rocknroll1968: Krist and Kurt being boyfriends (Krist/Kurt love)

""Those guys [Kurt and Courtney] went off into their own world and they were kind of thought of as vampires because they'd be gone and sleep all day," says Chris.

They barely spoke for five months, even at rehearsals.

But Chris was very upset about what was happening to his old friend. He would rant at Dave or Shelli, "Kurt's a fucking junkie asshole and I hate him!" Chris was angry with Kurt, he says, "Probably because I felt like he left me. I was really concerned and worried about him and there was nothing I could do about it. I was just taking my anger out on him.

"It was hard to understand," says Chris, "I couldn't get over the whole hurdle of heroin."

Part of the problem was that as usual, Chris didn't confront the problem with Kurt directly. "We've never really communicated very well when there's been a problem between us," Kurt says. "We never talk about it, we just let it pass. We've never confronted one another about things that piss each other off.""

-Krist and Kurt (1993), Come As You Are by Azerrad, page 255
rocknroll1968: Krist being cool! (Krist)

"I was politicized in high school. I had an open mind and didn’t really care for Reagan. I cut my teeth on radical punk rock – the Dead Kennedys, Maximumrockandroll, and MDC. Those were the few anti-Reagan voices at the time, especially if you were in Aberdeen [Wash.] and were 18 years old. I didn’t feel like reading dry political analyses. I needed something that spoke to me, that I could understand.

"The state of mind I was in was just anti-establishment and feeling awkward. I realized that “It’s not me, it’s those people [who have a problem].” They totally bought into mainstream culture, and I disassociated myself from it. Republicans – even Democrats – it was like “What do I care?” But I did vote when I was 18. I voted for Walter Mondale, and I’ve voted in every presidential election since.

"[...] Nirvana was always political. We talked about things and how we felt. There was Operation Desert Storm in early ’91, and it broke my heart that people bought into that. I was living in Tacoma, Wash., a real meat-and-potatoes town, and it was scary and surreal, the hypocrisy of the government and people buying it. Six months later, the mainstream culture that was duped by Desert Storm was all over us. We were repulsed. We were like “Who are these people?” It took us a long time to deal with that."

-Krist, 8 Feb 1996, Rolling Stone magazine


Archivist's note: Emphasis in bold is mine.
rocknroll1968: In Bloom artwork (Nirvana psychedelia)

"I think it's one of grunge's greatest legacy, is actually the killing off of misogyny in rock for quite a while. You know? I mean, really, it was very passe to be a misogynist in rock there for a while. And that was helped by guys like the guys in Nirvana, and the guys in Pearl Jam, and bands like us [L7], and Babes In Toyland, and Lunachicks, and then Riot Grrrl later. So, yeah, I think that's a big deal."

-Donita Sparks, 21 Jul 2015, Women of Rock Oral History Project
rocknroll1968: Krist and Kurt being boyfriends (Krist/Kurt love)

"Kurt was just like, really quiet and really edgy and we got to the bar and Kurt just announced, 'I've got to go out.' And just disappeared. So there was Dave and Krist and [Luke] the publicist sitting there. After about 20 minutes Krist is like, 'This is fucking ridiculous. We're supposed to be doing an interview, he walked off, I'm going home.' Krist walked out, so now there's Dave and me and Luke.

So, Dave and I are talking about antique clocks (he's a collector) and all of a sudden Kurt just bounces in, smiling, and goes, 'I'm sorry, I had to go see my chiropractor.' It was about 40 minutes. There was a big change in his attitude. Broadway is not renowned for chiropractors. His mood had completely changed, he was so bouncy and Luke was sitting there looking completely horrified. So, Kurt asks where Krist is, and we tell him he's gone. Kurt just launches into this rant about how much he hates Krist. Every time he sees him when he's out, Krist backs away like, 'Oh god, here comes the junkie' and it's like he can't stand him and he's always walking off."

-Dave Thompson, journalist & author, recalls the growing tension in July 1993 between Kurt and Krist as a result of Kurt's addiction (Nirvana: The Day to Day Illustrated Journals by Carrie Borzillo, pg. 145, 2000)

rocknroll1968: Kurt and Krist play guitar (Krist/Kurt solo)

"They really liked the studio's monitors, because they were so huge-sounding. When Been A Son was done, Kurt and Krist asked, 'Can we dance on the tables?' They jumped on one table and I jumped on another, and as we listened to the song, we rocked."

