Kurt Cobain

By Christopher Sandford

Book Overview

Here is the first biography to explore, with shocking detail, the drama that formed this troubled, tragic rock star. Neither an apology nor a condemnation, Kurt Cobain presents a vivid insider's view of the life and death of a man who galvanized a generation and gave birth to the "grunge" revolution with his band Nirvana. Sandford portrays the provocative, small-town rebel with the talent of John Lennon, and then shows him at work on concert stages in Seattle, New York, and London. Readers follow the struggles of Cobain's emotional life--his tumultuous relationships with family and his fellow band members, his drug addiction and sexual appetite, his stormy marriage to Courtney Love, and the birth of his daughter, who, as Cobain wrote in his suicide note, "reminds me too much of who I used to be." During his research, Sandford has had access to Cobain's family, his colleagues, his former friends and lovers, and even author William S. Burroughs, whom Cobain considered to be his "greatest influence." The result is a graphic account of the life that led to the day in April 1994 when Cobain turned a shotgun on himself and became a martyr to disaffected youth around the world.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786713690
• ISBN13: 9780786713691
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Da Capo
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent, complete, truthfull acount of Cobain, the man.

This book is a must for Nirvana fans who are interested in reading a brutally truthfull account of Kurt Cobain, the man, and the tragic, brilliant life. While most books cover only the superficial aspects of Nirvana and Cobain,(Come As You Are) feeding you a selective, sugar coated, image, I was thrilled that the book included Cobains frailties, contradictions, and defects, as well as his briliance, and benevolece, making Cobain more human and accesible. Christopher Sandford provides the unflattering details that other books would rather ignore, such as Kurt's attempeted rape a woman, his bi-sexuality and sexual deviancies, his deliberate efforts at mainstream succes, his pulic support of feminism and punk while privately having alliegiance only to himself, his rampant drug abuse, and rock star vanities. The book provides a complete account of Kurt Cobains life, from before his birth, his childhood, all the way through his death. The book searches for deeper meaning beyong the superficial surface, like documenting that Kurts drug depedance began in childhood. This book may displease alot of Nirvana fans because it may clash with thier nice and sensitive guy image of kurt feuld by the media, which is only one side of this comlex man. Others may feel that it is too negative, but I feel the Sandford simply reports what other self-cecored, sycophantic books have failed to report and gives a more balaced, unbiased account of one of my heroes, and my favorite musician. This is by far my favorite Kurt Cobain book, and after reading it I felt I understood Kurt better than ever.

accurate

I thought that this book was very honest; it didn't sugarcoat his behavior and showed both the good and bad aspects and habits of Kurt's being, which most of the other books don't do. Ex. Other books: kurt was a great musician.herion.dead. this book explained where the drugs came from (timewise) and perhaps why kurt killed himself and how he got hooked, in addition to when he started playing music, his first gig, etc. It is fascinating but not a really easy book to read if you're not focusing.

It was a very detailed book with great info!!!!

I love Kurt Cobain with all my heart and I miss him and this book just brought me cliser to him. It was a very gook biik.!

It's the real story...

Sure, KURT COBAIN is a rougher take on Kurt's life than other fluffy pieces, but I found this the best book at getting into Kurt's history and for that alone it is good. The man had far more dimensions to him than just music, though that was the way he dealt with the world. It contains character flaws and facts that can't be found elsewhere, so don't read it unless you're willing to delve into Kurt's heart of darkness.