by Everett True
Great chunks of narrative have been taken from my previous ‘grunge’ book, Live Through This: American Rock Music In The Nineties (Virgin, 2001). Apologies to anyone who may have bought that and realised the marked similarities. I just felt the story deserved a wider audience.
Most of my articles quoted first appeared in Melody Maker; and also The Stranger, Uncut, NME , Hit It Or Quit It, Plan B and a handful of other publications. Some are original transcripts of tapes that have lain dormant for over a decade. I am grateful to IPC Magazines for granting me permission to quote extensively from the articles concerning Nirvana and Kurt Cobain that I wrote for Melody Maker between 1989 and 1994. And I would like to thank my commissioning editors – particularly Allan Jones – for giving me the opportunity to travel so extensively during the early Nineties.
The following people were gracious enough to agree to be interviewed for this book: Dawn Anderson, Julianne Anderson, Mark Arm, Cheryl Arnold, Earnie Bailey, Lou Barlow, Leighton Beezer, Ruud Berends, Danny Bland, Kurt Bloch, Anton Brookes, Carrie Brownstein, James Burdyshaw, Kelly Canary, Rosemary Carroll, Chad Channing, Peter Davis, Mikey Dees, Cali DeWitt, Ian Dickson, Christof Ellinghaus, Jack Endino, Eric Erlandson, Jennifer Finch, Steve Fisk, Gillian G. Gaar, Danny Goldberg, Lori Goldston, John Goodmanson, Kim Gordon, Steve Gullick, Tom Hazelmyer, Jessica Hopper, Megan Jasper, Rich Jensen, Barrett Jones, Rob Kader, Wally Kempton, Al Larsen, Michael Lavine, Mary Lou Lord, Dave Markey, Nikki McClure, Jim Merlis, Carrie Montgomery, Craig Montgomery, Slim Moon, Thurston Moore, Rene Navarette, Joe Newton, Bruce Pavitt, Candice Pedersen, Dan Peters, Charles Peterson, Jonathan Poneman, Lee Ranaldo, Janet Billig Rich, John Robb, Debbi Shane, Ben Shepherd, Aaron Stauffer, Stephen Sweet, Corin Tucker, Steve Turner, Tobi Vail, Carlos van Hijfte, Kim Warnick, Rusty Willoughby. Thank you.
I’d like to particularly thank Gillian G. Gaar for permission to quote at length from her numerous articles on Nirvana. Also, I wish to publicly acknowledge the support and friendship I have been offered while writing this book, particularly from Tobi, Craig, Jack, Earnie, Eric, Jessica and Cali. It’s meant a great deal to me. Thank you.
The Dave Grohl quotes in Chapter 12 are taken from a 2005 interview conducted by Mojo journalist Stevie Chick. Used with permission.
The Pat Smear quotes in Chapters 26 and 28 are taken from a 2002 interview conducted by Rasmus Holmen, www.nirvanaclub.com. Used with permission.
The following people have been supportive, even if no interviews have transpired: Ryan Aigner, Nils Bernstein, Calvin Johnson, Courtney Love, Krist Novoselic, Joe Preston, John Silva, Kim Thayil, Bob Whittaker. Cheers.
I also want to thank the following: Plan B Editor Frances May Morgan, for her incisive and thorough proofreading, without which much of this book would be crap, frankly; my main Seattle intern, Natalie Walker, for transcription way beyond the call of duty, any amount of research and quote checking and not least for providing the original version of the Aberdeen travelogue that appears in Chapter 1 – cheers; my Omnibus editor Chris Charlesworth for his patient, good-natured support; Johnny Rogan for his excellent index and comments; Emily Graham, Laura Wright and Victoria Hogg in Brighton, and Beth Capper and Melissa Bradshaw in Chicago and London, for further proofreading duties, transcription and generally kicking my ass; my other Seattle interns, William ‘Bill’ Bullock, Katie Shaw, Ari Spool and Abby Waysdorf for their enthusiasm and selfless hours spent transcribing tapes and sitting in on interviews; Alex Roberts at www.livenirvana.com for her suggestions, contact lists and never-ending stream of live Nirvana DVDs; Carol Clerk and Andrew Mueller for making me laugh; Ben Myers, Rasmus Holmen and Mike Zeigler for research; Lance Bangs; Enrico Vincenzi at www.sliver.it for his kick-ass discography; Craig and Eve for providing me with a place to stay in Seattle; my fellow workers at Plan B magazine – particularly Chris, Andrew and Frances – for bearing with me so long; my mother, Margaret Thackray, for baby-sitting her grandchild Isaac through the last few crucial months.
