors to Express Tragedy
Kurt Cobain wrote "Polly" in 1987 after reading an article about the torture and rape of a 14 year old girl. Cobain chose to write the song from the perspective of the girl. After hearing this song Bob Dylan was prompted to remark of Cobain, "That kid has heart."
8. Jokes about Working as a Janitor
Cobain worked as a janitor at Weatherwax High School, not long after dropping out of that very school. The dancing janitor in the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video was an inside joke for Kurt.
7. Buried in a Heart Shaped Coffin
"Heart Shaped Box" was originally titled "Heart Shaped Coffin." Even though the song was inspired by an actual heart shaped box sent by Courtney Love to Kurt Cobain during the beginnings of their relationship the initial lyrics read that the narrator was "buried" in the box.
6. Almost Bankrupt
Sub Pop would prove to be on the verge of bankruptcy, and would only be saved by the deal they made with Geffen Records to receive some royalties from Nevermind helping to keep the cash flowing.
5. Making Money
Nirvana's "Nevermind" was released on Sept. 24, 1991. The band's original record contract with Sub Pop only paid them $600, but this album would go on to sell 30 million copies worldwide.
4. Mistake
Cobain's girlfriend at the time, Tobi Vail, used a now discontinued deodorant called Teen Spirit. After being with Vail, Cobain would smell like it to which his friend Hanna would spray paint "Kurt smells like teen spirit" on his wall. Cobain didn't find out the line was a deodorant reference and not a compliment until afterward, at which point it is said he became mad about his mistake.
3. Unoriginal
Cobain claimed "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was just a "rip off" of The Pixies, and that when he first showed the song to his band mates it didn't go over well.
2. Graphic Album Cover
The "Nevermind" baby was originally supposed to be a full underwater birthing scene. Members of the band saw a television documentary about the underwater birthing process and Kurt Cobain decided, "Let's put that on the album cover." Of course, the image was way too graphic, so they ended up going with a baby swimming instead.
1. In Memory Of...
The welcome sign to Kurt Cobain's hometown now says "Come as You Are."
Sources:
Cormier, Roger. "25 Things You Should Know About Nirvana." Mental Floss. Mental Floss, 7 June 2014. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.
Luling, Todd Van. "5 Things You Didn't Know About Nirvana." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 24 Sept. 2014. Web. 08 Dec. 2014