The Day The Music Died
by Damon Martin
I was in my car today, listening to my iPod while driving to the movies, and put on a play list I made that put all my favorite Seattle bands together. A little known Nirvana track that became popular a few years ago called “You Know You’re Right” popped on and it got me thinking back to April, 1994.
For my fellow grunge-age followers, we grew up on Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and of course Nirvana. We rocked our flannel shirts, and all wanted to move to Seattle. It seemed like everything changed on that spring day in 1994.
I remember I was sitting in my bedroom after school, and I think I was drawing at the time, but I had MTV on in the background. You know, back when MTV used to have music videos on? Anyways, a special report hit the air and Kurt Loder proceeds to tell us all that Kurt Cobain was found dead in Seattle, a victim of an apparent suicide from a gunshot to the head.
When I first started to put together an idea for this post, I put up on my Twitter account asking if people remember where they were when they heard that Kurt Cobain died. I was blown away that within minutes I had a ton of responses from people saying they remember sitting in their 7th grade classroom, to others being in college classrooms, and others driving down the street in their car when the news was announced on the radio.
It was a moment that everyone that loved music back then remembers.
I know at that point in my life I had lost a grandparent, and I’m sure there were other notable celebrities that passed away before that, but this is the first time I remember actually being in mourning for someone that I had never met, never talked to, or ever had any personal interaction with. What Kurt Cobain was able to do was create music that moved us all back then. He created a sound that was unique, even though self-admittedly he’d never call himself a great musician.
I think everyone has those moments in their life that they remember someone monumental in the music industry dying, that personally touched their lives through their songs. For another generation it was February 3, 1959 when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper died in a tragic plane crash.
Another generation felt the sting of death on December 8, 1980 when Mark David Chapman unloaded four gunshots into the back and shoulder of former Beatles’ leader John Lennon.
For my generation it was Kurt Cobain.
It was a sad day in my life, and even at 16-years of age I knew that something terribly tragic had just happened. I remember watching in the days that followed the outpouring of fans in Seattle leaving flowers, records, pictures, notes, and anything else they could think of to honor Cobain. This was of course before the internet age so all of our information back then was by television, newspaper or magazines.
Truth be told, at that time and still to this day for all the Seattle bands of that era, Pearl Jam had always been my favorite “grunge” group, but we all had a connection with Nirvana, we all remember Kurt, and Dave, and Krist, and all learned to mosh by listening to “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
After listening to that song today, I came home and listened to the classic Nirvana “Unplugged” album, and remembered all over again what made Kurt Cobain great. His raspy voice combined with great lyrics (even if they all meant something different to everyone), and an ability to connect with anyone listening to them.
As I write this, I wonder what the music world would have been like if Kurt Cobain wouldn’t have died? I know this for sure. The music would will forever be influenced because Kurt Cobain lived, and that’s something we can all hold onto, especially on days like this when he’s missed.
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Flashback Friday: Nirvana Unplugged Released on DVD
Nirvana Unplugged was released on DVD for the first time this week. I always feel a little self-conscious around the apartment listening to Nirvana in front of my boyfriend or with the windows down in my car for others to hear. I'm afraid that people can read my thoughts when I'm listening to Nirvana albums because I go back in time in my mind and want to stay there. So, I was I excited that Nirvana/Courtney Love's Estate finally released Unplugged. I had an excuse yesterday to plop down on the couch and watch hours of never-before-seen-footage of Cobain and friends.
Sixteen years ago my parents went out of town for Thanksgiving and I was alone. I used my freedom to drive their Oldsmobile (without my license - badass!) and wait for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" to come on the radio. I remember being fully aware of the fact that I was a dorky, suburban kid listening to my little anthem. Eerily enough, almost two decades later another Bush is President and another war in Iraq rages on. I still have acne and am scrounging up $15 to buy some Nirvana product. At least for today I'm not going to let that embarrass me.
On to the review, I apologize for the mind-numbing nostalgia. (At least I didnt go on my rant about how Kurt Cobain was one of the only huge rock stars in my lifetime that constantly tackled women's issues in public and challenged homophobia and what it is to be "a man.")
Seriously, I'm going to tell you all about Nirvana Unplugged. If I'm going to buy something like an Unplugged on DVD I'm hoping to see some previously un-televised between-song-banter and fiddling around. Nirvana Unplugged delivers on this with a full unedited version and even some rehearsal footage. It's great for the new Nirvana fan but extra satisfying for the former child of the '90s. With my new and improved adult understanding of psychodrama, I get to watch the dynamics of a band falling apart and a self-destructive front man.
Watching Nirvana Unplugged is like watching a really slow, intense poker match full of slight moves and telling glances. Dave Grohl people-pleases from behind the drums, cracking jokes and playing silly beats when things get tense because Kurt is cranky. Krist Novoselic is semi-checked out and seems to be having a hilarious conversation with someone else in his head. Kurt lights up when he goofs around with Pat Smear who hasnt been around the band long enough to start calling Kurt on his bullshit - just a guess.
