Early Life and Education of Kurt Cobain: A Complete Timeline
An overview of the childhood and early education of Kurt Cobain, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.
Kurt Cobain was the frontman of Nirvana, a highly influential grunge band. His angsty lyrics and anti-establishment attitude resonated with Generation X, making him their reluctant spokesman. Cobain's songwriting broadened the scope of mainstream rock, solidifying his place as one of rock music's most impactful figures.
1959: Martin D-18E acoustic guitar played
In 1959 Cobain played a righthanded Martin D-18E acoustic guitar modified for left-handed playing.
July 31, 1965: Parents' Marriage
On July 31, 1965, Wendy Elizabeth Fradenburg and Donald Leland Cobain, Kurt Cobain's parents, were married in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
1965: Cobain Owns a Jaguar Guitar
In 1965 Kurt Cobain owned a Jaguar guitar with DiMarzio pickups.
February 20, 1967: Kurt Cobain's Birth
On February 20, 1967, Kurt Donald Cobain was born in Aberdeen, Washington. He would later become the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the band Nirvana, and a key figure in the grunge movement.
1969: Cobain Played a Competition Mustang Guitar
In 1969 Cobain owned and played a Competition Mustang guitar.
1969: Cobain's Favorite Competition Mustang
In 1969, Kurt Cobain owned a Competition Mustang, which he cited as his favorite guitar, despite acknowledging its flaws and inefficiencies.
April 24, 1970: Birth of Sister Kimberly
On April 24, 1970, Kurt Cobain's younger sister, Kimberly, was born.
1973: Raw Power Listed as Favorite Album
In 1973, The Stooges released Raw Power. Cobain later listed Raw Power as his favorite album of all time in his journals.
January 1979: Birth of Chad Cobain
In January 1979, Kurt Cobain's stepmother, Jenny Westeby, gave birth to a boy named Chad Cobain, which impacted Kurt's relationship with his new family.
June 28, 1979: Custody to Father
On June 28, 1979, Kurt Cobain's mother granted full custody to his father, Donald Cobain, due to behavioral issues.
1980: First Drug Experience
In 1980, at the age of 13, Kurt Cobain had his first drug experience with cannabis.
February 20, 1981: Gift of a Guitar
On February 20, 1981, for his 14th birthday, Kurt Cobain received a used guitar from his uncle, marking the beginning of his musical journey.
1983: First Concert
In 1983, Kurt Cobain purportedly attended his first concert, Sammy Hagar and Quarterflash, at the Seattle Center Coliseum, an event that family and classmates attested to, though Cobain claimed his first show was the Melvins.
1986: First Heroin Use
In 1986, Kurt Cobain first used heroin, administered by a dealer in Tacoma, Washington.
1986: Moved into Apartment
In late 1986, Kurt Cobain moved into an apartment, paying rent with his job at the Polynesian Resort, and frequently traveled to Olympia, Washington, for rock concerts, beginning a relationship with Tracy Marander.
1987: Inspiration for Polly
In 1987, Cobain was affected enough to write "Polly" from Nevermind after reading a newspaper story of an incident in 1987, when a 14-year-old girl was kidnapped, raped and tortured.
1987: Cobain Aware of Love Through Film
In 1987, Kurt Cobain was already aware of Courtney Love through her role in the film Straight to Hell.
1988: Release of Pixies' Surfer Rosa
In 1988, Pixies released their debut album, Surfer Rosa, which would later inspire Cobain to change his songwriting style.
January 21, 1989: Possible First Meeting with Courtney Love
According to Michael Azerrad's biography, Kurt Cobain possibly met Courtney Love on January 21, 1989, at a Dharma Bums gig in Portland where Nirvana played as a support act.
July 18, 1989: Cocaine Use
On July 18, 1989, while on tour, Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic took cocaine after their gig in New York.
