Chapter 8 is not really a large montage of scenarios, so I'll sum it up. This chapter touches upon some controversy about the 1992 MTV VMA's. Kurt was supposed to play the smash hit 'Smells like Teen Spirit', or any other song off their multi-platinum album, Nevermind. They wanted to show off one of two new songs; 'Rape Me' or 'New Poopy'. Both were off the list as far as MTV were concerned. They made the compromise not to play 'Smells like teen Spirit', but 'Lithium'. Nirvana had begun with the intro to 'Rape Me' though... but continued with 'Lithium'. The rest of that chapter goes into boring things. Like Record related matters, Press related matters, Band member issues, and the much anticipated 'In Utero', the album after 'Nevermind'.
Chapter 9 is a short conclusion to this most interesting novel. It talks about how Nirvana got boo'ed off stage at a New York show when they introduced an Acoustic segment of their show. It talks about how they did not give into pressures like that, and how that being a rock star wasn't a joke to Cobain; that it was his life. A reference to his suicide note was made, discussing how Courtney Love was answering the open ended questions in the note that he had written. It also discussed how Kurt had seemed happier than usual. Although, a reference was made about how he showed symptoms of manic depression. He had 'locked himself into his own cycle of incredible ups and crippling downs." The rest of this chapter discussed issues that Nirvana had been involved with in the matters of other bands; such as Pearl Jam, Van Halen, and The Melvins.
I do not have an open ended quesion for you all. So please, ignore my reality, and substitute your own; bring about YOUR questions, the questions that are important.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Kurt Cobain entry #5
Chapter 7 mainly discusses Kurt Cobain's and Courtney Love's relationship. It was said that they looked and acted like 'Sid and Nancy', after the Sex Pistol's Sid Vicious and his his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen.
Chapter 7 also gives some insight as to Courtney's childhood, as far as moving around. She was born in San Francisco, moved to Oregon, New Zealand, England, back to Oregon, and within Oregon. This was during the first 15 years of her life. This chapter also looks into her personality. It was said that she was 'Loud', 'opinionated', and other wild adjectives. She had a VERY bad reputation.
Love and Cobain had gotten married on February 26, In Waikiki. (it does not specify what year). Both Love and Cobain were still heavily into smack (the street name for Heroin). Love had found out she was pregnant, and had stopped using. They had consulted a counselor; and the concensus was that if withdrawal is not too bad, a woman can keep using smack during her first trimester without serious harm to the baby. This, of course, did not get looked upon in a good manner. And an article had been published about Love, but it ended up being misunderstandings. When Frances Bean Cobain was born, Cobain and Love were legally prohibited from being alone with their own baby (at least for the first month). This was a heartbreaking period, and they even seriously contemplated suicide, but did not act on it.
Do you think that it was right for Love to use during her pregnancy? Do you think it was right for them to to be prohibited from Frances for a month?
Chapter 7 also gives some insight as to Courtney's childhood, as far as moving around. She was born in San Francisco, moved to Oregon, New Zealand, England, back to Oregon, and within Oregon. This was during the first 15 years of her life. This chapter also looks into her personality. It was said that she was 'Loud', 'opinionated', and other wild adjectives. She had a VERY bad reputation.
Love and Cobain had gotten married on February 26, In Waikiki. (it does not specify what year). Both Love and Cobain were still heavily into smack (the street name for Heroin). Love had found out she was pregnant, and had stopped using. They had consulted a counselor; and the concensus was that if withdrawal is not too bad, a woman can keep using smack during her first trimester without serious harm to the baby. This, of course, did not get looked upon in a good manner. And an article had been published about Love, but it ended up being misunderstandings. When Frances Bean Cobain was born, Cobain and Love were legally prohibited from being alone with their own baby (at least for the first month). This was a heartbreaking period, and they even seriously contemplated suicide, but did not act on it.
Do you think that it was right for Love to use during her pregnancy? Do you think it was right for them to to be prohibited from Frances for a month?
Monday, May 10, 2010
Kurt Cobain entry #4
I am skipping chapter 5 as one blog post. It really only talks about his musical career.