-Steve Fisk, engineer & producer, remembers a Sept. 1989 recording session (Jan. 2005 Mojo Magazine)

rocknroll1968: Kurt singing with intensity (Kurt passion)


"I was sitting on a small couch and Tad was sitting in a chair across from me and we were talking. Just then Kurt walks in and jumps on Tad's lap and hangs on him with his arms around Tad's neck. Tad says, "Merry Christmas, little boy! What would you like for Christmas this year?"
Kurt then says, "I'm not so happy with you, Santa Tad..."
Tad: "Oh, really? And why is that?"
Kurt: "Because last year I asked you for a rubber fist shaped like this" [gestures with his hand in a tight fist] "but instead you gave me a rubber fist shaped like this!" [makes a gesture with his hand with all his fingers pressed together and straight forward] We all laughed."

-Tim Soylan, member of opening band who toured with Tad, recalling a 1990 tour story (2015, I Found My Friends by Nick Soulsby)

rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Kurt singing)

"Scream broke up in LA, and Buzz Osborne told Dave that he should join Nirvana. So Dave called us and the first question I could think to ask was who his favorite bands were (I thought I should ask!)"...Kurt's in the background going, 'Shut up! Why are you asking that shit? Tell him to get up here!' It all sort of snowballed from there."

-Krist, 2005, Sliver: The Best of The Box booklet
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Krist/Kurt)

""I don't think he [Kurt] had a hell of a lot of friends," [Matt] Lukin recalls. "He was always trying to start bands, but it was hard to find people who wouldn't flake out on him." [Buzz] Osborne introduced him to Novoselic, a shy youth so tall (he's six feet seven) that he bumped his head on the beams in Cobain's house. Cobain formed a band with this kindred spirit two years his senior. [...]

A vandal with a cause, Cobain loved to spray-paint the word "queer" on four-by-four trucks, the redneck vehicle of choice. Other favorite graffiti included "God is gay" and "Abort Nirvana Christ." In 1985, Novoselic, Osborne, and 18-year-old Cobain wrote "Homosexual Sex Rules" on the side of an Aberdeen bank (Osborne swears it said "Quiet Riot"). While Osborne and Novoselic hid in a garbage dumpster, Cobain was caught and arrested. A police report lists the contents of his pockets: a guitar pick, a key, a beer, a mood ring, and a cassette by the militant punk band Millions of Dead Cops."

-16 Apr 1992, Rolling Stone magazine


Archivist's note: Kurt listed Millions of Dead Cops as one of his top 50 favourite albums. Check out the lyrics to "America's So Straight" from the album Kurt had in his pocket.

Read more... )
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Krist/Kurt)

"He's [Krist's] fantastic. I mean, he's highly underrated, or at least overshadowed as a musician, but he's such a huge part of Nirvana. I think Dave once said, "I've played in so many shows, you know how many Krist played in? All of 'em." And that's really true.

And I know from stories that Krist told me, you know, like, even in the early days, Krist was doing a lot of the load-ins. Krist was very protective of Kurt. It was very much a Sam and Frodo kind of a thing. Krist really fostered Kurt's ability to do what he did. And I think that you really need these two elements."

-Earnie Bailey, Nirvana's guitar tech, 13 Jun 2020, Daniel Sarkissian interview
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Default)

"I remember one time during their [Nirvana's] 1992 Australian tour and we were in the tour bus. Everyone was drinking wine and Dave Grohl took out a notebook. Dave Grohl had a diary or journal of some sort, whatever it was, and during that tour he wrote in it everyday. He might have written in it afterward, too, but I wouldn't know.

Dave started writing and Krist Novoselic asked him what he was doing. Dave ignored him and Kurt Cobain became curious, too. Kurt grabbed the journal and picked a random page from it and read it out loud. This journal entry described Kurt Cobain in somewhat interesting detail.

Dave called Kurt Cobain his best friend and said getting that call from Kurt and Krist was the best day of his life. The journal entry also said Kurt Cobain saved his life because he felt very confused, or lost, while in Scream and contemplated life-threatening situations, if you know what I mean.

Kurt Cobain gave the book back to Dave Grohl, took another sip of wine, and hugged him. He told Dave Grohl that he is his best friend and asked him to never leave the band no matter what, because he couldn't do this [the band] without him. Krist shook his head in agreement. Dave Grohl said he would die before that happened and they smiled. Krist Novoselic, Kurt Cobain, and Dave Grohl had a group hug.

I laughed hysterically at them with warmth in my heart. The next day Kurt Cobain said it was just the wine talking, but I know he meant what he said. You can't fake a moment like that."

