"Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill spray painted “Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit” on Cobain’s apartment wall in reference to the women’s deodorant his girlfriend, Tobi Vail wore at the time."
This is incorrect, she wrote it in sharpie marker — that photo is spray painted on a wall outside. Also: it wasn't a ref to Tobi — apparently Kathleen saw it in the store earlier that day, but there are a few things that don't quite line up with her telling of the story. There's a substack article about it here: https://ifrqfm.substack.com/p/smells-like-bullshit
(and I hear there's going to be a follow-up in a couple weeks)
This was a great read. I’m happy that the world is recognizing Kurt Cobain for the ally he was.
While I couldn’t care less about Skid Row musically or personally, I did a bit of searching and was happy to find Sebastian Bach has shown some growth, changing out homophobic lyrics in old songs and walking out of at least one interview in protest of the host’s jokes. This made me happy, partially because he played such a lovable goofball on Gilmore Girls, but also because I try to celebrate these sort of redemption arcs. I think we see too many artists double down on their bigotry these days, mostly because we are so quick to shout them down and the other side is so quick to welcome them in with open arms.
Hi Michael, thanks for reading! I totally agree with you about the beauty of redemption arcs and it's nice that Bach is trying. Some of the articles about his redemption point to an interview that he cut short because the journalist was making gay jokes about Rob Halford of Judas Priest. It's progress that Bach would defend Halford but he needs to put in more work as well. In that same interview, he outed MTV VJ Kurt Loder, who is definitely NOT out. That is murky allyship. But, I'm also rooting for people who continue to try and learn and correct past mistakes. Fingers crossed that Bach continues the journey.
Although I wouldn’t consider myself a huge Nirvana fan, I really enjoyed their music back when it was released, starting with Nevermind. I didn’t realize Kurt’s (and the rest of the band’s) background and history of allyship, thanks for sharing. Listening to In Bloom has given me a hankering to go back and listen to their albums because it’s been far too long
I remember being 14 and reading the Rolling Stone book of Kurt Cobain interviews (circa 1997) and gleaning all of this - his quote about carrying on with a bisexual lifestyle always stuck with me - but it’s good to read it put so concisely. A gay “root” for sure.
I am, admittedly, nowhere near as knowledgeable about music as you, (but I know I like Nirvana) and so, so much of what you explained here was new information to me. And I really appreciate it.
I had no idea that, as you said, “...but also for the way he taught men to channel anger into allyship.”
Thank you for this article. I was in Nashville during the Nirvana days and I know nothing at all about them or about Cobain. I've not gone looking because I assumed there was nothing there that would speak to me, just a bunch of head banging grungies singing about things I wouldn't care about. You've schooled me.
Excellent piece. I was fully aware of Kurt's (and Dave and Krist, too to lesser degrees) outspoken allyship with marginalized communities, and it was a big reason I dug them so much. I wouldn't lump Van Halen in with the hair bands of the mid-late 80s, though. They were from LA, but IMO were not part of the dumb, sexist, misogyny train that bands like Guns 'n Roses, Skid Row, and others rode. (And Skid Row were from New Jersey, more connected geographically with Bon Jovi than Motley Crue. And musically too, as Bon Jovi's original guitarist became Skid Row's guitarist.)
Thank Steve! I really had no idea about Nirvana until recently and it's a truly pleasant surprise. I'd agree that Van Halen does stand in a slightly different place musically than a Poison or a Warrant but they certainly didn't set themselves apart where misogyny was concerned if you recall any of their music videos. I'd pick Diamond Dave over a Brett Michaels or Sebastian Bach any day but not because he was less sexist. He was definitely more entertaining and, unlike the others, I think he's now evolved into a better human being.
Ballot Measure 9 is one of those things that any Oregonian of a certain age remembers with crystal clarity. It’s hard to overstate how “big” of an issue (no pun intended) it was. The OCA would’ve been right at home with today’s Moms of Liberty or other similar groups. It might’ve been the first time a lot of people had been exposed to visceral hate/moralizing on that level.