Finally, I am indebted to my patient, supportive and beautiful wife Charlotte Thackray for continuing to put up with me and encourage me, even as the book dragged into its 16th overdue month. I love you. And I really do promise never to put you through this again.
www.planbmag.com
[email protected]
INDEX
Albums are printed in italics, singles in roman
Abba
About A Girl (Nirvana)
AC/DC
Accused, The
Ackroyd, Dan
Adams, Bryan
Adamson, Jennifer
Addams Family, The (television programme)
Aero Zeppelin (Nirvana)
Aerosmith
Afghan Whigs
Afrirampo
Ain’t It A Shame (Nirvana)
Albini, Steve
Alice Bag Band
Alice Cooper
Alice In Chains
All Apologies (Nirvana)
All You Need To Know About The Music
Business (book) (Donald Passman)
Allman, Keith
Almost Famous (film)
Alone Again Or (Love)
Altman, Robert
Ament, Jeff
American Pie (Don McLean)
Amos, Tori
Anderson, Dawn
Anderson, Julianne
Andy Griffith Show, The (television programme)
Aneurysm (Nirvana)
Angry Samoans, The
Anthem (Bikini Kill)
Archies, The
Arm, Mark
Arnold, Cheryl
Asking For It (Hole)
Atensio, Tom
Attenborough, David
Avengers, The
Avron, Hayley
Azerrad, Michael
B.A.L.L.
B-52’s, The
Baba O’Riley (Nirvana)
Baba O’Riley (Who)
Babes In Toyland
Back In Black (AC/DC)
Back To The Future (film)
Backbeat (film)
Bad Brains
Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Bad Moon Rising (Sonic Youth)
Bad Religion
Bad Seeds, The
Badfinger
Bagge, Peter
Baggy Labour
Bailey, Brenda
Bailey, Earnie
Baker, David
Baker, Dr
Bambi Slaughter (Fecal Matter)
Bangs
Bangs, Lester
Barbero, Lori
Barlow, Lou
Barrymore, Drew
Bastro
Bathtub Is Real, The
Bay City Rollers, The
Bayer, Sam
Beach Boys, The
Beachcombers, The
Beastie Boys, The
Beat Happening
Beatles, The
Beautiful Son (Hole)
Beavis And Butt-head Experience, The ( film)
Beck
Bee Gees, The
Beefeater
Been A Son (Nirvana)
Beeswax (Nirvana)
Beezer, Leighton
Berends, Ruud
Bernstein, Steven Jesse
Bernstein, Nils
Berry, Chuck
Beverly Hillbillies, The (television programme)
Beymer, Barbara
Biafra, Jello
Big Black
Big Cheese (Nirvana)
Big Long Now (Nirvana)
Big Star
Bikini Kill
Bikini Twilight (Go Team)
Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (film)
Billig, Janet
Billus, Kathleen
Birthday Party, The
Bjelland, Kat
Bjorn Again
Black Cat Orchestra, The
Black Flag
Black Sabbath
Blade Runner (film)
Bland, Danny
Blandest (Nirvana)
>
Blathers Log Dinstramental (Fecal Matter)
Bleach (Nirvana)
Blew (Nirvana)
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Blink
Bliss
Bloch, Kurt
Blondie
Blood Circus
Blood On The Tracks (Bob Dylan)
Blue Cheer
Blue Up, The
Blur
Boddy, Jenny
Bolan, Marc
Bolsom, Jo
Bonham, John
Bono
Borden, Lizzy
Boredoms
Boss Hogg
Boston
Bowie, David
Bradford, Tracey
Bratmobile
Brautigan, Richard
Breaking The Law (Nirvana)
Breed (Nirvana)
Breeders, The
Bridges Of Madison County (film)
Brookes, Anton
Brown, James
Brown, Steve
Brown, Tina
Brownstein, Carrie
Buck, Peter
Bug (Dinosaur Jr)
Bullet Lavolta
Bundle Of Hiss
Burchill, Julie
Burckhard, Aaron
Burdyshaw, James
Burnette, Johnny
Burr, David
Burroughs, William S.