-Youri Lenquette, 1995


Archivist's note: I'm gonna fucking cry
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Nirvana OT3)

Kim and Kurt



"Kurt was always protective of his little sister. Some eighteen years after this picture [above, left] was taken, Kim came out to Kurt, and he immediately expressed concern for her safety in Aberdeen--a town not known for tolerance towards homosexuals."

-Chris Molanphy, Kurt Cobain: Voice of a Generation (2003), pg. 18 (the author interviewed Kurt's family for this book)
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Krist/Kurt)

Novoselic: Jazz drug [referring to heroin]. Then you’re inclined for medication. I can see how it was attractive. You know, people medicating themselves …. And then there’s this whole whirlwind.

Hughes: About that stomach ailment that he was cursed with?

Novoselic: It was weird. It was real, I mean it was real. I remember he would throw up so much he couldn’t throw up any more. I took him to doctors, specialists.

Hughes: You would think that some of those specialists could have hit on something.

Novoselic: I don’t know what it was. I don’t know what, that’s a mystery. You’d think they’d find something. I think it was just the crap food. Here’s the deal, like, we don’t have a lot of money, OK. So we go to like AM/PM, in Olympia. Right behind the lottery office there was an AM/PM there. And it was like, OK at least I got a hot dog. We’re hungry, right. He gets a fucking ice-cream cone. And I’m like, “No wonder your stomach hurts. Why are you eating ice cream?” And then he looks at me and gets all pissed off , like I’m telling him what to do. But I’m the dude who drove him to the frickin’ hospital, or hanging out with him while he’s puking his guts, and trying to help him. So it’s just like, you know, “Oh, don’t do heroin.” And I’d get the same look. You know what I mean? So where the heck am I going to go? What am I going to do? What can I say? “You eat this greasy hot dog instead of the ice cream cone.”

-14 Oct 2008, Interviewed by John Hughes for the Washington State Heritage Center
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Krist/Kurt)
Tracy Marander (Kurt's [first?] girlfriend):

I know that some people will say that I treated Kurt maternally, took care of him, but I like to think it was more trying to nurture him, rather than take care of him.
Try to nurture who he was and try to get him to--let him do his art, let him do his music, and encourage him to get better at it as opposed to trying to stifle it. But also not try to be a mom, but trying to be a nurturing girlfriend. Or friend.


We met at a party. You know, I liked him, I had a crush on him. And then finally somebody told him, 'Don't you get that she likes you?' or something, cause he was just kind of clueless about it, you know.


I liked that he was funny. He made me laugh. He wasn't afraid to be goofy or silly. But mostly we just had a good time hanging out.


-2015, Montage of Heck film
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Krist/Kurt)

"[One of] Kurt's earliest aspirations [was] to earn enough money to buy a piece of land that both he and his best friend, Krist, could live on with their girlfriends. Sub Pop's Megan Jasper recalls an early conversation:

"I remember one time they were in my office waiting for Jonathan and Bruce and they were making jokes about why they were making records, they were half-joking, because they never thought it would be possible, but they wanted to buy a chunk of land in the middle of nowhere that was all farm land. And they wanted it to be big enough so Krist and Shelli could have a house built on that land, and Kurt and Tracy wanted a house on the same chunk of property, so they could be neighbors and have these great farmhouses. And they were laughing because they never thought they'd be able to have it. Those two [Kurt and Krist] were inseparable at the time. They were so tight.""

-from Nirvana: The Daily Eyewitness Chronicle by Carrie Borzillo
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Krist/Kurt)

"If I remember correctly they also kissed and it was more graphic when they played on SNL with Barkley as host. Here's what I remember. Keep in mind, its been many years since. All three members were on the left side of Barkley, right side of screen. Krist and Kurt had big kool aid smiles like when you are about to do something naughty. Like cats that just swallowed the canary. Barkley says goodnight. Kurt and Krist turn their heads towards each other and full out make out, but they don't turn to face each other, chests still facing forward to the camera. Dave just smiles, but isn't kissed. Credits roll."

-Youtube user TrOllinM4sTEr 2015
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Nirvana OT3)

"I know there's a sex tape put there. Just like I know there is a video of Kurt consonant cumming on his guitar at the paramount. The corporate bugs cut it out but I know it happened."

-Reddit user bobthe360noscowper in reddit.com/r/justnirvanakissing
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Krist/Kurt)

"[Joao Gordo] showed this pic with Kurt and he also showed Kurt's autograph on a Hormoaning CD and the autograph read: "Kurt + Axl are lovers"...hahaha...I sent him a message asking him to scan this and post it online, but I didn't get an answer from him..."

