Kurt Cobain: Oh Well, Whatever, Nevermind (American Rebels)

Written by a high-school acquaintance of Kurt Cobain, this biography in the new American Rebels series is an unusually intimate account of the rock legend. A resident of Cobain’s hometown, Burlingame supports his well-researched portrait with personal interviews with Cobain’s family, friends, and other local acquaintances. His descriptions of Cobain’s darker struggles, such as drug use, are frank, and he occasionally interrupts the text with a few didactic cautions about drug use. He also delves into controversial theories about Cobain’s death, including a key investigator’s belief that Cobain was murdered. Thorough endnotes, a well-rounded bibliography, and a discography conclude this detailed title, which stands out from many series biographies because of its insider’s appreciation for the musician and his legacy. Gillian Engberg

This review is from: Kurt Cobain: Oh Well, Whatever, Nevermind (American Rebels)

I was waiting to buy this book until I read some reviews, then I saw a review online at the Nirvana Fan Club and decided to give it a shot. This book is written for an audience of teens and older so I wasn’t expecting any new stories and was surprised that there are. There’s a saddening story about Kurt’s mom’s reaction told by someone who was with her just after she heard about Kurt’s death. There are some photos I’ve never seen before and pictures of two things Kurt drew, which I found most fascinating and there’s an update on a memorial committee in Kurt’s hometown that’s trying to honor him there. The author knew Kurt when they were younger and the book says he is part of that group.

Kurt Cobain  American Rebels 2 Kurt Cobain: Oh Well, Whatever, Nevermind (American Rebels)

The book is a high-quality hardback and isn’t dumbed down like I thought it might be. If you want to know every detail of Kurt’s life, there are other books out there that do the job better (though often in error or by making things up). But if you want to know “just the facts” and learn some new stories along the way you should buy this. I was pleasantly surprised with its quality and was happy to add it to my Cobain collection.