Will David Couch Please Prepare to be Crucified By Curt Cobain Fans…
I have been reading Kurt Cobain’s journals, an interesting look into the mind of someone struggling to come to grips with the music industry and the transformation of Nirvana: from breaking into the scene to the band finding it hard to cope with an unprecedented level of success.
My opinion on the matter is somewhat conflicted. If you’re looking for a rose-tinted view on the genius of Grunge and it’s pioneer you’ll be in for a nasty shock. I have never agreed with Cobain’s philosophies on music as cliche/easy as it may be to ‘hate on’ the whole thing. I think he just had the wrong idea, a type of naivety that broke his spirit. It would explain a lot as the man was severely depressed.
I realise his whole point was about the shitness and degrading aspect of commercial music and to a point I agree. But all music has its price – that’s the way the music business works. However, when a band has a good relationship with the fans, the record companies and suits become obsolete. It’s a connection in the purest sense of the word. Cobain’s real problem was that he listened/believed like holy writ, those ‘scene fascists’ (from his days following The Melvins around town) that label any band with a record deal as sell-outs. A fair observation I’d say if you’ve ever picked up a half decent copy of a Kurt Cobain Biography which shouldn’t be hard there are a few. I might recommend Heavier than Heaven.
His punk roots betrayed him and he forgot you can still have that energy and connection with the fans while foregoing the self-destructive streak that brought an end to himself and the punk movement he embodied so well. Time and place has everything to do with bands reaching that iconic status. The punks were fighting Thatcher and the grebe’s were fighting boredom. The two philosophies don’t co-exist and the rules change as frequently as jumpers for goal posts. And that’s what they reflected; they were each a mirror of the times and that’s what this decade is missing. A band to reflect the times and the temperate of the people. We want for nothing, so is the war over and rock and roll dead? No. It’s far from over.
~DC~
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