Childhood and Education Journey of Courtney Love in Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Courtney Love. From birth to education, explore key events.

Courtney Love is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actress prominent in the alternative and grunge scenes. She formed the band Hole in 1989, achieving fame for her vocals, guitar work, and confrontational lyrics. Her marriage to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in 1992 brought intense media scrutiny, particularly after his death in 1994. Despite the personal challenges, Love and Hole gained prominence through raw live performances and impactful music.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1941: Hank Harrison's birth

In 1941, Hank Harrison, Courtney Love's father, was born.

1944: Linda Carroll's birth

In 1944, Linda Carroll (née Risi), Courtney Love's mother, was born.

1963: Meeting and marriage of Courtney Love's parents

In 1963, Courtney Love's parents, Linda Carroll and Hank Harrison, met at a party held for Dizzy Gillespie. They married in Reno, Nevada after Carroll discovered she was pregnant.

July 9, 1964: Courtney Love's Birth

On July 9, 1964, Courtney Michelle Harrison, later known as Courtney Love, was born in San Francisco, California. She is the daughter of Linda Carroll, a psychotherapist, and Hank Harrison, a publisher and road manager for the Grateful Dead.

1965: Acquisition of a Vintage Jazzmaster

Courtney Love owned a vintage 1965 Jazzmaster, which was later purchased by the Hard Rock Cafe and displayed in New York City.

1967: First Exposure to Leonard Cohen

In 1967, as a child, Courtney Love owned Leonard Cohen's Songs of Leonard Cohen, which she obtained from her mother. Love stated he was "so lyric-conscious and morbid, and I was a pretty morbid kid".

1970: Relocation to Marcola, Oregon

In 1970, Courtney Love relocated with her mother, Linda Carroll, to Marcola, Oregon. There, her mother remarried to Frank Rodríguez, who legally adopted Love.

1970: Courtney Love's parents' divorce

In 1970, Courtney Love's parents divorced while living in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco. Allegations of child endangerment were brought up in a custody hearing.

1972: Relocation to Nelson, New Zealand

In 1972, Courtney Love's mother divorced Rodriguez, remarried David Menely, and moved the family to Nelson, New Zealand. Courtney Love was enrolled at Nelson College for Girls.

1973: Return to Portland, Oregon

In 1973, Courtney Love was sent back to Portland, Oregon, to be raised by her former stepfather and other family friends.

1979: Arrest for shoplifting

In 1979, at age 14, Courtney Love was arrested for shoplifting in Portland and remanded at Hillcrest Correctional Facility.

1980: Legal emancipation

In 1980, Courtney Love became legally emancipated and estranged from her mother.

1981: Travel to Dublin, Ireland

In 1981, Courtney Love used a small trust fund to travel to Dublin, Ireland, where she audited courses at Trinity College.

July 1982: Return to the United States

In July 1982, Courtney Love returned to the United States.

June 1985: Move to San Francisco and formation of The Pagan Babies

In June 1985, Courtney Love moved to San Francisco with Kat Bjelland to form the group The Pagan Babies, recruiting Jennifer Finch and Janis Tanaka.

1985: Enrollment at San Francisco Art Institute

In 1985, Courtney Love enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute to study film.

1988: Move to Anchorage, Alaska

In 1988, displeased with her "celebutante" fame, Courtney Love abandoned her acting career and relocated to Anchorage, Alaska, to "gather her thoughts".

July 23, 1989: Marriage to James Moreland

On July 23, 1989, Courtney Love married Leaving Trains vocalist James Moreland in Las Vegas; the marriage was annulled the same year.

1991: Destruction of Rickenbacker 425 Onstage

In 1991, Courtney Love destroyed her Rickenbacker 425 guitar onstage at a concert opening for the Smashing Pumpkins.

February 24, 1992: Love Marries Cobain

On February 24, 1992, Courtney Love married Kurt Cobain on Waikiki Beach. Love wore a satin and lace dress once owned by actress Frances Farmer, while Cobain wore plaid pajamas.

August 18, 1992: Birth of Frances Bean Cobain

On August 18, 1992, Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain's only child, a daughter named Frances Bean Cobain, was born in Los Angeles. The couple later relocated to Carnation, Washington, and then to Seattle.

September 1992: Vanity Fair Profile "Strange Love"

In September 1992, Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain were profiled in a Vanity Fair article by Lynn Hirschberg entitled "Strange Love." The article, which suggested Love had used heroin during her pregnancy, led to a Department of Children and Family Services investigation, with Frances Bean Cobain temporarily awarded to Love's sister Jaimee.

1992: Marriage to Kurt Cobain

In 1992, Courtney Love married Kurt Cobain, the frontman of the band Nirvana. Their relationship became highly publicized.

1993: Love and Cobain perform at Rock Against Rape benefit

In 1993, Courtney Love and her husband Kurt Cobain performed an acoustic set together at the Rock Against Rape benefit in Los Angeles to raise awareness and provide resources for victims of sexual abuse.

