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Thoughts on the 15th anniversary of Kurt's death
April 5 presentation packed with diehard fans
Posted: Apr 08, 2009
 How Aberdeen celebrated: Last Sunday, April 5, I gave a presentation in Aberdeen at the Westport Winery on the life and legacy of Kurt Cobain. It was 15 years to the day of Kurt's death. As you may or may not know, I am both the president/co-founder of the Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee and also the author of a biography on Kurt titled "Kurt Cobain: Oh Well, Whatever, Nevermind." The winery's conference room, which holds about 80 people, was packed for the presentation. People were in town to celebrate the place where Cobain lived, rather than the place in Seattle where he died. We had two women from Spain in attendance who had spent their life savings to be in Aberdeen on that day. We had a middle-aged lady and her brother from Colorado who made the pilgrimage. In addition to the "locals," we also had people from around the Puget Sound area, including Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia. There were many tears shed during the day, particularly after I opened the event up for discussion and asked to hear others' stories about how Kurt had affected their lives. For me, the most touching moment was when I handed the microphone to Kurt's grandfather, Leland Cobain, to tell us a few stories about Kurt. Leland, now 85, teared up while relating his stories. I've heard them all several times, but in this setting, they were more poignant than they ever had been. People also shared some pretty rare memorabilia they had with the crowd. Thoughts on milestone: I can hardly believe it has been 15 years. It seems like just yesterday that I was a slack-jawed teenager observing Kurt at Melvins' band practices. And it seems like just yesterday that I smashed my $100 bass guitar through a sheet rock wall when I got word of Kurt's death. There was a time shortly after Kurt's death when I didn't think the 15th anniversary, or any anniversary for that matter, would mean much to anyone outside a select group of diehard Nirvana fans. Shortly after I helped found the Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee five years ago--on the 10th anniversary or Kurt's death--I came to the conclusion my initial thought was totally wrong, and that Kurt Cobain's life and legacy will be celebrated long after I'm no longer around to join in the festivities. At least once a week, I receive a heartfelt e-mail or MySpace message from someone from, pick any spot in the world, who has a story to tell about how a skinny, introverted kid from a small town on the Washington state coast has impacted his or her life in a positive manner. It's getting to a point now where many of those kids were not even born when Kurt was alive. Kurt's grandfather, Leland, has garbage bags full of letters he's received from Kurt's fans, and he has answered every one of them. He told us yesterday that nearly every one of those letters could have been written by the same person and he never would have known it but for the handwriting. That's because they all say the same thing: that the music of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana moved them in such a way that their life is better because of it. We're fifteen years on now, but I strongly doubt that will ever stop. Rest in peace, Kurt. -- Jeff |