Smells Like Teen Spirit

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are” are two of, 90’s grunge band Nirvana’s songs that are still commonly known and popular today. “The unexpected success of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in late 1991 propelled Nevermind to the top of the charts at the start of 19912, an event often marked as the point where alternative rock entered the mainstream” (Erlewine). “Come As You Are” kept the band’s popularity consistent, however, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” made the band’s popularity sky-rocket (Azerrad, p. 227). When, where, why, and how did this legendary rock band come about? Who is the mastermind behind this so called “Nirvana?” The answer; Kurt Donald Cobain. Lead singer Kurt Cobain is known as an iconic figure due to his astonishing guitar talents and amazing vocals attributing to his band, the creation of 90’s grunge band Nirvana, his rockstar wife, and lead singer of Hole, Courtney Love, and his estranged, alleged “suicide.” Kurt Cobain’s childhood and early adult years definitely played a huge role in his adolescent life, his style, outlook on life, and musical career. Cobain’s religious views also played into his work, maintaining a constant interest in Jainism and Buddhist philosophy. Kurt was brought into this world on February 20, 1967 and began singing at the age of two. At age four, he sparked interest in piano and began singing a song about a trip to a park. When Cobain was nine years old, his parents divorced (Cross). The divorce weighed heavy on Cobain, causing a dramatic change in his

Kurt’s death was ruled a suicide due to the obvious: the shotgun resting on Cobain’s chest, the suicide note with a pen stuck through it lying in the flower pot. Cobain also had injection sites on both arms, and is said to have had 3 times the amount of heroin in his system that even an extreme heroine addict could