In 1991, a little known band named Nirvana hit pay dirt with Nevermind. Although it had previously existed on an independent label, this album was the major-label debut. What happened after it's release was a musical and cultural revolution for my generation.

Uprooting Michael Jackson and other biggies, it established the concept of grunge.Within months, flannel, greasy hair, and doc martens became an unofficial uniform for devotees. Magazines such as SEVENTEEN began running articles on the "grunge culture." (Yes...I USED to read it) The Washington threesome had become filthy rich rock stars, and found themselves being courted by people who would have shunned them a couple of years ago.

During the early 1990'sm, "Teen Sprit" was in VERY heavy rotation, and rebellion seemed to permeate the land. Dressed very plainly (NO spandex) and sounding very ragged, the band represented the antithesis of 1980's culture. While I could not relate to the drug usage, I could relate to the dissatisfaction regarding social conditions. These guys were angry...and the whole world was going to hear about it.

Unlike so many others before them (and sadly, some who followed) the anger and frustration were raw and authentic. While they were not political in the sense of the Dead Kennedy’s, the band members aired their opinions (which were obviously not edited/filtered by the record company. Although they bore a physical/instrumental sound resemblance to heavy metal acts such as Guns N' Roses, these men were far more progressive--voicing decidedly liberal oppinions on feminism, GLBT equality, multiculturalism and politics in general. They were the modern day equivalent of folk singers in my parent's generation, and this bewildered pundits who would have much rather prefered to box them into stereotypes and carricatures.

Certainly the music was not "happy pop" as personafied by 80's boy bands and even long standing reccording artists, but it wasn't as gloomy as critics suggested. Because Nirvana directly confronted topics of dis/empowerment, divorce etc...their songs were going to have a more somber tone. Anything too sunny would have been not only ironic, but innappropriate from the perspective of the band's artistic direction. Gloom and drama were not just used for shock value, but to comment on life and the future.

Because some of the media did not expect these scruffy looking men to have such opinions, it came as quite a shock to learn otherwise. Kurt Cobain was occasionally frustrated with the condescending tones of interviewers. Many of the unofficial "generation spokesperson" labels came from these incidents. The band would either get trashed for being a pathetic representation or get fawned over much to their embarrassment. (they knew they were not perfect) A stream of articles (some highly negative) followed Kurt Cobain's marriage to Courtney Love and his subsequent fatherhood. The mass media that makes a star doesn't have any scruples turning on it's own opinion.

When announcement of Kurt Cobain's Rome overdose hit the airwaves, I did not have a good feeling, he really wanted to end his life. Unfortunately, this was one of the instances when people assume the person is not really depressed (it happens to both famous and non-famous people, so I don't think there is a conspiracy) Sure enough, the 27 year-old Cobain shot himself in April 1994. In the years following his death, there have been many theories surrounding motives and circumstances, but I have conciously chosen to not get involved in the "whodunits".

Although I had never ever met the man, his music had helped me through some rough times. It was the ultimate irony that he would decide to take his own life. For me, his impact on society went beyond music to function as a message carrier of sociopolitical change or at least the opportunity of such possibilities. His music was often deried by critics who didn't understand (or who did, and were too scared to admit that they did and he was right), but Kurt's legacy will live on.

I am saddened by news reports that the suriving members of Nirvana have been engaged in a fight with Kurt's estate for royalties and unreleased Nirvana reccordings. Certainly, while part of me understands why people want to obtain as much publicity from their "landmark works" as possible, real "alternative" rock (as opposed to when the genere got trendy for the mainstream) is supposed to rise above such fights.

Mexican Seafood

The Advocate Interview with Kurt Cobain (2/92)

Nirvana Internet Archives
Which Nirvana member do you most resemble?