What an entry Jillian, love it! I'm fascinated by how focused he was with making the band successful, not every artist knows what their band needs, and the strict rules for touring... wow!
That image he drew is very raw and telling. Thank you again for this piece it was fab. Love the notes and seeing the work behind the scenes and its simplicity and complexity.
This is such a fascinating piece. I am really drawn to how his handwriting changes so much from the earlier illustrations onwards...I wonder about the life changes that happened then. I know when I feel more together - my actual handwriting reflects that.
The timing of this repost is perfect, Kurt Cobain must be in the air. I am participating in an online songwriting workshop and yesterday Smells Like Teen Spirit was used to illustrate the different parts of a composition...hook, verse, pre-chorus, chorus. The workshop leader, Linda McRae, is originally from Victoria, BC, Canada where I have lived for the past 30 years. A songwriter and multi-instrumentalist she came up through the vibrant punk scene here, played around including accordion with Spirit Of The West, made a couple of rootsy albums, then moved to Nashville where she has studied and mastered traditional banjo styles, conducted songwriting workshops including in prisons, recorded a couple of albums, and become steeped in traditional music. Having the structure of Teen Spirit pointed out helped me understand further why this song was so huge and successful. In our exchange we discussed the lyrics, Weird Al's Smells Like Nirvana (about not hearing the lyrics), and Linda related seeing Nirvana in Vancouver '94.
I love that Cobain swore in his journals. It takes extra work to do that, especially longhand, and I find that even though I use my share of salty language in casual conversation, I rarely do in writing. I wonder if once you reach a certain level of celebrity, you just embrace that everything is a performance, and that your note about demos has to be spiced up with a couple of fucks to sound real to whoever will read it. Instagram before there was Instagram.
I love thinking about curse words as signals of authenticity! In my first year of teaching, I dropped a piece of chalk and accidentally cursed and one of my students, very wisely said: "teacher just broke character."
These posts are like a steak dinner with a glass of cab on the side. My brother ended his life after three years in seminary, and I grew up in the PNW so was immersed in Cobain's art. His death was a devastation on top of a devastation in a way, so I didn't read much. I couldn't but I simply adored so much of his music: Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be....Well done, Jillian. Another excellent post.
Thank you for your kind words, Jennifer. And I’m so sorry to hear about your brother. That sounds so difficult. I completely understand why Cobain’s death would have been so triggering for you. 💛
Great post. I loved your distinction between successful and famous. Truly believe that fame was a big part of what soured Kurt on life. He was a rebel soul, through and through.
Wow. I love the van rules. I did not know about his stomach issues!
It explains so much!
Wow! I didn’t know he designed his own guitar. I always learn something new about the subjects of Noted and I LOVE that 🥹
Awe, thank you, Jenovia!💛
What an entry Jillian, love it! I'm fascinated by how focused he was with making the band successful, not every artist knows what their band needs, and the strict rules for touring... wow!
It's true--he had a surprisingly acute mind for the music business.
This is so inspiring. What a loss. What's the one thing that stood out for you when you did this research about Cobain?
Probably his stomach condition and the way he depicted his physical pain visually.
That image he drew is very raw and telling. Thank you again for this piece it was fab. Love the notes and seeing the work behind the scenes and its simplicity and complexity.
I love this so much! I was a huge Kurt Cobain fan, and I remember playing Heart Shaped Box on loop when he died. Thank you for sharing this.
Such a beautiful memory!
Acute pain at any food. What torture to endure. Like Zeus's punishment of Prometheus. For me that puts a new light on his lyrics and life.
Thanks Jillian.
It did for me too! I can't imagine living with so much pain.
Glad these weren't lost to the soggy Seattle rainy conditions. I hope Chad forked over the f*cking money, lol.
Haha!
This is such a fascinating piece. I am really drawn to how his handwriting changes so much from the earlier illustrations onwards...I wonder about the life changes that happened then. I know when I feel more together - my actual handwriting reflects that.
There's definitely something to the emotional shifts, but I also wonder what influence the drugs had on Kurt's handwriting.
A peek into an artist’s mind is always an interesting thing. This one especially; it seems the disorder is a profession condition?
Thanks for sharing this, Jillian! Else I may have never have stumbled upon such an interesting person!
The timing of this repost is perfect, Kurt Cobain must be in the air. I am participating in an online songwriting workshop and yesterday Smells Like Teen Spirit was used to illustrate the different parts of a composition...hook, verse, pre-chorus, chorus. The workshop leader, Linda McRae, is originally from Victoria, BC, Canada where I have lived for the past 30 years. A songwriter and multi-instrumentalist she came up through the vibrant punk scene here, played around including accordion with Spirit Of The West, made a couple of rootsy albums, then moved to Nashville where she has studied and mastered traditional banjo styles, conducted songwriting workshops including in prisons, recorded a couple of albums, and become steeped in traditional music. Having the structure of Teen Spirit pointed out helped me understand further why this song was so huge and successful. In our exchange we discussed the lyrics, Weird Al's Smells Like Nirvana (about not hearing the lyrics), and Linda related seeing Nirvana in Vancouver '94.
I love that kind of synchronicity! Smells like Teen Spirit is such a brilliant song, so I can imagine you had a lot to discuss!
...and bridge!
I love this. When it was posted the first time it made me a total Noted convert.
Awe, thanks, BA! This is one of my favorite posts 💛
I enjoyed reading this today. Thanks !
So glad to hear it! Thanks, Paul!
Wow, what an insight into one of the most defining voices of our generation. Thanks for this!
You're welcome, Chloe!
I love that Cobain swore in his journals. It takes extra work to do that, especially longhand, and I find that even though I use my share of salty language in casual conversation, I rarely do in writing. I wonder if once you reach a certain level of celebrity, you just embrace that everything is a performance, and that your note about demos has to be spiced up with a couple of fucks to sound real to whoever will read it. Instagram before there was Instagram.
I love thinking about curse words as signals of authenticity! In my first year of teaching, I dropped a piece of chalk and accidentally cursed and one of my students, very wisely said: "teacher just broke character."
Also: so lovely to meet you last night!
These posts are like a steak dinner with a glass of cab on the side. My brother ended his life after three years in seminary, and I grew up in the PNW so was immersed in Cobain's art. His death was a devastation on top of a devastation in a way, so I didn't read much. I couldn't but I simply adored so much of his music: Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be....Well done, Jillian. Another excellent post.
Thank you for your kind words, Jennifer. And I’m so sorry to hear about your brother. That sounds so difficult. I completely understand why Cobain’s death would have been so triggering for you. 💛
Great post. I loved your distinction between successful and famous. Truly believe that fame was a big part of what soured Kurt on life. He was a rebel soul, through and through.