Cobain Kurt

American musician, lead singer whose anguished lyrics helped sell millions of records featuring the gritty sound of grunge rock n roll of "Nirvana," a head banging punk metal band formed in 1991. Cobain was raised 108 miles southwest of Seattle by auto mechanic Donald Cobain and his homemaker wife Wendy Fradenburg. Three years older than his sister Kim, Cobain was diagnosed as a hyperactive preschooler and given the amphetamine-based drug, Ritalin as a child. The side effects of the drug were countered with sedatives to help him sleep at nights. Cobain remembers fondly his childhood occupying his time drawing and singing to the songs of the Beatles. His parents divorce in 1975 emotionally shook his world. Filled with anger and confusion, Cobain became sullen and antagonistic to his bewildered mom who finally sent him to live with his dad. Cobain continued to rebel by refusing to share in his fathers enthusiasm for sports activities. Joining the junior high wrestling team Cobain allowed his opponent to win without a struggle while his disappointed father watched in the stands. During his years at Aberdeen High School, Cobain smoked marijuana, taunted jocks, and was shuffled over to his paternal grandparents home. He found enjoyment learning how to play Led Zeppelins "Stairway to Heaven" on the guitar from his music teacher. Interested in the punk rock music of the Sex Pistols, Cobain dropped out of high school in 1985 before graduation and visited the music clubs. Refusing his two state art scholarships, he skipped college and worked part-time as a janitor at his high school. He took drugs, drank, vandalized cars and lived life on the streets in Aberdeen. In 1987, Cobain and bassist school friend Krist Novoselic established their rock group, "Nirvana" and performed at clubs in Aberdeen, Olympia and Seattle. Two years later they released their first album, "Bleach." They were signed by Geffen Records in 1991 and their second album, "Nevermind," sold over 10 million copies worldwide. "Nirvanas" music was part of the growing popular Seattle gritty grunge music sound. The groups rumpled style of torn jeans, ripped T-shirts and unwashed hair influenced American teenagers. Cobain was singled out by music critics for his primal screams and guitar playing bravado on stage. He was championed as the voice of the X generation. Despite his speedy superstar status, Cobains personal life continued to erode. Uncomfortable with his fame, he continued his drug habit of heroin and alcohol. Cobain met his wife, former actress and strip joint dancer, Courtney Love in 1991 when she was forming her own punk band, "Hole." The couple easily bonded over their mutual drug habit. They married in early 1992 and six months later their daughter, Frances Bean Cobain was born. The couple owned a $1.1 million home on the shore of Seattles Lake Washington Madrona neighborhood. Cobains addiction to drugs fueled the fights between him and his wife and was difficult to conquer. He suffered chronic undiagnosed stomach pains that he believed were relieved by his heroin use. For years, he had a mysterious stomach ailment, a burning nauseous pain in his upper abdominal cavity. The distress was inexplicable and elusive to diagnosis, at times causing him to curl up in misery for days. On 4 March 1994 he went into a coma in Rome, Italy from an overdose of tranquilizers and champagne. On 28 March 1994 he entered Exodus Recovery Center, a drug rehabilit Read less