Chapter 6 begins by talking about how in the 1990's, the demands of its idols that past generations have had to endure did not really exist. Bruce Springsteen and Peter Frampton were used as popular examples here. It stated that both artists had two of the three following; the impact of a Dylan, the charm of a Beatle, or the conviction of a Stone. But Nirvana had all the creative freedom they wanted. Kurt wansn't a 'star' and never wanted to be; he just wanted to make a living at his job.
Kurt's controversies had just begun to be explored in this chapter as well. To sum up the experiences, Kurt had stated that 'I went to bed one evening, and everything was fine, but when I woke up the next morning, they said on the News that I was an escaped Nazi child killer.' Some of these controversies include lies to the press, his drug use, hatred of fame, issues with his child, fights with (at this time, wife) Courtney Love, and overall ill-health.
It is unknown as to why all these issues have been dug upon by the hounds of the media, so why do you think that they had kept inquiring to these things?
Chapter 6 begins by talking about how in the 1990's, the demands of its idols that past generations have had to endure did not really exist. Bruce Springsteen and Peter Frampton were used as popular examples here. It stated that both artists had two of the three following; the impact of a Dylan, the charm of a Beatle, or the conviction of a Stone. But Nirvana had all the creative freedom they wanted. Kurt wansn't a 'star' and never wanted to be; he just wanted to make a living at his job.
Kurt's controversies had just begun to be explored in this chapter as well. To sum up the experiences, Kurt had stated that 'I went to bed one evening, and everything was fine, but when I woke up the next morning, they said on the News that I was an escaped Nazi child killer.' Some of these controversies include lies to the press, his drug use, hatred of fame, issues with his child, fights with (at this time, wife) Courtney Love, and overall ill-health.
It is unknown as to why all these issues have been dug upon by the hounds of the media, so why do you think that they had kept inquiring to these things?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Kurt Cobain entry #3
This chapter begins by introducing a little known actress, Frances Farmer. Kurt Cobain had decided to read the story of her life and had gotten obsessed with her. They both shared similar personality traits. They both surprised poeple at a young age. The 'truth' of their lives may never be known, as said by William Arnolds. He also said that Cobain may have embodied the spirit of Farmer.
Cobain's other obsessions, later in life (near the end of his school career), made a turn towards the tragic, the grotesque, and even the distasteful. This was followed up by the example of Dolls. He had a fascination, and an unhealthy obsession with them. They had anded up hung from the ceiling, walls, and windows of a shared apartment between Cobain and friend Jesse Reeds. Cobain ended up getting kicked out for not paying rent, and called furtur Nirvana bassist, Chris Novoselic's, van, as well as the North Arberdeen Bridge, home. Kurt's mother, Wendy, was practicing the 'Tough love regimen' at this time, so she did not help, but knew the whole time.
Kurt's musical offerings are explored in this chapter as well. It discusses the different positions he experimented with, and some bands he played in. His first major band, Fecal Matter, played only a handful of gigs. Chris Novoselic had contacted Kurt over a tape Kurt had given him a long time ago. He said it was 'pretty good and they should start a band'. Kurt had also experienced his first run in with police at this time. When he failed to make his music the kind he wanted to listen to, he sought other forms of entertainment. He had vandalized a bank with highly offensive cracks. As for Nirvana, they were suceeding at a fast pace. Record offerings were coming in, contribution requests, and even their debut album, Bleach, was made. What alternative forms of entertainment would you find if you were in his position?
Cobain's other obsessions, later in life (near the end of his school career), made a turn towards the tragic, the grotesque, and even the distasteful. This was followed up by the example of Dolls. He had a fascination, and an unhealthy obsession with them. They had anded up hung from the ceiling, walls, and windows of a shared apartment between Cobain and friend Jesse Reeds. Cobain ended up getting kicked out for not paying rent, and called furtur Nirvana bassist, Chris Novoselic's, van, as well as the North Arberdeen Bridge, home. Kurt's mother, Wendy, was practicing the 'Tough love regimen' at this time, so she did not help, but knew the whole time.
