Kurt Cobain

Cobain performing on MTV's Unpluggedloudwire.comDuring the 1990’s, pop culture was redefined by the Seattle sound with the leader at its forefront being none other than the lead singer of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain. Cobain is not only The King of Grunge, he also displayed many heroic characteristics. Kurt Donald Cobain was born on February 20, 1967, as the child of Donald and Wendy Cobain. Cobain married lead singer of the band Hole, Courtney Love, on February 24, 1992. Cobain and his wife also had a daughter named Frances Bean Cobain. Cobain was born in Hoquiam, Washington, and moved to Aberdeen, Washington with his family at just a few months of age. In high school, Cobain met his future band mate, Krist Novoselic. To engage in future opportunities in the music industry Cobain and Novoselic moved to Seattle, Washington. Ultimately, Cobain and his fellow band mates dubbed themselves Nirvana. Nirvana ended up producing one of the highest selling albums of all time: Nevermind. Tragically, Cobain ended up dying via self-inflicted gunshot wound on April 8, 1994, in his Seattle home. Be that as it may, Cobain was not an ordinary rock star; he is an essential hero. A hero must possess the ability to lead by example, and demonstrate self-acceptance. Self-acceptance is demonstrated by possessing consciousness and happiness of oneself. Leading by example is defined as the hero producing the change they would like to see, instead of waiting for someone else to attempt to make a change. Kurt Cobain is much more than the lead singer of the legendary grunge band Nirvana; Cobain is an iconic hero because he demonstrates originality through his self-acceptance and leads his beliefs by example.

Cobain's alternative style put on displaythefashionisto.comCobain demonstrated self-acceptance, which develops his heroism. Explicitly, Cobain’s fashion displayed his self-acceptance: “His look changed fashion. Cobain's ripped jeans and plaid shirts would make their way to runways, selling for hundreds of dollars. But Cobain was poor until the last few years of his life and bought his clothes at thrift shops and garage sales” (USA Today). Cobain dressed alternatively in the 90s. However, due to his low social class standing he had to shop at thrift stores. Because of his self-confidence, he inspired others to shop at thrift stores and wear clothes that looked like his. People of all social classes wanted to replicate Cobain’s alternative style. This illustrates Cobain’s self-acceptance, as he wasn’t bothered with what others thought of how he dressed. Cobain’s alternative music style also exemplified his self acceptance: “By 1994 many of the original grunge bands had cut their hair and begun to release more mainstream albums. Effectively, grunge ended with the suicide of Cobain in the spring of 1994” (Freind). Cobain had such an immense impact on grunge music that his passing ultimately contributed to the death of grunge. However, his legacy lives on, and his self-acceptance is remembered. His self-acceptance is what defines grunge and ultimately altered teen pop culture forever. Cobain’s overall indication of his self-acceptance influenced others to replicate his unorthodox style and musical taste.  

Cobain performing with his wife, Courtney Love, at the Rock Against Rape Benefitrazmatazmag.comCobain leads his ideas and beliefs by example by acting as the change he envisions. Cobain exhibits his beliefs through his lyrics to display the advances he desires: “Hate me, Do it and do it again, Waste me, Rape me, my friend, I'm not the only one” (Nirvana “Rape Me”). Here, Cobain’s lyrics are protesting against rape and standing up for victims of sexual assault. Cobain was firmly against sexual assault of any kind, and demonstrated that with this song. Cobain is leading by example by displaying to others just how horrific sexual assault is. Instead of using his music to sing about nonsense, Cobain utilized it to display his beliefs and the adjustments he desired to see in the world. By stating “I’m not the only one” Cobain is conveying to victims of sexual assault that they are not alone. This action of leading by example establishes one of Cobain’s most heroic characteristics. Cobain also protested rape in other ways: “During 1993 Nirvana performed a benefit in San Francisco for rape victims of the ongoing war in Bosnia” (Baker’s Dictionary of Musicians). Cobain performed at this benefit for rape victims, which represents his anti rape beliefs. He wanted to raise awareness and funds for victims of rape. He displayed the change he wanted to bring about. He is leading by example to make the change he envisions in the world. Cobain performed to solicit money for a cause he believed in, which persuaded his fans to protest against rape as well. Cobain exerted his musical influences, which outlines the global change he wanted to establish. Even a young Cobain would stand up for what he believed in: “He [Cobain] reveals how school classmates thought he was gay after he befriended a fellow student who was homosexual. ‘I started being proud of being gay, even though I wasn't. I almost found my identity’” (New Zealand Herald). Leading by example is undoubtedly being the change you want to make. Cobain recognized people who identify as gay can be socially excluded, so in high school he chose to associate with a gay kid regardless of what others thought or said about him. Cobain is accepting of himself, which shows others to take pride in who they are and what they do. This is representative of the change he wants to effect, making him a hero.

In order for someone to be classified as a hero, one must demonstrate self-acceptance and lead their ideas and beliefs by example. Cobain asserts his opinion and ventures to make a change for what he believes, as seen by his acceptance for others, lyrics, and benefit concert. Additionally, Cobain ignored the status quo by dressing differently and playing alternative music, which exudes his self-acceptance and designates him a hero. Although Cobain’s life melancholically ended at the ripe age of twenty-seven, his astounding legacy will live on forever because of his social activism and contributions to pop culture. Cobain’s actions and style evolved pop culture into ultimately what it is today. The social justice issues Cobain protested in the 90s are still prevalent in today’s society.

Works Cited

"A requiem for Kurt Cobain." USA Today, 18 Mar. 2014, p. 05D. Biography In Context,

Bill Freind. "Grunge." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, Gale, 2013. Biography In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/UWLKIV414868262/BIC?u=powa9245&si d=BIC&xid=da6b6d03. Accessed 28 Mar. 2018.

"Kurt Cobain tells the inside story." New Zealand Herald [Auckland, New Zealand], 22 Mar. 2008, p. 6. Biography In Context https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A177874596/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=56    8 02cc8. Accessed 29 Mar. 2018.

 Nirvana. All Apologies: Rape Me, Seattle, WA.

"Nirvana." Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Schirmer, 2001. Biography In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K2420008620/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC &xid=48eb43e4. Accessed 26 Mar. 2018.