April 1994: Cobain's Death and Love's Response

In April 1994, Kurt Cobain died by suicide in their Seattle home. Courtney Love, who was in rehab in Los Angeles at the time, was rarely seen in public afterwards. She had Cobain's remains cremated and divided his ashes, keeping some in a teddy bear and an urn, and later had a portion blessed by Buddhist monks.

1994: Heavy Drug Use and Memory Loss

Courtney Love later said she had little memory of 1994, a difficult year in the wake of Cobain's death, and 1995, because she had been using large quantities of heroin and Rohypnol at the time, contributing to her erratic behavior and legal issues.

1994: Kurt Cobain's death

In 1994, Kurt Cobain died. His death temporarily overshadowed Courtney Love's music career.

January 1995: Arrest in Melbourne

In January 1995, Courtney Love was arrested in Melbourne for disrupting a Qantas flight after arguing with a flight attendant, contributing to her series of legal troubles during this period.

March 1995: Alleged Assault at Hole Concert in Orlando

In March 1995, Courtney Love allegedly punched two male teenagers during a Hole concert in Orlando, Florida, leading to a lawsuit filed against her in November 1995.

July 4, 1995: Assault at Lollapalooza Festival

On July 4, 1995, at the Lollapalooza Festival in George, Washington, Courtney Love threw a lit cigarette at musician Kathleen Hanna before punching her in the face, allegedly due to a joke about her daughter. Love pleaded guilty to an assault charge and was sentenced to anger management classes.

November 1995: Lawsuit for Alleged Assault at Concert

In November 1995, two male teenagers sued Courtney Love for allegedly punching them during a Hole concert in Orlando, Florida, in March 1995. The judge dismissed the case, stating the teens "weren't exposed to any greater amount of violence than could reasonably be expected at an alternative rock concert."

1995: Love reflects on childhood diagnosis

In 1995, Courtney Love commented on being diagnosed with autism as a child, noting her early struggles with speech and introversion.

1996: Return to Acting and Film Roles

In 1996, after Hole's world tour, Courtney Love returned to acting, taking small roles in "Basquiat" and "Feeling Minnesota", followed by a starring role as Althea in "The People vs. Larry Flynt". She underwent rehabilitation to quit heroin, with her performance receiving critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination.

Loading Video...

May 1998: Assault of Journalist Belissa Cohen

In May 1998, Courtney Love attracted media attention after punching journalist Belissa Cohen at a party; the lawsuit was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

September 2005: Love Sentenced to Rehab

In September 2005, Courtney Love was sentenced to a 28-day lockdown rehab program, followed by an additional 180-day rehab sentence, for violating her probation.

November 2005: Love Discharged from Rehab

In November 2005, after completing the program, Courtney Love was discharged from the rehab center under the provision that she complete further outpatient rehab.

2005: Writing "Loser Dust" in Rehab

During her time in rehab in 2005, Courtney Love wrote several songs, including an anti-cocaine song titled "Loser Dust".

Loading Video...

2005: Mandatory lockdown rehabilitation

In 2005, Courtney Love faced legal troubles and a drug relapse, resulting in a mandatory lockdown rehabilitation sentence while she was writing a second solo album.

May 2011: Love donates Cobain's vinyl records for auction

In May 2011, Courtney Love donated six of her late husband Kurt Cobain's personal vinyl records for auction at Mariska Hargitay's Joyful Heart Foundation event, which supports victims of child abuse, rape, and domestic violence.

2012: Love participates in "An Evening with Women" event

In 2012, Courtney Love participated with Linda Perry, Aimee Mann, and Wanda Sykes in the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center's "An Evening with Women" event, which helps provide food, shelter, and services for homeless youth, seniors, and others.

2017: Attending GQ Men of the Year Awards

In 2017, Courtney Love attended the GQ Men of the Year awards at the Tate Modern with museum director Nicholas Cullinan, referring to him as her "soulmate" and "family for life".

2018: Relapse into Opioid Addiction

In 2018, Courtney Love relapsed into opioid addiction, but she celebrated a year of sobriety by September 2019.

October 2019: Relocation to London

In October 2019, Courtney Love relocated from Los Angeles to London.

August 2020: Hospitalization for Acute Anemia

In August 2020, Courtney Love was hospitalized with acute anemia, a condition that nearly took her life. She later recovered.

March 2021: Hospitalization and Recovery from Acute Anemia

In March 2021, Courtney Love revealed that she had been hospitalized with acute anemia in August 2020, which nearly resulted in her death; she had since made a full recovery.

2021: Love launches From Her To Eternity initiative

In 2021, Courtney Love and Julie Panebianco launched From Her To Eternity, an initiative to collect and categorize music materials focusing on women's contributions to popular music.

2023: From Her to Eternity exhibition displayed in Chicago

Throughout Summer 2023, From Her to Eternity: The Women Who Photograph Music exhibition was displayed in Chicago's South Loop. The name is a tribute to Anita Lane, who co-wrote the song “From Her To Eternity”.