November 27, 1989: Mental Breakdown in Rome
On November 27, 1989, Kurt Cobain suffered a mental breakdown during Nirvana's show in Rome, smashing his guitar and shouting, "I'm going to kill myself!"
1989: Inspiration for "About a Girl" from Meet the Beatles!
In 1989, Cobain wrote the song "About a Girl" from Nirvana's debut album Bleach, after spending three hours listening to Meet the Beatles!.
1989: First American Tour and Guitar Destruction
In 1989, Nirvana embarked on their first American tour, during which Kurt Cobain played an Epiphone ET270. He developed a habit of destroying guitars onstage, including this one, which lead to Sub Pop needing to replace them.
January 12, 1990: Possible Meeting with Courtney Love
According to Charles R. Cross's biography, Kurt Cobain possibly met Courtney Love on January 12, 1990, at the Satyricon nightclub in Portland during a Nirvana show.
1990: Heroin Use Disclosure
In 1990, Kurt Cobain told Krist Novoselic that he had used heroin.
January 1991: Heroin use
In January 1991, Kurt Cobain spoke to Dave Grohl about heroin use.
May 1991: Formal Introduction to Courtney Love
In May 1991, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love were formally introduced at an L7 and Butthole Surfers concert in Los Angeles, according to Everett True.
May 17, 1991: Alleged Introduction to Courtney Love
According to Everett True's book, Kurt Cobain was formally introduced to Courtney Love on May 17, 1991.
February 24, 1992: Cobain and Love's Wedding
On February 24, 1992, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love were married on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. Love wore a dress once owned by Frances Farmer, and Cobain wore green pajamas and a Guatemalan purse.
August 18, 1992: Birth of Frances Bean Cobain
On August 18, 1992, Frances Bean Cobain, the daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, was born. The couple faced scrutiny and legal challenges due to alleged drug use, leading to a temporary removal of Frances from their care.
October 1992: Cobain's Bisexuality
In October 1992, Kurt Cobain discussed his sexuality in an interview with Monk Magazine, stating he would be bisexual if not attracted to Courtney Love. He also expressed identification with the gay community in The Advocate.
1992: Support for Gay Rights and Pro-Choice Movement
In 1992, Cobain and Nirvana publicly supported gay rights, playing at a benefit concert opposing Oregon's Ballot Measure 9. Cobain was also a vocal supporter of the pro-choice movement and participated in L7's Rock for Choice campaign, leading to death threats from anti-abortion activists.
1992: LGBTQ+ Advocacy
In 1992, Kurt Cobain advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, including performing at a benefit in Oregon against Ballot Measure 9.
1992: Heroin Use Affecting Nevermind Tour
In 1992, Kurt Cobain's heroin use began to affect Nirvana's Nevermind tour. During a photoshoot before their Saturday Night Live performance on January 11, he fell asleep several times due to heroin use.
1992: R.E.M. releases Automatic for the People
In 1992, R.E.M. released "Automatic for the People". Nirvana's posthumously released "MTV Unplugged in New York" album in 1994 has drawn comparisons to R.E.M's album.
1992: Near-Death Overdose
In 1992, the morning after Nirvana's performance on Saturday Night Live, Kurt Cobain experienced his first near-death overdose after injecting heroin; he was resuscitated by Courtney Love.
1992: Cobain discusses Pixies influence
In a 1992 interview with Melody Maker, Cobain said that hearing Pixies' 1988 debut album, Surfer Rosa, "convinced him to abandon his more Black Flag-influenced songwriting in favor of the Iggy Pop/Aerosmith-type songwriting that appeared on Nevermind."
1992: Cobain Interview on Guitars
In a 1992 interview, Kurt Cobain stated that "Junk is always best" regarding his preference for budget guitars, explaining it was a necessity due to difficulty finding high-quality left-handed guitars.
May 2, 1993: Overdose in Seattle
On May 2, 1993, Kurt Cobain overdosed at his home in Seattle and was taken to Harborview Medical Center, but was discharged the same day.
