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}} Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – c. April 5, 1994) was an American musician who was best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Nirvana. Cobain formed Nirvana with Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1985 and established it as part of the Seattle music scene, having its debut album ''Bleach'' released on the independent record label Sub Pop in 1989. After signing with major label DGC Records, the band found breakthrough success with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from its second album ''Nevermind'' (1991). Following the success of ''Nevermind'', Nirvana was labeled "the flagship band" of Generation X, and Cobain hailed as "the spokesman of a generation". Cobain, however, was often uncomfortable and frustrated, believing his message and artistic vision to have been misinterpreted by the public, with his personal issues often subject to media attention. During the last years of his life, Cobain struggled with heroin addiction, illness and depression. He also had difficulty coping with his fame and public image, and the professional and lifelong personal pressures surrounding himself and his wife, musician Courtney Love. On April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle, the victim of what was officially ruled a suicide by a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. The circumstances of his death at age 27 have become a topic of public fascination and debate. Since their debut, Nirvana, with Cobain as a songwriter, has sold over 25 million albums in the U.S., and over 75 million worldwide. Cobain was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, along with Nirvana bandmates Novoselic and Dave Grohl, in their first year of eligibility. == Early life == Cobain was born on February 20, 1967, at Grays Harbor Hospital in Aberdeen, Washington, to a waitress, Wendy Elizabeth (née Fradenburg) (born 1948), and an automotive mechanic, Donald Leland Cobain (born 1946). His parents were married on July 31, 1965 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. His ancestry included Irish, English, Scottish, Dutch, French, and German. Cobain's Irish ancestors migrated from Carrickmore, County Tyrone, in Northern Ireland in 1875.〔 Researchers found they were shoemakers, originally named "Cobane", who came from Inishatieve, a townland within Carrickmore parish. As migrants, they first settled in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, and then in Washington. Kurt himself believed his family came from County Cork in southern Ireland. Cobain's younger sister, Kimberly, was born on April 24, 1970.〔〔 Cobain's family had a musical background: his maternal uncle, Chuck Fradenburg, played in a band called The Beachcombers; his aunt, Mari Earle, played guitar and performed in bands throughout Grays Harbor County; and his great-uncle, Delbert, had a career as an Irish tenor, making an appearance in the 1930 film, ''King of Jazz''. Kurt was described as being a happy and excitable child, who also exhibited sensitivity and care. His talent as an artist was evident from an early age, as he would draw his favorite characters from films and cartoons, such as the Creature from the Black Lagoon and Donald Duck, in his bedroom.〔〔 This enthusiasm was encouraged by his grandmother, Iris Cobain, who was a professional artist herself. Cobain began developing an interest in music early in life. According to Mari, he began singing at the age of two years. At age four, he started playing the piano and singing, writing a song about a trip to a local park. He listened to artists like the Ramones and Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and, from a young age, would sing songs like Arlo Guthrie's "Motorcycle Song", The Beatles' "Hey Jude", Terry Jacks' "Seasons in the Sun", and the theme song to the television show of the band The Monkees.〔 When Kurt was nine years old, his parents divorced.〔 He later said that the divorce had a profound effect on his life, while his mother noted that his personality changed dramatically—Cobain became defiant and withdrawn.〔 In a 1993 interview, he elaborated:
Cobain's parents both found new partners after the divorce. Although his father had promised not to remarry, after meeting Jenny Westeby, he did, to Kurt's dismay.〔 Cobain, his father, Westeby, and her two children, Mindy and James, moved into a new household together. Cobain liked Westeby at first, who gave him the maternal attention he desired.〔 In January 1979, Westeby gave birth to a boy, Chad Cobain.〔 This new family, which Cobain insisted was not his real one, was in stark contrast to the attention Cobain was used to receiving as an only boy, and he soon began to express resentment toward his stepmother.〔 Cobain's mother began dating a man who was abusive. Cobain witnessed the domestic violence inflicted upon her, with one incident resulting in her being hospitalized with a broken arm.〔 Wendy steadfastly refused to press charges, remaining completely committed to the relationship.〔 Cobain behaved insolently toward adults during this period of his youth, and began bullying another boy at school. These behaviors eventually caused his father and Westeby to take him to a therapist, who concluded that he would benefit from a single family environment.〔 Both sides of the family attempted to bring his parents back together, but to no avail. On June 28, 1979, Cobain's mother granted full custody to his father.〔 Kurt's teenage rebellion quickly became overwhelming for his father, who placed his son in the care of family and friends. While living with the born-again Christian family of his friend Jesse Reed, Cobain became a devout Christian and regularly attended church services. Cobain later renounced Christianity, engaging in what would be described as "anti-God" rants. The song "Lithium" is about his experience while living with the Reed family. Religion would remain an important part of Cobain's personal life and beliefs.〔〔〔 Although uninterested in sports, Cobain was enrolled in a junior high school wrestling team at the insistence of his father. Kurt was a skilled wrestler, yet despised the experience. Because of the ridicule he endured from his teammates and coach, he allowed himself to be pinned, in an attempt to sadden his father. Later, his father enlisted him in a Little League Baseball team, where Cobain would intentionally strike out to avoid playing on the team.