Bush
Bush, Kate
Butthole Surfers
Buzz Factory (Screaming Trees)
Buzzcocks
Byrds, The
Cafferty, John, And The Beaver Brown Band
Cafritz, Julie
Calamity Jane
Cameron, Keith
Cameron, Matt
Campbell, Naomi
Canary, Kelly
Candy (The Fluid)
Cannanes, The
Captain & Tennille
Captain America
Captain Beefheart
Carey, Mariah
Carlson, Dylan
Carlson, Shirley
Carroll, Linda
Carroll, Rosemary
Cars, The
Cash, Johnny
Cassidy, Shaun
Cat Butt
Catlin, Andy
Cave, Nick
Celtic Frost
Cervenka, Exene
Change Has Come (Screaming Trees)
Channing, Chad
Channing, Wayne
Chapterhouse
Charles, Ray
Chase, Chevy
Cheap Trick
Cheech And Chong
Cheers (television programme)
Chestnutt, Vic
Chia Pet
Childish, Billy
Chilton, Alex
Chokebore
Chum
Churn
Circle Jerks
Clapton, Eric
Clark, Dave
Clarke, Victoria
Clash, The
Class Of ’86 (Fecal Matter)
Clerks (film)
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
(film)
Cobain, Chad (Kurt’s half-brother)
Cobain, Don (Kurt’s father)
Cobain, Frances Bean
Cobain, Gary (Kurt’s uncle)
Cobain, Iris (Kurt’s paternal
grandmother)
Cobain, Jim (Kurt’s uncle)
Cobain, Kimberley (Kurt’s sister)
Cobain, Kurt
alcohol use/abuse
animals, interest in
anti-rock star sentiments/fear of selling
out
art and painting
attractive qualities/cuteness
Aunt Mari, relationship with
bodily functions, fascination with
cartoons, interest in
childhood/early history
Courtney, positive/negative
relationship with
cross-dressing
daughter, taken into protective
custody
death/suicide
depressive personality
diet
dress/hair colour/visual image
drug use/abuse
education
fame, disillusionment with
feminist sympathies
feuds
funeral
gay ambience
graffiti/vandalism
guitar playing
guns, interest in/use of
hyperactivity
indie bands/music interest, affiliations
with
intensity
introversion/withdrawal/sullenness
journals
Krist, first meeting
Krist, relationship with
last days
lyrics
marriage
Mary Lou Lord, relationship with
musical interests/influences
myth-making, love of fabrication
name change from Kurdt
narcolepsy/love of sleep
non-musical employment
on-stage charisma
overdoses
parents/siblings, relationship with
police, in trouble with
poor driving skills
pre-Nirvana bands
publishing renegotiation
religious flirtations
rock star fantasies
sexual adventures
shyness/introversion
sickness/vomiting/stomach problemsailments/illness
slovenliness
songwriting
suicidal fantasies
Tobi Vail, relationship with
Tracy Marander, relationship with
vocal technique
wheelchair episode at Reading with author
Cobain, Leland (Kurt’s paternal
grandfather)
Cobain, Wendy (see Wendy
O’Connor)
COC
Coffin Break
Cohen, Leonard
Cold Turkey (John Lennon/Plastic Ono
Band)
Coldplay
Collins, Britt
Collins, Phil
Coltrane, John
Come As You Are (Nirvana)
Come
Come On Down (Green River)
