Kurt Cobain, the lead vocalist of Nirvana, the band that introduced the grunge trend in Seattle during the 1990s, passed away 30 years ago today.
Cobain passed away on April 5, 1994, and was discovered on April 8, 1994, at his residence. It was determined that he had died a few days earlier due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a large dose of heroin.
Cobain and Nirvana caused a stir in the music industry and popular culture with their breakthrough song, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” This song, released in 1991, became hugely popular and brought in substantial wealth and attention.
30 years ago today, Kurt Cobain died at the young age of 27. Remembering the Nirvana and Grunge legend today.#KurtCobain #Nirvana #27club pic.twitter.com/hct7PLKH5q
— Rock History Pics (@RockHistoryPics) April 5, 2024
Nirvana’s album “Nevermind” came out in September 1991, and the music video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” depicted Nirvana performing in a high school gym alongside rebellious cheerleaders.
How has it been 30 years? #KurtCobain pic.twitter.com/mRubuwvW75
— Andy Gibbons (@andyffgibbons) April 5, 2024
By January 1992, “Nevermind” had reached the top spot on the Billboard 200 album chart. Other hits from the album included “Come as You Are,” “In Bloom,” and “Lithium.”
“These are enduring and excellent songs performed by an outstanding rock band and sung by one of the greatest rock vocalists,” author Michael Azzerad stated in the New Yorker. “Despite Kurt’s suffering — or in a determined effort to overcome it — Nirvana created uplifting music.”
As Nirvana’s fame grew, so did interest in Cobain’s personal life. Reports of heroin use and his marriage to Hole frontwoman Courtney Love attracted a lot of media attention.
In August 1992, the couple had a daughter, Frances Bean.
To mark the 30th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s tragic death, I spoke to the photographers behind a new book that shows him not as a rock star, but as a husband and a dad: “When Frances was in Kurt’s arms, he was in *love*” ???? https://t.co/ltmkDjLqv7
— Jordan Bassett (@jordandbassett) April 5, 2024
Eight years after Cobain’s passing, another grunge icon, Layne Staley, the lead singer of Alice in Chains, passed away. Staley died on April 5, 2002, from a heroin and cocaine overdose. His body was found two weeks after his death, when his mother and the police visited his home to check on him.
Remembering #LayneStaley today on the 22nd anniversary of his passing (April 5, 2002) | Explore the #AliceInChains frontman's musical legacy (including audio & video highlights) here: https://t.co/2d7cuBkDLV pic.twitter.com/t4CGAg7ctv
— ALBUMISM (@Albumism) April 5, 2024
Alice and Chains also emerged from the Seattle grunge craze alongside Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam. The band’s album “Jar of Flies” debuted at the top of the charts.
