Serving the Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain

by Danny Goldberg

Kurt’s teenage years coincided with Ronald Reagan’s presidency from 1981 to ’89, which was a catalyst for a lot of the rage of the American punk culture of that era, similar to the way the anti-war movement had influenced the sixties counterculture

Kurt was one of only a handful of lead guitarists who played a left-handed guitar with normal stringing,

Kurt, like Jimi Hendrix, wrote with his right hand but played guitar with his left.

From the very beginning of his career he was into subverting the image of the macho front man.

“He was exceedingly compassionate and a loyal friend. He was well read and a true artist, both in the music and art disciplines.

“When people buy a record, they are not only plugging into the music, but into the values and lifestyle that are implied by that artist.

Kurt called Dave “the most well-adjusted boy I’ve ever met, and he plays better than any drummer I’ve ever heard. If I had a choice of bringing John Bonham back to life I would chose Dave.” And unlike previous Nirvana drummers, Dave also sang harmonies.

He was an impressionist who knew that the sound of words in a song was as important as their literal meaning in a dictionary, and he used lyrics to convey feelings as often as he did to make a linear point.

Kurt embodied the idea that a cool guy could be snarling and powerful and also compassionate and sensitive.