-LiveNirvana user Bruno
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Nirvana OT3)

"I met these fellow teenagers, they were in this band called the Melvins. Buzz Osborne was the guru. And he turned me on to American hardcore music, which is like the second generation of punk in the United States. This really independent music - it wasn't on major labels. And there was this whole scene that was independent, it wasn't part of the corporate structure, it wasn't part of the state structure, it wasn't part of the mainstream entertainment complex. And it was vital; there was a lot of great music, and there was this community of young people. And we'd go to punk rock shows and there would be like, fanzines - this was before the internet. [...]

I got into the music scene and the culture of it, then I met this other kid in Aberdeen. His name was Kurt Cobain. And we shared this interest with this music and I was playing guitar and he played guitar, and, 'Well, let's start a band!' and we found a drummer. And then I started playing bass. Kurt was very artistic - he was always painting, sculpting, writing, music, always doing something. And so we started our band and that creativity came out and we had our own identity.

Dave Grohl was in 1990, we went through a few drummers. Kurt and I drove to Los Angeles from Tacoma, WA, which is like a 14 hour drive. We slept in our van in a parking lot on I-5 somewhere. We came here [L.A.] and we talked to some music industry people to get a major label deal. [...] And then we took our leisurely drive back north, 'Let's stop in San Fransisco and see Buzz and Dale from the Melvins.' And Buzz is like, 'Hey, Scream is playing!' 'Oh, we love Scream!' [...] They had this drummer who was really good and played this really big drumset, and I met him briefly and we talked to Buzz, like, 'Wow, what a cool drummer.'

And then Kurt and I drove up 101, we went up north. I think we found a cat. We stopped somewhere on the Oregon coast and this cat came up. We found this cat. Gave it a home. And then we get a call from Buzz, he says 'Hey, man, Scream went down to L.A. after San Francisco and their bass player split. And they're just broke at the singer's sister's house.' [...] And Dave was stuck in L.A. and he got enough money to get a plane ticket and his drumset and he came up and started playing with us, and we were hooked. It gelled right away."

-Krist on how Nirvana formed, Young Turks Interview 2014
rocknroll1968: Dave and Kurt being cute together (Dave/Kurt)

Interviewer: Your house containing everything you own catches fire. After saving loved ones and pets, you have time to save one item. What would it be?

Dave: "Probably this letter I got from Kurt in 1992. That sounds terribly melodramatic, but it's true. I lose everything: passports, wallets, car keys, credit cards, but that letter is absolutely irreplaceable. He wrote it to me when everything was going nuts. We were all living in different places- he was in Los Angeles, I was in Virginia and Krist was in Seattle- and some decisions were being made without me. I got really bummed out and Kurt sent me this letter about my role and stature in the band. It was all, 'I love you like a brother.' It was just before we did 'In Utero' and it said, 'I can't wait to get back in the studio and make a record so we can whittle ourselves back down to a comfortable level,' Which of course never really happened."

Melody Maker (sometime between 1997-2000)
rocknroll1968: Kurt singing his heart out (Krist/Kurt)
"Novoselic admitted he had tipped Kurt off [about the drug intervention], feeling the idea would backfire and that Kurt would flee. "I just felt so bad for him," Krist recalled. "He looked so fucked up. I knew he wouldn't listen to it." Krist saw Kurt for the first time since Rome that week at the Marco Polo Motel on Aurora Avenue. "He was camped out there. He was delusional. It was so weird. He was like, 'Krist, where can I buy a motorcycle?' I was like, 'Fuck, what are you talking about? You don't want to buy a motorcycle. You've got to get the fuck out of here.'" Krist invited Kurt to go away on vacation, just the two of them, to talk things out, but Kurt refused. "He was really quiet. He was just estranged from all his relationships. He wasn't connecting with anybody."

Kurt complained of being hungry, so Krist offered to buy him dinner at a fancy restaurant; Kurt insisted he wanted a Jack in the Box hamburger. As Novoselic drove toward Jack in the Box in the nearby U-District, Kurt protested: "Those hamburgers are too greasy. Let's go to the one on Capitol Hill--the food is better there." Only when they arrived on Capitol Hill did Novoselic realize Kurt didn't want hamburgers at all: He was simply using his old friend to get a ride to score drugs. "His dealer was right by there. He just wanted to get fucked up into oblivion. There was no talking to him. He just wanted to escape. He wanted to die, that was what he wanted to do." The two men began screaming at each other and Kurt bolted from the car."

-Heavier Than Heaven, Charles R. Cross, 2001, pg. 332

quote of the day


"God is gay and so am I."
-Kurt
Journals (hardcover ed.), pg. 123
.
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