I don’t remember the benefit show mentioned here, but plenty of PDX bands had something to say about the measure.
This post is weirdly timely for me because yesterday I both listened to Michael Stipe's May 2022 interview on Bullseye with Jesse Thorn (it was wonderful) AND I found out that Courtney Love is on the autism spectrum (like me), which caused me to go down a lovely Hole-hole and Nirvana-hole. I am glad you commented on Mark's blog and it led me here.
I'm so glad to hear that this resonated with you. I could dedicate an entire post just on Courtney and the misogyny she's faced by being Cobain's chosen partner. She's often blamed for his demise because men need a scapegoat for their pain, and it's often women who become the target. Thank you for reading and subscribing. If you look through my archives, I also wrote about Lesley Gore, who was responsible for us meeting today. https://songsthatsavedyourlife.substack.com/p/no18-you-dont-own-me-lesley-gore?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
Tremendous, as usual! I was far too young to grasp or recognize how bands like Nirvana stood up for and represented people from these marginalized groups, and how their countercultural aesthetic was more than creating an alternative to '80s glam rock.
I definitely did not grasp the message behind "In Bloom," which is my favorite Nirvana song. So, as always, I'm grateful for your vision and ability to take something I already knew and loved and breathe new life into it from a completely different perspective.
great post. thank you for reminding us (or illuminating for some) these facts.
minor typo correction which is in no way intended to detract from what you're saying here: zapata was in the gits, not grits. suspect this was a autocorrect error.
Wow, I was never a Skid Row fan but I didn't realize they were that awful
Ally.
Really great article and important take on Nirvana, IMO! Thanks for writing it.
This is a great article! Thank you so much for writing it.
"Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill spray painted “Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit” on Cobain’s apartment wall in reference to the women’s deodorant his girlfriend, Tobi Vail wore at the time."
This is incorrect, she wrote it in sharpie marker — that photo is spray painted on a wall outside. Also: it wasn't a ref to Tobi — apparently Kathleen saw it in the store earlier that day, but there are a few things that don't quite line up with her telling of the story. There's a substack article about it here: https://ifrqfm.substack.com/p/smells-like-bullshit
(and I hear there's going to be a follow-up in a couple weeks)
Thanks for this!
there's an update now: https://ifrqfm.substack.com/p/smells-like-an-update
This was a great read. I’m happy that the world is recognizing Kurt Cobain for the ally he was.
While I couldn’t care less about Skid Row musically or personally, I did a bit of searching and was happy to find Sebastian Bach has shown some growth, changing out homophobic lyrics in old songs and walking out of at least one interview in protest of the host’s jokes. This made me happy, partially because he played such a lovable goofball on Gilmore Girls, but also because I try to celebrate these sort of redemption arcs. I think we see too many artists double down on their bigotry these days, mostly because we are so quick to shout them down and the other side is so quick to welcome them in with open arms.
Hi Michael, thanks for reading! I totally agree with you about the beauty of redemption arcs and it's nice that Bach is trying. Some of the articles about his redemption point to an interview that he cut short because the journalist was making gay jokes about Rob Halford of Judas Priest. It's progress that Bach would defend Halford but he needs to put in more work as well. In that same interview, he outed MTV VJ Kurt Loder, who is definitely NOT out. That is murky allyship. But, I'm also rooting for people who continue to try and learn and correct past mistakes. Fingers crossed that Bach continues the journey.
Although I wouldn’t consider myself a huge Nirvana fan, I really enjoyed their music back when it was released, starting with Nevermind. I didn’t realize Kurt’s (and the rest of the band’s) background and history of allyship, thanks for sharing. Listening to In Bloom has given me a hankering to go back and listen to their albums because it’s been far too long
I remember being 14 and reading the Rolling Stone book of Kurt Cobain interviews (circa 1997) and gleaning all of this - his quote about carrying on with a bisexual lifestyle always stuck with me - but it’s good to read it put so concisely. A gay “root” for sure.