Concretes, The
Confusion Is Sex (Sonic Youth)
Cool Rays, The
Cope, Julian
Corbijn, Anton
Corgan, Billy
Cornell, Chris
Corporate Death Burger (MDC)
Corrosion Of Conformity
Cosloy, Gerard
Cosmic Psychos
Costello, Elvis
Count Five, The
County, Jayne
Courtney Love (band)
Covey, Dwight
Cows
Cox, Alex
Coxon, Graham
Crackerbash
Cramps, The
Crash, Darby
Creager, Melora
Cream
Creation, The
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Cross, The
Crover, Dale
Crowe, Cameron
Crumb, Robert
Crunt
Crypt Kicker Five
Cunningham, Ritchie
Curmudgeon (Nirvana)
Cypress Hill
D-7 (Nirvana)
D-7 (Wipers)
da Vinci, Leonardo
DainBramage
Damaged (Black Flag)
Damaged II (Black Flag)
Damned, The
Dando, Evan, xi
Danger Mouse
Danielson, Kurt
Danson, Ted
Darcy, Dame
Darkside
Das Damen
Daydream Nation (Sonic Youth)
de Silva, Ana
De Witt, Michael ’Cali’
Dead Boys, The
Dead Kennedys, The
Deal, Kelley
Deal, Kim
Dean, James
Deanna (Nick Cave)
Death Valley 69 (Sonic Youth/Lydia
Lunch)
Decline Of Western Civilization (film
documentary)
Deep Purple
Deep Six (compilation)
Dees, Mikey
Def Leppard
Delia, Tiny
Delisse, Nathalie
Dent, Gary
Derelicts, The
Destruction
Devo
Dexys Midnight Runners
Diamond Dave (Kurt Cobain)
Diamond, Neil
Dick, Philip K.
Dickless
Dicknail (Hole)
Dickson, Ian
Die Kreuzen
Dillard, Bonnie
Dillard, Mike
Dilly, Shelli (see ShelliNovoselic)
Dinosaur (Dinosaur Jr)
Dinosaur Jr
Dirty (Sonic Youth)
Dischord
Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
Dive (Nirvana)
Dixon, Don
Do Nuts (Inkspots)
Do Nuts (The Legend!)
Do You Love Me? (Nirvana)
Do, Re, Mi (Nirvana)
DOA
Dokken
Doll Parts (Hole)
Doll Squad
Donna Parker Pop (Go Team)
Doors, The
Doris
Down On The Street (Nirvana)
Down On The Street (Stooges)
Downer (Fecal Matter)
Downer (Nirvana)
Doyle, Tad
Drain You (Nirvana)
Dream On (Aerosmith)
Dream On (Nirvana)
Dresch, Donna
DRI
Dry (P.J. Harvey)
Dry As A Bone (EP) (Green River)
Dumb (Nirvana)
Dumbhead
Duncan, Big John
Duran Duran
Dwarves
Dylan, Bob
Earl, Mari (Kurt’s aunt)
Earth
Easy Rider (film)
Echo & The Bunnymen
Eckman, Grant
Eddie And The Hot Rods
Eight Miles High (Byrds)
Eight Miles High (HüskerDü)
Eight Songs For Greg Sage And The Wipers
(tribute album)
Eight Way Santa (Tad)
Eighties (Killing Joke)
Elastica
Elden, Spencer
Eleven: Eleven (Come)
Eleventh Dream Day
Ellinghaus, Christof
Embarrassment, The
Embrace
Emery, Jill
Eminem
Endino, Jack
Endless, Nameless (Nirvana)
Eno, Brian
Erlandson, Eric
Estefan, Gloria
Even Flow (Pearl Jam)
Even In His Youth (Nirvana)
Everman, Jason
Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
(Mudhoney)
Evol (Sonic Youth)
Evolution ( Journey)
Exploited, The
Extra-Capsular Extraction (EP) (Earth)
Extreme
Eye, Yamatsuka
Fair, Jad
Fair Timony, Simon
Faith No More
Fall, The
Faludi, Susan