Disclaimer: The article contains mention of suicide. Reader discretion is advised.
Kurt Cobain is one of the most influential rock musicians of all time. Not only did his popularity hit great heights during the ’90s, but his name is also synonymous with the subgenre of grunge rock. Although he had a highly successful career, Cobain passed away early at the age of 27.
Now, three decades after his untimely demise, BCC is set to release a documentary on his life and career titled Moments That Shook the Music: Kurt Cobain. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this project will highlight Cobain’s legacy as a rock musician. It will also feature interview footage of individuals who had witnessed his rise to becoming a musical icon.
John Osbourne is the director of Moments That Shook the Music: Kurt Cobain. In an interview with BBC, he explained how the Nirvana frontman was the voice of a generation and how his passing created an unfillable void in the music industry. John Osborne said, “Kurt Cobain was the reluctant voice of a generation and his death has left a huge void. The only way to make sense of what happened is to make a testimony that audiences won’t be able to stop watching.”
With a runtime of just under an hour, Moments That Shook the Music: Kurt Cobain will encapsulate the last days of the rock icon. In addition, it will also include never-before-seen clips, some of which were filmed by fans. Most importantly, the film will also consist of news footage of when Cobain’s body was discovered.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, Moments That Shook the Music: Kurt Cobain will air on Saturday, April 13, 2024, on BBC iPlayer and BBC 2. The project will be produced by Touchdown Films.
When and how did Kurt Cobain die?
According to History.com, Kurt Cobain tragically took his own life on April 5, 1994. It was not until three days later that someone found the musician’s body in his Seattle residence.
Kurt Cobain’s body was discovered by Gary Smith, an electrician. Reports indicate that Smith was installing a security system in the house when he stumbled upon the Nirvana member’s corpse. He immediately dialed 911, and officials did not take too long to respond. Officer Von Levandowsky later confirmed Smith’s identity after discovering a wallet with his ID on the corpse.
According to the Seattle Police Department, Cobain ended his life by shooting himself with a shotgun. There was a prominent gunshot wound to his head. Moreover, History.com states that there were signs of his decaying mental health almost a month before he passed away. Apparently, Kurt Cobain was close to dying after he went into a coma. This is because he consumed a mix of champagne and Rohypnol, a drug for treating insomnia.
However, people believed that the reason for his coma was due to an accidental heroin (which he was addicted to) overdose. During that period, Cobain’s mental health deteriorated significantly. He had threatened to kill himself several times. This prompted police officials to discover and confiscate the four guns that were in his possession. After several interventions from friends and his wife, Courtney Love, the grunge icon entered rehab in Los Angeles. However, his stay there was brief, as he left the facility on March 30, 1994.
Before his demise, Kurt Cobain wrote a heartbreaking suicide note
Kurt Cobain disappeared after he checked out of the rehabilitation facility. After failing to locate her husband, Courtney Love hired a private detective who successfully managed to contact the Nirvana frontman. By then, he was in Seattle. However, Cobain refused to go to Los Angeles and was adamant about staying in Seattle.
During this time, Cobain persuaded his friend to procure a gun for him. He had purportedly claimed it was for his own safety. Tragically, he ended his life with that very gun, leaving a profound impact on the music industry. Prior to his passing, the guitarist/vocalist had ingested a lethal combination of Valium and heroin.
Before committing suicide, Kurt Cobain penned down a heartbreaking suicide note, which remains controversial to this day. In fact, this note has spawned numerous conspiracy theories over the years. Cobain’s suicide note was addressed to Boddah, an imaginary friend that the grunge legend created when he was a young boy. It is believed that since nobody in real life could understand his pain and struggles, he could only turn to Boddah.
What did Kurt Cobain write in his suicide note?
In the note, Kurt Cobain wrote about his desire and determination to listen to and create music, both of which were dying. He mentioned that when he was backstage, he did not feel the thrill of getting on the stage like he used to. Even the love and admiration from the crowd, his fans, and well-wishers did not motivate him anymore. He then wrote that he felt jealous of the rock legend Freddie Mercury because he wanted to feel the same desire to perform like the Queen vocalist.
As per All Thats Interesting, the note read, “For example, when we’re back stage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowds begins, it doesn’t affect me the way in which it did for Freddie Mercury. Who seemed to love, relish in the love and adoration from the crowd which is something I totally admire and envy.”
Kurt Cobain mentioned his wife and daughter in his suicide note
Kurt Cobain ended the note by thanking his wife and his daughter, Frances, who was still an infant at the time of his death. He called Courtney a goddess and said that his daughter reminded him of himself when he was happy. Furthermore, he was terrified to think that one day, Frances would become as damaged as him. He wrote, “And that terrifies me to the point to where I can barely function. I can’t stand the thought of Frances becoming the miserable, self-destructive, death rocker that I’ve become.”
He ended the letter by thanking everyone who supported him in his journey to becoming a legendary musician. He called himself too “erratic” and “moody.” Cobain wrote, “Thank you all from the pit of my burning, nauseous stomach for your letters and concern during the past years. I’m too much of an erratic, moody baby! I don’t have the passion anymore, and so remember, it’s better to burn out than to fade away.”
Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love in 1992. Frances, currently 31, was born on August 18, 1992. She is currently married to Riley Hawk, the son of Tony Hawk.