This was fantastic, Jami.
I am, admittedly, nowhere near as knowledgeable about music as you, (but I know I like Nirvana) and so, so much of what you explained here was new information to me. And I really appreciate it.
I had no idea that, as you said, “...but also for the way he taught men to channel anger into allyship.”
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this article. I was in Nashville during the Nirvana days and I know nothing at all about them or about Cobain. I've not gone looking because I assumed there was nothing there that would speak to me, just a bunch of head banging grungies singing about things I wouldn't care about. You've schooled me.
Excellent piece. I was fully aware of Kurt's (and Dave and Krist, too to lesser degrees) outspoken allyship with marginalized communities, and it was a big reason I dug them so much. I wouldn't lump Van Halen in with the hair bands of the mid-late 80s, though. They were from LA, but IMO were not part of the dumb, sexist, misogyny train that bands like Guns 'n Roses, Skid Row, and others rode. (And Skid Row were from New Jersey, more connected geographically with Bon Jovi than Motley Crue. And musically too, as Bon Jovi's original guitarist became Skid Row's guitarist.)
Thank Steve! I really had no idea about Nirvana until recently and it's a truly pleasant surprise. I'd agree that Van Halen does stand in a slightly different place musically than a Poison or a Warrant but they certainly didn't set themselves apart where misogyny was concerned if you recall any of their music videos. I'd pick Diamond Dave over a Brett Michaels or Sebastian Bach any day but not because he was less sexist. He was definitely more entertaining and, unlike the others, I think he's now evolved into a better human being.
Ballot Measure 9 is one of those things that any Oregonian of a certain age remembers with crystal clarity. It’s hard to overstate how “big” of an issue (no pun intended) it was. The OCA would’ve been right at home with today’s Moms of Liberty or other similar groups. It might’ve been the first time a lot of people had been exposed to visceral hate/moralizing on that level.
I don’t remember the benefit show mentioned here, but plenty of PDX bands had something to say about the measure.
This post is weirdly timely for me because yesterday I both listened to Michael Stipe's May 2022 interview on Bullseye with Jesse Thorn (it was wonderful) AND I found out that Courtney Love is on the autism spectrum (like me), which caused me to go down a lovely Hole-hole and Nirvana-hole. I am glad you commented on Mark's blog and it led me here.
I'm so glad to hear that this resonated with you. I could dedicate an entire post just on Courtney and the misogyny she's faced by being Cobain's chosen partner. She's often blamed for his demise because men need a scapegoat for their pain, and it's often women who become the target. Thank you for reading and subscribing. If you look through my archives, I also wrote about Lesley Gore, who was responsible for us meeting today. https://songsthatsavedyourlife.substack.com/p/no18-you-dont-own-me-lesley-gore?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
I wonder if Courtney and Yoko are friends. It seems like they had a similar difficult role.
I look forward to reading your whole Substack!
OMG, you read my mind. I almost also mentioned Yoko as a prime example.
Tremendous, as usual! I was far too young to grasp or recognize how bands like Nirvana stood up for and represented people from these marginalized groups, and how their countercultural aesthetic was more than creating an alternative to '80s glam rock.
I definitely did not grasp the message behind "In Bloom," which is my favorite Nirvana song. So, as always, I'm grateful for your vision and ability to take something I already knew and loved and breathe new life into it from a completely different perspective.
great post. thank you for reminding us (or illuminating for some) these facts.
minor typo correction which is in no way intended to detract from what you're saying here: zapata was in the gits, not grits. suspect this was a autocorrect error.
thanks again from seattle for this post!
Thank you so much for the correction! My autocorrect must've been hungry. I really appreciate your kind words and your eagle eye.