Kurt Cobain discusses literature among other things with Erica Ehm of Canada’s Much Music TV channel. The interview was conducted on August 10, 1993.
In this 23 minute clip, Cobain is sweet-tempered, focused and relatively at ease with himself and the world (as much as most artists are). While watching the video, it was hard for me to imagine that this beautiful young guy would kill himself nine months later on April 5, 1994. Of course, it is impossible to know what Cobain was really going through at this point in his life, but he doesn’t appear, in this very small slice of a moment in time, to be a man locked in a struggle with mortality (oh maybe a bit, but no more than most sentient beings). His distaste for humanity seems rather healthy, perhaps because I share it. His perspective on wealth and fame is Zen-like. He has a certain melancholia, but so did I when I was his age. In fact, I still do.
I was never much of a Nirvana fan but I love the soulful intelligence and honesty that Cobain radiates in this video. I like his feminist point of view and social/political consciousness. He doesn’t strike me as someone who has given up on life. But maybe the drugs (the dirty ones) got the best of him.
I think it’s time for me to grab my wife’s Nirvana albums and give them another spin.
sorry but from what he says in this video he seems very morbid apathetic and disappointed in life despite what he says about the more brilliant artists etc that he looks up to actually—he isnt excited about his own family -which is strange, he is grasping at straws for inspiration and the finer minds of our times but at the same time cant hang on to because he is depressed he even bluntly says his music comes from garbage mixed up thoughts =from depressed mind -and says this is theyre last album like this——he cant live up to his ideals and expectations of himself or others, like his scentless apprentice disgusted with everything/one ♥ bless our jaded souls among us such a painful if anything eyeopening viewpoint he focused on things some of us would be afraid to even if he wasnt aware how different an experiment it was at the time or maybe he did, to unleash such “garbage ” unconscious and turn it into found art- but thats all it is- even said last album like that -but how do u move on from that? he couldnt turn that mindset around its poisonous if he couldve it wouldve been so much more brilliant amazing and inspiring in a different direction
fucking stupid he was in a postion to actually influence others about all his ideas etc and he blew it
why would u throw it away he didnt throw away his “garbage” thoughts he thought they were important enough to keep and share why the opportunity to maybe change things that u dont like in the world.. but so many artists are looked as pussies when they do change and start using their influence for good…selling out per se
Dec 11, 2011
Marc Campbell says:
jenn,
where you see morbidity, I see a healthy appreciation for the darkside. Where you see apathy, I see a young artist struggling with what his responsibilities to his work involve. Where you see disappointment, I see the kind of disgust that often serves as fuel for art.
Cobain is not much different than most angry young men who took pen to paper or picked up a guitar. That he killed himself is what makes him different than many musicians and artists who found hope in their creativity.
Dec 11, 2011
Cowicide says:
So bizarre seeing this interview now. I had no idea anything like this existed. Brings an interesting perspective to Kurt that I’ve never seen before. Thanks, Marc.
Dec 11, 2011
Justin says:
Cobain was way more funny, witty and charming than his (mainstream) legacy leads us to believe.
Dec 11, 2011
marc campbell's nauseating nonsense says:
So what exactly makes this dirty drug addicted lowlife any differnt than any other dirty drug addicted lowlife? I’m sure if you got down amongst the homeless filth out there you’d find at least 5 of them that are more intelligent, nicer and talented than this moron wh liked to give oral sex to shotguns.
Dec 11, 2011
RJ says:
I saw this clip a while back and thought the exact same thing—he seems remarkably grounded and normal, even healthy. Makes you realize how much—even for those of us who try and consciously reject the mainstream media—we’ve subconsciously absorbed the media’s “profile” of him as tormented, self-destructive, morbid, suicidal nut. I’m sure he had his moments of torment too, like anyone who’s remotely sensitive… but he just seems really human here.
