How Did Kurt Cobain Die? What Happened Leading Up to Kurt Cobain’s Death
- Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of 90s grunge band Nirvana, tragically died on April 5, 1994. The musician took his own life at his Seattle home with a 20-gauge shotgun. He left behind a suicide note, his wife, Courtney Love, and his daughter, Frances Bean Cobain.
His death shocked the music world and left countless fans devastated. Although many details surrounding his death remain unsettled, there are few details regarding what happened leading up to Kurt Cobain’s death.
Kurt’s Troubled Life
Kurt Cobain was born in Aberdeen, Washington, on February 20, 1967.
After dropping out of high school, the young musician started following punk music.
In 1985, Kurt Cobain formed a band called Fecal Matter with fellow Melvins bandmates Dale Crover and Greg Hokanson.
Eventually, the band disbanded, leading to Kurt Cobain starting Nirvana with fellow punk rock devotee Krist Novoselic.
Flash forward to the peak of Nirvana’s success, being called the “flagship band of Generation X.”
Despite being one of the most influential bands in the 1990s, Kurt Cobain hated the attention.
He eventually turned to drugs and alcohol to escape his depression, ADHD, and bipolar disorder.
On top of that, the guitarist suffered from chronic bronchitis and intense pain from an undiagnosed chronic stomach condition.
Cobain’s First Suicide Attempt
Kurt Cobain often used heroin and inhalants in the later years.
In March 1994, the musician overdosed in Rome on a combination of Rohypnol and champagne.
This would later be considered by Courtney Love as his first suicide attempt.
Love would arrange an intervention with some of his closest friends, including Dylan Carlson.
By the end of the night, despite initial resentment and anger, Cobain agreed to undergo a detox program at the Exodus Recovery Center in Los Angeles.
The staff at this facility were unaware of Cobain’s depression and suicidal tendencies, nor did they believe he was in a negative state of mind.
They spent days talking with him about his problems, drug use, and happily playing with his daughter, Frances.
By the end of March, Cobain snuck out of the rehabilitation center by climbing over a six-foot wall.
How old was Kurt Cobain when he died?
Kurt Cobain was 27 years old when he died, making him a part of the infamous 27 Club.
- Days Surrounding his Death
On April 2, Cobain bought firearm shells, telling the cab driver he had recently been burglarized.
Three days later, on April 3, Kurt Cobain died by suicide.
An electrician found Cobain’s body three days after, on April 8, when he was installing security lighting at his Washington house.
Around him, a suicide note addressed to Cobain’s childhood imaginary friend Boddah.
The note read he had not “felt the excitement of listening to as well as creating music, along with really writing … for too many years now.”
The Remington Model 20-gauge shotgun found at the scene was legally purchased by Carlson.
Cobain thought if he bought the gun himself, police would take it for his protection, following two previous firearm confiscations.
Many believed Cobain was high on heroin when he pulled the trigger, but toxicological tests determined that he had high levels of valium in his blood.
While this was happening, rumors of Nirvana breaking up quickly spread, leaving the band to pull out of the 1994 Lollapalooza lineup.
On April 10, 1994, thousands of mourners showed up to the public vigil held at a park at Seattle Center.
Memorials
Prerecorded messages from Courtney Love and Krist Novoselic were played at Cobain’s memorial, including portions of his suicide note.
Love showed up towards the vigil’s end and passed some of Cobain’s clothing to attendees.
Nirvana’s drummer Dave Grohl said learning of Cobain’s death was “Probably the worst thing that has happened to me in my life.”
Cobain’s mother arranged his final ceremony on May 31, 1999, attended by both Love and Tract Marander (Cobain’s ex-girlfriend who “About a Girl” was written about)
A Buddhist monk chanted while Frances Bean Cobain scattered his ashes into McLane Creek in Olympia.
Following his death, several artists have expressed shock.
“I never knew Cobain to be suicidal,” said longtime-friend Mark Lanegan. “I just knew he was going through a tough time.”
Searching for the Truth
Unfortunately, due to the severity of the situation, many believe his death wasn’t a suicide.
As a result of Cobain’s sudden death, many conspiracies have been spread, mainly revolving around Courtney Love.
Tom Grant, a private investigator hired by Love, believes he was murdered.
Grant says the events surrounding Cobain’s death to be “filled with lies, contradictions in logic, and countless inconsistencies.
Another conspiracy theory comes from filmmaker Nick Broomfield.
In his film Kurt & Courtney, Broomfield interviewed The Mentors’ bandleader Eldon “El Duce” Hoke, who claimed that Love had offered him $50,000 to kill Cobain.
Ultimately, Broomfield has accepted the idea that Cobain had committed suicide.
Like Broomfield, journalists Ian Halperin and Max Wallace decided to investigate their theory.
The two released two books: Who Killed Kurt Cobain? and Love and Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain.
While there wasn’t enough evidence to conclusively prove foul play, the two shared his belief that Love had a motive.
Friends and Family Still Unsure
Several other friends and family also believe Cobain wouldn’t have done this time himself.(by https://www.musicinminnesota.com/).
