Never Fade Away: The Kurt Cobain Story

by Dave Thompson

Never Fade Away is Dave Thompson's inside look at the life of one of the most thought-provoking men of all time - Kurt Cobain. Examining an artisitic genius who was light years ahead of his time, this is an unfailing account of Nirvana's rise and Cobain eventual descent.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography

170 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

About the author

English author Dave Thompson has spent his entire working life writing biographies of other people, but is notoriously reluctant to write one for himself. Unlike the subjects of some of his best known books, he was neither raised by ferrets nor stolen from gypsies. He has never appeared on reality TV (although he did reach the semi finals of a UK pop quiz when he was sixteen), plays no musical instruments and he can’t dance, either.

However, he has written well over one hundred books in a career that is almost as old as U2’s… whom he saw in a club when they first moved to London, and memorably described as “okay, but they’ll never get any place.” Similar pronouncements published on the future prospects of Simply Red, Pearl Jam and Wang Chung (oh, and Curiosity Killed The Cat as well) probably explain why he has never been anointed a Pop Culture Nostradamus. Although the fact that he was around to pronounce gloomily on them in the first place might determine why he was recently described as “a veteran music journalist.”

Raised on rock, powered by punk, and still convinced that “American Pie” was written by Fanny Farmer and is best played with Meatloaf, Thompson lists his five favorite artists as old and obscure; his favorite album is whispered quietly and he would like to see Richard and Linda Thompson’s “I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight” installed as the go-to song for the sad, sappy ending for every medical drama on TV.

Kurt Cobain, Phil Collins, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett, David Bowie, John Travolta, Eric Clapton, Jackson Browne, Bob Marley, Roger Waters and the guy who sang that song in the jelly commercial are numbered among the myriad artists about whom Thompson has written books; he has contributed to the magazines Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Mojo and Melody Maker; and he makes regular guest appearances on WXPN’s Highs in the Seventies show.

Reviews

[Daniel Holloway · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad but if you are going to read a Nirvana book make it Heavier than Heaven by Charles R Cross.

[Robert Uekermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interessante Zusammenfassung, man hat einen guten überblick bekommen. Manchmal allerdings für meinen Geschmack etwas detailliert, es wurden z.B. viele Bands und Lieder erwähnt, die ich nicht kannte. Man hätte sich garnicht alle anhören können.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

A VERY poorly written book, which was released straight after Kurt's death- author was just in it for the money.

[Weezer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Opzich een interessant boek. Had alleen gewild dat t meer gefocust had op het laatste jaar/laatste maanden van Kurt zn leven. Best grote tijdsprongen aan t einde van t boek wat t soms best lastig maakt. Er word gewoon veel in gezegd maar ook heel weinig ofzo. Voornamelijk informatie die niet super relevant is. Prima boekie maar niet super boeiend.

[Giusy Giuffrè · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veramente una bella biografia, completa e imparziale, dall'infanzia alla prematura morte di Kurt Cobain, attraverso l'analisi dell'esplosione dei Nirvana all'inizio degli anni Novanta. A parte questo, vorrei tanto conoscere chi ha avuto il becero coraggio di tradurre "Never Fade Away: The Kurt Cobain Story by Dave Thompson" in "L'angelo bruciato" che, onestamente, come titolo fa proprio cagare.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book when I was a teenager and it still sticks with me. I recommend it to any nirvana fan, actually any music fan would enjoy this book.

[Stephanie Falcheck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish that I could’ve gave it 5 stars because it was a really good book but it lost me a couple of times.

[Martin Kline · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Never Fade Away: The Kurt Cobain Story" is a short autobiography that went straight to paperback a few months after Cobain's suicide on April 5th 1994. The writing here is nothing special, although author Dave Thompson does a good enough job of creating a simple digestible story about Cobain's early life, meteoric rise to fame with the success of "Nevermind", and struggles with fame and addiction.

The main problem with this book is that it doesn't offer anything of substance or have any interesting takes beyond simply recounting events and facts widely available elsewhere.

[Ralph Burton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once again (in the manner of “Montage of Heck”) Kurt Cobain’s life is turned into a grim, po-faced opera with every page a trudge towards the inevitable. His story was full of so much more vibrance and electricity, his weary, sardonic writer’s eye on disgust unlike no other. The Baudelaire of the teen experience.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forse era un drogato, forse era confuso nel cervello, forse ha fatto davvero tutte le cose che i giornali hanno scritto che ha fatto. Ma era anche un essere umano, e lo dimostrava molto più spesso di quanto gli fosse riconosciuto.

[Sjoerd Boog · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ik ken verder nog weinig info over Cobain en Nirvana, maar zelfs dan is dit een heel teleurstellend geschreven verhaal.

[Emma Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Litt kjedelig skrevet biografi. Brukte lang tid. Men herreguud, jeg elsker Kurt Cobain og kjenner meg veldig igjen i ham

[Rudolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je wil toch wat weten over nirvana. Nooit helemaal doorgebroken natuurlijk

[Sharon]

Not my cup of tea

[Erick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've decided to kick my Nirvana addiction and try new things. This is not the best book, but it has many "important" things.

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was a poorly written book. it was also published just a couple of months after kurts death...so the thought of the writer being an ambulance chaser never really left me as i read it.

[Kitt-e-kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informational ON THE LIFE AND DEATH OF KURT COBAIN.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was interesting but poorly written, I found myself mentally editing the book as a read.

[Holly Gollnick Cotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carried this one around a lot as a teenager...

Just wish it told the real story! ha! Still good though!!!

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good book.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Released directly to paperback really quickly after Cobain's death, this was a cash-grabber, nothing more. Worthless.

[Chelsea Campbino · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lol trash

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography about Kurt Cobain, who tragically was taken from this world far too soon.

[Marti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Adolescenziale. Il libro, dico.