Dec 11, 2011
nvm says:
Media representations of art / artists are always terribly misconstrued. Just take an honest listen to some nirvana albums and you’ll get a sense for Kurt’s playfully melancholy view of humanity. This portrayal matches the view of his identity I gained by listening to his music.s
Dec 11, 2011
toti says:
The questions are so bad.
Dec 11, 2011
Larry Ball says:
Reminds me of Fred Nietzsche who had the same problem any thinking person has with the existential issues. Nietzsche famously said that when his thoughts prevented his sleep he would promise to kill himself on the next morning. Kurt coulda, woulda and shoulda waited for morning.
Dec 11, 2011
Lisa says:
I am in complete agreement with Jenn. His mindset was poisonous. To himself. It was a fated “nausea” as Jean-Paul Sartre wrote it.
Dec 11, 2011
halfclosedeyes says:
why all the anger from all the comments? pffft. i dont get it. what did he do that was so horrible? he gave a lot more than all these folks piling on, and doesn’t owe anybody anything. mad because he killed himself? its sad, but its his life and choice. give the guy some slack, what would it hurt?
Dec 11, 2011
halfclosedeyes says:
why all the anger from all the comments? pffft. i dont get it. what did he do that was so horrible? he gave a lot more than all these folks piling on, and doesn’t owe anybody anything. mad because he killed himself? its sad, but its his life and choice. give the guy some slack, what would it hurt?
Dec 11, 2011
mirgun says:
“His mindset was poisonous?” I think this comment is a reflection of YOUR mind..I don’t get all this anger either.
Dec 12, 2011
jenn says:
thank u larry ball! thats the hard part tho, waiting til morning…. marc-your response to my comment agrees with me-but u must understand if he had bipolar which it has been said he did, and he made references to it in his work anything healthy about his appreciation of the darkside would turn sour the minute he had a moodswing, or possibly he didnt even acquire such an appreciation until being in the middle of a deep depression, but talking about it afterwards would sound healthy enough if he is up or stable at the moment. sorry to say he is a little too calm here and is probly under the influence of a nice soothing cocktail of drugs .... i like kurt, and appreciate his awesomeness but we need to be honest here. he isnt jesus—lord knows he prolly suffered as much .... i was going to respond to the rest of ur comment….. but actually Marc.. ur comment paraphrased mine nicely thank u…we are not really in much disagreement.. i could be so blunt and write things clearly and boldly but there would be so much missing i think.. im not a writer tho…
Dec 12, 2011
jenn says:
im glad he held out long enough and pushed himself to give us his awesome music and creative inspiration quite frankly.. im sorry if anyone thinks my comments are angry they arent../
Dec 12, 2011
Louvre&Haight; says:
The coolest thing about this video is that he’s wearing Jack’s instead of Chuck’s.
P.S…... COURTNEY DID IT!!!
Dec 12, 2011
Lisa says:
Who’s angry? The ones calling out other people as angry sound like the angry ones. And what’s wrong with being angry? Kurt would tell most of you to fuck off anyway.
Dec 12, 2011
Brandt Hardin says:
Kurt changed my life with his insightful and surreal music and lyrics. I only wished he could have stuck around to make more to listen to for future generations. I was compelled to compose a portrait of him In Memoriam recently on the anniversary of his death on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-memoriam-kurt-cobain-and-lane-staley.html Drop in and tell me your memories of his music and how it’s affected you.
Dec 12, 2011
gp says:
Kurt Cobain, he’s missed
slight homage
>
http://oi44.tinypic.com/ne6mx0.jpg
Dec 12, 2011
Me says:
Marc Campbell if you want to hear more of Kurt like this you should check out About A Son. The whole film is on Youtube. Azerrad was one journalist Cobain trusted and a lot of the tapes heard in the film are very intimate.
“Filmmaker A.J. Schnack draws from over 25 hours of audio-taped interviews to offer an intimate meditation on the life of the man who changed the face of rock & roll in the 1990s in this film that uses materials originally gathered for music journalist Michael Azerrad’s book Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana.”