I forgot how classically handsome Cobain was. He's like Brad Pitt with dirty hair and a Benson and Hedges Ultra Light 100 in his mouth. There are some great little conversations that were cut from the original MTV airing. Kurt laughs when he tells Krist that he was always scared of the TV show Davey and Goliath. Kurt muses that the show was evil and "not Christian at all." Sadly, you can see his heroin jaw in action, something I didnt know to notice back in the good old days. The angry, overgrown baby inside of Cobain is evident as he starts the show with a furrowed brow and the declaration, "This song is off our first record. Most people dont own it."
The in-studio audience might not have known about Bleach. I dont know where they pulled these people in from; which brings me to my least favorite part of the disc; MTV NEWS: BARE WITNESS in the Extras section. The DVD box promises "Interviews from the band and the lucky ones who were there." There are no band interviews anywhere on this disc. There are interviews from the audience members who are confessing pre-show that they hope the surprise guest will be Eddie Vedder. There are annoying packaged interviews with various low-level network people who are talking about how nervous they were that Kurt wasnt playing a lot of hits and bringing the likes of the Meat Puppets to the MTV audience.
Even though I think this disc is a little shoddy -- come on, they had 16 years to make it good -- overall it's a good buy if you get it on sale. It's kind of fun to watch it in hindsight. Kurt really does seem like he's orchestrated his perfect funeral and a few times his eyes seem to reveal, "I'm so outta here." Dave Grohl looks like he's about to jump out from behind the drum set and christen the Foo Fighters right then and there. It's an interesting snapshot in time of a band that appears to be trying to break new ground as well as just get the whole thing over with.
Surviving Lollapalooza: Day 2
LOLLAPALOOZA DAY 2
Saturday August 4th, 2007 Grant Park Chicago, IL
The day that falls in between Friday and Sunday...
I was pretty underwhelmed by Fridays lineup and even less enthusiastic about Saturday's, so Titos-and-Vitamin Waters were being consumed aggressively. However I did manage to catch a few acts that left very lasting impressions.
My day began around 2:30 p.m. when I had the good fortune of catching an overly impressive performance by former teenage wonders, Silverchair. Remember those 14-year-old Australian kids that followed the grunge scene with their own Nirvana-esque tribute? Well theyre still playing music and theyre really fucking good. Daniel Johns, frontman and husband to the beautiful Natalie Imbruglia, has traded in his boyish looks for some tats, nipple piercings, facial hair and muscles galore. The three-piece ripped through its hour long set with past and current hits (or so Im told because, like Hanson, I thought they went away after they hit puberty) so impressively that I actually went home and downloaded (illegally from a strange Russian website) their two most recent albums. In all honesty, these guys are really, really good and deserve a listen.
I left the main stage to roam the grounds for a bit and was able to catch a couple minutes of Stephen Marleys performance. Is it me or are all the Marleys the same person? He was good, the crowd seemed to enjoy themselves, but I dont smoke pot. After, I made my way to the smaller PlayStation stage to see my first hip-hop show of the festival (because I'm not sure if Mickey Avalon is actually considered hip-hop.) Rhymefest -- Kanye Wests protégé and co-writer of the Grammy Award winning Jesus Walks -- was about to take the stage. I really enjoyed Fests major label debut, Blue Collar, but had never seen him perform live so I was a bit skeptical. To me, hip-hop just doesnt translate well live. But let me tell you something, this guy is a flat-out rock star.
Heres what I liked about Rhymefest as a performer: great showman, funny as shit, got the crowd involved (and not just in some cheesy rap way by telling everyone to get their hands up) and actually seemed to care about what he was saying. Performance wise, Rhymefest had a full band plus horn section, amazing break dancers, a sidekick who could sing the lights out and songs that were slamming! The bottom line is that it wasnt your typical hip-hop show. This one had it all, and then some. Im pissed to admit that I missed the Cold War Kids show because Im a big fan but theres only so many shows you can see and Ive seen the band several times before.
After the 3:30 p.m. performances ended, the skies turned dark and the air became wet so I retreated to the fancy, VIP area for more cocktails. My friend Nathan then dragged me to the smallest stage in the entire venue to see one of his friends perform. As I entered the Mindfield staging area I noticed two men seated with acoustic guitars. I couldnt have been less excited about anything in my entire life. The first man introduced himself as James Marsden (the actor who plays Cyclops in the X-Men movies). The second guy introduced himself as Josh Hopkins (the actor from numerous TV shows including "Ally McBeal" and "Brothers & Sisters.") This made it even worse! I was about to watch Dogstar or 30 Odd Foot of Grunts or any of those other actor fronted bands.
Before they began, Mr. Hopkins announced to the crowd that this show was not for children and that all kids should be escorted out immediately. Thats when it got interesting. What I witnessed for the next 30 minutes made for the funniest concert I have ever been to in my life! These two pretty boys became the good looking version of Tenacious D. They sang songs about being honest to girlfriends, about pooping after swimming, about man-crushes and more. It was downright hysterical! I couldnt get enough. I wanted more but before I knew it the show was over. Check out their video for a song called Feigning Interest on YouTube. You will not be disappointed.