July 23, 1993: Overdose Before New Music Seminar Performance
On July 23, 1993, Kurt Cobain overdosed before a performance at the New Music Seminar in New York City; Courtney Love injected him with naloxone to resuscitate him, and he performed with Nirvana without indicating anything had happened.
October 1993: Cobain meets William S. Burroughs
In October 1993, Cobain met with William S. Burroughs at his home in Lawrence, Kansas.
1993: Cobain discusses Lead Belly's influence
In 1993, Cobain introduced Lead Belly as his favorite performer and revealed that he had been introduced to him from reading the American author William S. Burroughs.
1993: Cobain praises R.E.M.
In 1993, Cobain praised R.E.M., saying: "If I could write just a couple of songs as good as what they've written... I don't know how that band does what they do. God, they're the greatest. They've dealt with their success like saints, and they keep delivering great music".
1993: Health Issues and Diagnosis
In 1993, Kurt Cobain spoke about his health issues, including chronic bronchitis, an undiagnosed stomach condition, minor scoliosis, and mental health struggles, including depression and narcolepsy.
1993: Interview with The Advocate
In 1993, Kurt Cobain was interviewed by The Advocate, a gay magazine, which he said would be his only interview for the Incesticide album. The album's liner notes decried homophobia, racism, and misogyny.
1993: Cobain admits to trying to rip off the Pixies
In a 1993 interview with Rolling Stone, Cobain said that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was his attempt at "trying to rip off the Pixies. I have to admit it. When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band—or at least a Pixies cover band."
1993: Cobain's Feelings About Family
In a 1993 interview, Cobain expressed feelings of shame toward his parents due to their divorce and his desire for a "typical family".
March 1, 1994: Diagnosis and Flight to Rome
On March 1, 1994, following a tour stop in Munich, Germany, Kurt Cobain was diagnosed with bronchitis and severe laryngitis, leading him to fly to Rome for medical treatment the next day.
March 1994: Multiple Heroin Overdoses
By March 1994, Courtney Love had reportedly "seen Kurt close to death from heroin overdoses on more than a dozen occasions."
March 1994: Overdose and Intervention
In March 1994, Kurt Cobain overdosed on a combination of champagne and Rohypnol. Following the incident, he underwent an intervention and entered a detox program.
March 18, 1994: Cobain's Suicidal Episode
On March 18, 1994, Courtney Love contacted Seattle police, reporting that Kurt Cobain was suicidal and had locked himself in a room with a gun. Upon arrival, police confiscated firearms and pills. Cobain denied suicidal intentions, stating he was hiding from Love.
March 25, 1994: Intervention Regarding Cobain's Drug Use
On March 25, 1994, an intervention was arranged by Courtney Love for Cobain's drug use, including musician friends and record company executives. Cobain initially reacted with anger but eventually agreed to a detox program.
March 30, 1994: Cobain Enters Detox and Acquires Shotgun
On March 30, 1994, Kurt Cobain entered a residential detox facility in Los Angeles. On the same day before departing, Cobain asked Dylan Carlson to purchase a shotgun, claiming it was for self-protection; this was the weapon Cobain would later use in his suicide.
April 1, 1994: Cobain Escapes Rehab and Flies to Seattle
On April 1, 1994, Kurt Cobain escaped the rehab facility and flew to Seattle. He encountered Duff McKagan on the flight, and despite previous animosity, McKagan noted that Cobain "seemed happy" but McKagan sensed that "something was wrong".
April 5, 1994: Estimated Day of Cobain's Death
The coroner's report estimated that Kurt Cobain died on April 5, 1994, at the age of 27, at his Lake Washington Boulevard home. His body was discovered on April 8th.
1994: Tom Grant Hired to Find Kurt Cobain
In 1994, shortly before Kurt Cobain's death, Courtney Love hired private detective Tom Grant to locate her husband.
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