〔 Cobain befriended a homosexual student at school and suffered bullying from heterosexual students who concluded that he was gay. In an interview, he said that he liked being associated with a gay identity because he did not like people, and when they thought he was gay they left him alone. He stated, "I started being really proud of the fact that I was gay even though I wasn't". His friend tried to kiss him and Cobain backed away, explaining to his friend that he was not gay, but would remain friends with him. In a 1993 interview with ''The Advocate'', Cobain claimed that he was "gay in spirit" and "probably could be bisexual". He also stated that he used to spray paint "God Is Gay" on pickup trucks in the Aberdeen area. Aberdeen police records show that Cobain was arrested for spray painting the phrase "Ain't got no how watchamacallit" on other vehicles.〔 One of his personal journals states, "I am not gay, although I wish I were, just to piss off homophobes". Kurt would often draw during school classes as part of his enjoyment of creating visual art. He would draw objects, including those associated with human anatomy. When given a caricature assignment for an art course, Cobain drew Michael Jackson, but was told by the teacher that the image was inappropriate for a school hallway—He then drew an image of then-President Ronald Reagan that was seen as "unflattering".〔 As attested to by several of Cobain's classmates and family members, the first concert he attended was Sammy Hagar and Quarterflash, held at the Seattle Center Coliseum in 1983.〔〔 Kurt, however, claimed that the first concert he attended was the Melvins, and he wrote prolifically in his journals of the experience.〔 As a teenager living in Montesano, Cobain eventually found escape through the thriving Pacific Northwest punk scene, going to punk rock shows in Seattle. Cobain soon began frequenting the practice space of fellow Montesano musicians, the Melvins. During his second year in high school, Cobain began living with his mother in Aberdeen. Two weeks prior to graduation, he dropped out of Aberdeen High School, upon realizing that he did not have enough credits to graduate. His mother gave him a choice: find employment or leave. After one week, Kurt found his clothes and other belongings packed away in boxes.〔 Feeling banished from his own mother's home, Cobain stayed with friends, occasionally sneaking back into his mother's basement.〔 Cobain also claimed that, during periods of homelessness, he lived under a bridge over the Wishkah River,〔 an experience that inspired the ''Nevermind'' song, "Something in the Way". However, Nirvana bassist Novoselic said: "He hung out there, but you couldn't live on those muddy banks, with the tides coming up and down. That was his own revisionism".〔Cross, Charles R. "Requiem for a Dream." ''Guitar World.'' October 2001.〕 In late 1986, Cobain moved into an apartment, paying his rent by working at "The Polynesian Resort", a Polynesian coastal resort approximately north of Aberdeen.〔 During this period, he was traveling frequently to Olympia, Washington, to go to rock concerts.〔 During his visits to Olympia, Cobain formed a relationship with Tracy Marander. The couple had a close relationship, but one that was often strained with financial difficulties and Cobain's absence when touring. Marander supported the couple by working at the cafeteria of the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, often stealing food. During his time with Marander, Cobain spent most of his time sleeping into the late evening, watching television, and concentrating on art projects. Her insistence that he get a job caused arguments that influenced Cobain to write "About a Girl", which was featured on the Nirvana album ''Bleach''. Marander is credited with having taken the cover photo for the album. She did not become aware that "About a Girl" was written about her until years after Cobain's death.〔〔〔〔〔〔 Soon after his separation from Marander, Cobain began dating Tobi Vail, an influential punk zinester of the riot grrrl band Bikini Kill who embraced the DIY ethos. After meeting Vail, Cobain vomited, as he was so completely overwhelmed with anxiety caused by his infatuation with her. This event would inspire the lyric: "Love you so much it makes me sick", which appears in the song "Aneurysm".〔 While Cobain would regard Vail as his female counterpart, his relationship with her eventually waned. Cobain desired the maternal comfort of a traditional relationship, which Vail regarded as sexist within a countercultural punk rock community. Those who dated Vail would be described by her friend Alice Wheeler as "fashion accessories".〔 Cobain and Vail spent most of their time together as a couple discussing political and philosophical issues. In 1990 they collaborated on a musical project called "Bathtub Is Real", in which they both sang, and played guitar and drums. They recorded their songs on a four-track tape machine that belonged to Vail's father. In Everett True's 2009 book, ''Nirvana: The Biography'',〔True, Everett. “Nirvana: The Biography” p. 187.〕 Vail is quoted as saying:
Slim Moon described their sound as "... like the minimal quiet pop songs that Olympia is known for. Both of them sang; it was really good".〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=LIVE NIRVANA SESSIONS HISTORY: (Bathtub Is Real) 1990 - ?, Olympia, WA, US )〕 Cobain's relationship with Vail would inspire the lyrical content of many of the songs on ''Nevermind''. Once, while discussing anarchism and punk rock with friend Kathleen Hanna, who was also in a band with Vail, Hanna spray-painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" on Cobain's apartment wall. Teen Spirit was the name of a deodorant Vail wore. Cobain, unaware of the deodorant, interpreted the slogan as having a revolutionary meaning, and it inspired the title of the Nirvana song, "Smells Like Teen Spirit". 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kurt Cobain」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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