Sadly, I missed Regina Spektor and was told she was marvelous, though I later watched her performance on the in-house feed. To be sure I didn't miss all of the fabulous female performers, I made sure I was front and center for Ms. Karen O and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Ive seen this band on numerous occasions and always felt that the live show didnt do the recorded music justice. Not today my friends, not today! They kicked major ass. The costume changes, the energy and the songs really made for one of the best performances of the entire festival. From the distance I could hear Spoon but my legs just didnt seem to care so from 1/8 mile away I give their performance a B-minus.
Choosing between the nights two headliners wasnt really a choice, for me, at all. I like Interpol but they live in the US (so Ill see them again) and theyre actually kind of boring. Muse is British and they play their instruments really loud and they have a massive light show. I chose Muse. Guess what? Theyre British, they play their instruments really loud and they have a massive light show AND they still sound like Radiohead on speed. Good show chaps, good show.
Stay tuned for Day 3...
Check out Day 1 here...
Patti Smith Takes on Nirvana, Tears For Fears and Neil Young For Covers Album
New York Bohemian-Punk Matriarch Patti Smith is set to release the follow up to 2004's Trampin', an album of 12 covers simply titled Twelve. The album will feature Smith on renditions of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Neil Young's "Helpless," Tears For Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule The World," Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise," as well as more obvious choices of Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix material. Smith also promises some surprises on the album, her second for Columbia Records, when it is released in April.
The album was recorded with her band (Lenny Kaye, Tony Shanahan and Jay Dee Daugherty) and also features guest spots from Television's Tom Verlaine, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea, The Black Crowes' Rich Robinson, and playwright/actor Sam Shepard (he plays banjo on "Smells Like Teen Spirit?!). Smith's son Jackson and daughter Jesse also make appearances.
Smith spoke to Billboard last month about her experience recording Twelve.
"It has been a real adventure doing these songs. I've always wanted to do a cover record, but I didn't think I had the range. But now, I feel really on the top of my game and ready to tackle a lot of different songs I thought had strong and relevant lyrics."
2007 will be a busy year for Smith with the release of Twelve, a summer tour in support of the album, more deluxe reissues of her back-catalog, and last but not least, Smith will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March.
Patti says she is looking forward to what 2007 holds and is exceptionally excited for the induction ceremony.
"I'm ready to play and sing with everybody. I want to make it the most communal and strong-spirited night possible."
"It will be a very celebratory year. We had already planned [the album and tour], so to have this honor right in the center of that is so exciting and encouraging."
Recommended Viewing:
Nearly 32 years ago, Patti Smith started her debut album off by tearing apart Van Morrison's "Gloria" adding her own lyrics and vitriol. Here's a 1976 live clip of that song.
How to Milk a Dead Cow: Courtney Love Makes Progress with Cobain Biopic
For those of us who saw director Gus Van Sant's Last Days under the assumption that it was about Kurt Cobain, get prepared for a slap in the face with the first authorized movie about the lead singer.
[Courtney] Love has acquired the rights to Heavier Than Heaven, author Charles Cross' biography on the late grunge singer, a source close to the star told Access. According to our source, several studios are in discussions with Love to bring the book to the big screen.
Most book-to-movie deals don't usually follow the script of the actual book. Can anyone really imagine a film that satisfies both the corporate groundhogs and the artistic integrity of a musician such as Cobain? But then again, many wonder as to whether or not Love even cares about preserving the integrety of her late husband. I'm just as guilty as the next hardcore Nirvana fan for racing to the store to snatch-up the box set. Yet I have a genuine, sinking suspicion that Cobain probably wouldn't want me listening to the music thats on those discs, let alone watch a movie based on a biography he didn't approve of.
Ewan McGregor is Love's first choice to play her late husband in the film.
Can Life After Death Be Any More Painful?
Ok, so you make a new album, hope it sells a few thousand copies, go on tour, become the biggest band for the next two years, get married, have a baby, kill yourself, get even more famous, have years of legal battles over the rights to your songs, and then get voted to have the most popular pop song in the past twenty years. Can it get any worse?
To this day, nearly 15 years after its release, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" remains MTV Europe's most played video and continues to strike a chord with angst-ridden teenagers everywhere.
Kurt always criticized the idea of making the top-twenty through interviews and through his songs ("I'd rather be dead than cool"Stay Away). Yet Nirvana continues to appeal to the mass media, twelve years after their demise. Isn't there anything about this band that will make them less popular?
As for the article, I don't think I've had an easier time identifying a bunch of bullshit. How can a song released in 2006 make the top-twenty (and I'm not criticizing the Arctic Monkeys)? Well, we all know what happened to the King of Pop since he earned that title. At least Cobain can't choose his path.