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Kurt Cobain

A series of limited edition iconic images from the music world.
Using only the finest photographic paper these images are of exceptional quality. We use acid free mounts to protect the images and finish with a metal engraved plaque. All housed in a luxury box frame.
These look incredible displayed as a collective.
So if you purchase 1, 2 or a full set you know you are purchasing bespoke unique wall art.

Why Kurt Cobain is still an icon 25 years after his death

Kurt Cobain 25 years after his death

By Rebecca Cope

It’s hard to believe, but this week marks 25 years since the suicide of Nirvana’s iconic frontman, Kurt Cobain.
Nirvana’s explosive entry into the charts with 1991’s smash hit Nevermind (led by the still toe-tappingly catchy Smells Like Teen Spirit) catapulted them to a level of fame comparative to The Beatles (Cobain himself dubbed it ‘Nirvanamania’) but the world was denied Cobain’s immense musical talents when he killed himself by a shotgun blast to the head shortly after the release of their grittier final album, In Utero, on April 5, 1994.

As the unwilling personification of grunge – the musical genre that ushered in the 1990s – Cobain was a folk hero for millions around the world, but what is it about him that has captured the imagination of multiple generations; those who experienced grunge the first time round and those who have listened to it since?
The Music
First and foremost, it’s the music. From Nirvana’s foot-stomping debut Smells Like Teen Spirit, to the anthemic Lithium and the haunting Polly, Cobain has left behind a back catalogue of incredible songs. There were the infamous live albums, From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah and MTV’s Unplugged, the covers, including David Bowie’s Man Who Sold The World, and the unreleased posthumous tracks, namely You Know You’re Right. A true creative, Cobain was also a prolific artist, poet and writer, and his influence can be seen in the art direction of the band’s videos. A great example of this is Heart-Shaped Box – directed by Anton Corbijn with intense notes by Cobain – including a bit part by Beat poet William S. Burroughs (which sadly never transpired).

The Face
Let’s not beat around the bush – Cobain was blessed with the kind of face made for bedroom walls. From his strong jaw and stubble to his blonde hair and big blue eyes, this was a great looking man. It’s no surprise teenage girls the world over converted to grunge after first spying him.
Face
Rock stars have a tendency to hate authority, cause trouble with the police, and do silly things (See: everything Keith Richards has ever done) but Cobain took this to another level, making him an icon of counter-culture (even while his band was at the centre of a pop cultural revolution). Often intoxicated on stage, he would head butt things, throw things, and smoke. Clearly ill at ease with his new iconic status, he drifted further and further into heroin addiction, and there was often a sadness about him in interviews. This image of him as a tragic figure only did more to endear him to his fan base. This blasé interview for MTV is case in point.

The Fashion
Every few seasons, a designer cites grunge, and specifically Cobain, as a key influence. From Dries Van Noten’s flannel-heavy S/S 13 collection to Saint Laurent’s punk-inspired A/W 13 collection, it seems like the Nirvana frontman’s laidback style will never cease to inspire. A fan of flannel shirts and layers (he often said the freezing Seattle weather drove him to this) as well as women’s clothing (he frequently wore dresses on stage) he also regularly dyed his blonde locks every colour of the rainbow.
The Mystery
Although Cobain’s death officially ruled a suicide, that hasn’t stopped numerous conspiracy theorists claiming he was murdered (usually by Courtney Love, but sometimes by others). In fact, there have been numerous books on the subject, not to mention documentaries, most famously British journalist Nick Broomfield’s 1998 film Kurt & Courtney. Add to that mystery the ongoing saga with rights to Nirvana’s music, and Courtney Love’s continued spats with Dave Grohl, and it’s pretty hard to forget about it.

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