Kurt Cobain: Born-Again Christian or Confused Life Struggling With Faith, Drugs, and Sanity
Twenty years after the release of one of this generation's most influential rock albums, Nevermind; Nirvana's Kurt Cobain remains mired in controversy concerning religion, homosexuality, and drugs.
In the book "Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain," author Charles R. Cross states Cobain became a born-again Christian when he was a teenager due to a friend he had met. This definitely contradicts all indications of his atheist and agnostic views he would go on to express in the future.
Among the biggest targets of Cobain's frustration and "artistic" releases were his views on God and Christianity.
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A Rolling Stone article from April 16 1992, "Inside the Heart & Mind of Nirvana," speaks about Cobain and his bass player, Chris Novoselic, graffitiing a church with the phrase "GOD IS GAY" and "ABORT CHRIST." It was also reported that Cobain would take song lyrics he wasn't happy with, set them on fire, and place them on a local church's porch.
On another occasion, police were called after Cobain had completely destroyed an expensive church crucifix.
Many feel Cobain's outlandish behavior was due to his drug use, but some believe it was because of his involvement in Satanic occult practices–although never entirely confirmed.
In the same Rolling Stone article, the writer describes Cobain's apartment as decorated "with baby dolls hanging by their necks with blood all over them..." and a Satanic doll hanging by a noose in his window.
He was even confused on his own sexuality once saying, "I started being proud of the fact that I was gay even though I wasn't." Cobain's wife Courtney Love was also quoted as saying he has "made out with half the guys in Seattle."
Cobain's lyrics were highly controversial as well, with songs like "Rape Me" which was banned from being performed on the 1992 MTV Music Awards.
His lyrics were based on his rough and traumatic childhood. His parents divorced when he was nine, and his mother became involved in an abusive relationship. Around the age of 13, he became a frequent drug abuser becoming a full fledged heroine addict by 1986.
It was through all this pain that Cobain penned his lyrics and created his music – devoid of hope and filled with despair.
Nirvana's Nevermind was a released on Sep. 24 1991 and led off with smash single "Smells Like Teen Spirit." From then on, Nirvana experienced their own sort of "Beatlemania" becoming the most popular band in the 90s and kick starting the grunge music scene.
Cobain was found dead in his home April 8 1994 with the cause of death ruled a suicide due to a fatal gunshot wound to the head. The coroner believed Cobain had been dead since April 5, and a large dose of heroine and valium were found in his body.
Regardless of the controversies, the musical mastermind behind Nirvana's success spent his life battling demons, some real and some brought upon through his struggles.
