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 1990s alternative and grunge scenes. She's best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the band Hole, formed in 1989. Noted for her unrestrained performances and confrontational lyrics, Love also gained significant media attention for her personal life, especially her marriage to Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. Her career has spanned four decades, marking her as a significant figure in music and pop culture.

Sections (6)

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

1941: Birth of Hank Harrison

In 1941, Hank Harrison, Courtney Love's father, was born. He was a publisher and road manager for the Grateful Dead.

1944: Birth of Linda Carroll

In 1944, Linda Carroll (née Risi), Courtney Love's mother, was born. She would later become a psychotherapist.

1956: Chocolates for Breakfast publication

In 1956, Pamela Moore's novel Chocolates for Breakfast was published. Courtney Love was named after the protagonist, Courtney Farrell.

CHOCOLATES FOR BREAKFAST

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1963: Meeting 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 later married in Reno, Nevada.

July 9, 1964: Courtney Love's Birth

On July 9, 1964, Courtney Michelle Love (née Harrison) was born in San Francisco, California. She would later become a prominent singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actress, known for her work in the alternative and grunge scenes.

1965: Vintage Guitar

Courtney Love owned a vintage 1965 Jazzmaster guitar that was purchased by the Hard Rock Cafe and is on display in New York City.

1967: First Record Owned

In 1967, Courtney Love's first record was Leonard Cohen's Songs of Leonard Cohen. She obtained it from her mother through Columbia Record Club.

1970: Relocation to Marcola, Oregon

In 1970, Courtney Love and her mother, Linda Carroll, relocated to the rural community of Marcola, Oregon. Carroll pursued her psychology degree at the University of Oregon during this time.

1970: Parents' Divorce

In 1970, Courtney Love's parents divorced. During a custody hearing, allegations were made that her father had dosed her with LSD as a toddler, leading to the revocation of his custody.

1972: Move to Nelson, New Zealand

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

1973: Return to Portland, Oregon

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

1976: Randall Commander

In 1976, Courtney Love's gear setup included a solid-state Randall Commander.

1979: Arrest for Shoplifting

In 1979, at age 14, Courtney Love was arrested for shoplifting from a Portland department store and was remanded at Hillcrest Correctional Facility. During this time, she became acquainted with music by Patti Smith, the Runaways, and the Pretenders.

1980: Legal Emancipation

In 1980, Courtney Love became legally emancipated and remained estranged from her mother. This marked a significant step towards her independence.

1981: Travel to Dublin

In 1981, Courtney Love used a trust fund to travel to Dublin, Ireland, where her biological father was living, and audited courses at Trinity College.

July 1982: Return to the United States

In July 1982, Courtney Love returned to the United States after spending time in Europe. She would soon begin her pursuit of a music career.

1985: Enrollment at San Francisco Art Institute

In 1985, Courtney Love enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute to study film under experimental director George Kuchar and took experimental theater courses taught by Whoopi Goldberg.

1988: Relocation to Los Angeles

At the end of 1988, Courtney Love taught herself to play guitar and relocated to Los Angeles, where she sought to start a band.

1988: Abandonment of acting career

In 1988, displeased by her "celebutante" fame, Courtney Love abandoned her acting career and resumed work as a stripper in Oregon. She later 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. After forming Hole, Love and Erlandson had a romantic relationship.

1989: Formation of Hole

In 1989, Courtney Love formed the alternative rock band Hole, where she served as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. This marked a significant milestone in her career, establishing her presence in the music scene.

1991: Diverse Genre Interests

In a 1991 interview with Flipside, Courtney Love expressed interest in both a grindcore band and a Raspberries-type pop band.

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 previously owned by actress Frances Farmer, and Cobain wore plaid pajamas.

August 18, 1992: Birth of Frances Bean Cobain

On August 18, 1992, Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain's daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, was born in Los Angeles. Afterwards, they relocated to Carnation, Washington, and then Seattle.

September 1992: Vanity Fair Profile "Strange Love"

In September 1992, Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain were profiled in Vanity Fair by Lynn Hirschberg in an article entitled "Strange Love". The article suggested Love was addicted to heroin during her pregnancy, leading to an investigation by the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services and temporary custody being awarded to Love's sister.

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, which aimed to raise awareness and provide resources for victims of sexual abuse.

April 1994: Kurt Cobain's Death

In April 1994, Kurt Cobain died by suicide in Seattle at the home he shared with Courtney Love, who was in rehab in Los Angeles at the time. Afterwards, Love had his ashes ceremonially blessed and made into memorial sculptures.

August 26, 1994: Hole's Performance at Reading Festival

On August 26, 1994, Hole performed at the Reading Festival, marking Courtney Love's first public performance following Kurt Cobain's death. The performance was described as macabre, frightening, and inspirational.

1994: Reference in Cope's Autobiography

In 1994, Julian Cope referenced Courtney Love frequently in his autobiography, Head-On, referring to her as "the adolescent", reflecting their earlier interactions.

Head On/Repossessed

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1995: Diagnosis of Autism

In 1995, Courtney Love commented on being diagnosed with autistic tendencies during her childhood, particularly noting that she would not speak at an early age before eventually 'blooming'.

1995: Punk Association

In 1995, Courtney Love was associated with punk, but she stated that she was more influenced by new wave or post-punk.

1996: Acting Roles and Rehab

In 1996, after Hole's world tour, Courtney Love returned to acting, taking small roles in Basquiat and Feeling Minnesota, and starring in The People vs. Larry Flynt. She also went through rehab and quit using heroin at the insistence of director Miloš Forman.

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1998: Designing Vista Venus

In 1998, Courtney Love designed Fender's Vista Venus, partially inspired by Rickenbacker guitars and her Mercury.

September 2005: Sentenced to Rehab Program

In September 2005, Courtney Love was sentenced to a 28-day lockdown rehab program for violating her probation. To avoid jail time, she accepted an additional 180-day rehab sentence.

November 2005: Discharge from Rehab Center

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

2005: Rehabilitation Sentence

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

2005: Warning about Harvey Weinstein

In 2005, while on the red carpet for the Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson, Courtney Love warned young actresses to avoid private parties with Harvey Weinstein at the Four Seasons hotel.

2006: Lyrics Reflecting Rehab

After 2006, Nobody's Daughter lyrically reflected Courtney Love's past relationships and her struggle for sobriety, with the majority of its lyrics written while she was in rehab.

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

In May 2011, Courtney Love donated six of her 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"

In 2012, Courtney Love participated with Linda Perry in the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center's "An Evening with Women" event, which raises money for food, shelter, and other services for homeless youth.

October 2017: Weinstein Warning Video Goes Viral

In October 2017, a 2005 video resurfaced of Courtney Love warning young actresses about Harvey Weinstein. Love was on the red carpet for the Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson and advised young girls moving to Hollywood to avoid private parties with Harvey Weinstein at the Four Seasons hotel.

2017: 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: Opioid Relapse

In 2019, Courtney Love stated that she had relapsed into opioid addiction in 2018, but had recently celebrated a year of sobriety.

October 2019: Relocation to London

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

August 2020: Hospitalization for Anemia

In August 2020, Courtney Love was hospitalized with acute anemia, which nearly resulted in her death. She later made a full recovery.

March 2021: Hospitalization for Acute Anemia

In March 2021, Courtney Love disclosed that she had been hospitalized with acute anemia in August 2020, and nearly died from it. She made a full recovery.