Kurt's musical offerings are explored in this chapter as well. It discusses the different positions he experimented with, and some bands he played in. His first major band, Fecal Matter, played only a handful of gigs. Chris Novoselic had contacted Kurt over a tape Kurt had given him a long time ago. He said it was 'pretty good and they should start a band'. Kurt had also experienced his first run in with police at this time. When he failed to make his music the kind he wanted to listen to, he sought other forms of entertainment. He had vandalized a bank with highly offensive cracks. As for Nirvana, they were suceeding at a fast pace. Record offerings were coming in, contribution requests, and even their debut album, Bleach, was made. What alternative forms of entertainment would you find if you were in his position?
Friday, April 30, 2010
Kurt Cobain entry #2
Chapter 3 begins by stating some of the professions that Kurt Cobain had contemplated as a teen. He had thoughts of being the president but deemed it as "A stupid idea". He had also thought of being a stuntman for a while. He had pulled off such stunts as riding his bike off his roof, jumping out of windows onto matresses, and even taping firecrackers to a piece of metal, and then to himself, as he was curious of what being blown up was like! But, with Punk Rock flowing through his veins, he knew that his destiny was set. He was going to be a Punk Rock star. He knew the right people to do just that. This chapter also talks about Kurt and his personal relationships with friends and family. He had met the first rock band he had seen in person, he had worked out his relationship with his parents (somewhat), and had gained in friendships that he would cherish forever. His mother had remarried, but unwisely. Her new husband was a drunk and often came home intoxicated and with other women. Wendy, Kurt's mother, was frustrated. What could she do? She went out, got drunk, took one of her husband's guns with threats of shooting him, but couldn't. She, instead, had taken all the ammo and guns she could find, and threw them into a river. Kurt saw this as an opportunity to his own personal gain. He had paid his friends a few bucks to gather as much out of the river and give them to Kurt. He had then sold them and bought an amazing new amp. He was stoked at the new potential for noise. Kurt had even tried to join the Melvins, the first rock band he'd seen in person. That was nothing short of disastrous. He had forgot all the songs he'd wrote.
It was in Kurt's teenage years in which he had made a most valued friend, and started living his first lie. His friend, Myer Loftin, was a homosexual. Upon the discovery of his orientation to Kurt's peers, Kurt's valued friendship led to the notion that Kurt too was a homosexual. Kurt had ended up just puttting up with the verbal abuse, and even went along with it. He was "proud of the fact the [he] was gay, even though he wasn't". After some time, Kurt had enough with the abuse. He had, sadly, ended a valued friendship. This chapter has some definate meaning in literature. It makes a strong comment about human nature and homosexuality. It states homosexuality 'retains an absurd ability to horrify and shock people, and it's not only jerks who give the kneejerk response..." An allusion was made to when President Clinton suggested allowing homosexuals into the military. Do you believe Kurt was right to end the friendship with Myer, only because he was getting ridiculed?
It was in Kurt's teenage years in which he had made a most valued friend, and started living his first lie. His friend, Myer Loftin, was a homosexual. Upon the discovery of his orientation to Kurt's peers, Kurt's valued friendship led to the notion that Kurt too was a homosexual. Kurt had ended up just puttting up with the verbal abuse, and even went along with it. He was "proud of the fact the [he] was gay, even though he wasn't". After some time, Kurt had enough with the abuse. He had, sadly, ended a valued friendship. This chapter has some definate meaning in literature. It makes a strong comment about human nature and homosexuality. It states homosexuality 'retains an absurd ability to horrify and shock people, and it's not only jerks who give the kneejerk response..." An allusion was made to when President Clinton suggested allowing homosexuals into the military. Do you believe Kurt was right to end the friendship with Myer, only because he was getting ridiculed?
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Kurt Cobain entry #1
"Never Fade Away" is my chosen book. It is the biography of the legendary singer/guitarist/songwriter Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. The introduction of the book gets one hooked immediatly. It focuses on the dramatic events a few days prior to and after kurt's suicide at age 27. The second chapter focuses on Cobain's childhood and adolescent years. Kurt, as a child, is described as "always happy" and "hyperactive". Over time, he grew in wisdom and sensitivity far beyond himself. He also grew in hatred and mistrust for people. Kurt's parents divorced when he was a young child. This was ultimatly the event that changed him forever. He blamed it all on himself, and allowed shame and agony to tear him apart. Im curious, for those who can relate, what would you do in his position?
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