Not a day goes by in music where Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain isn’t mentioned in some capacity. Twenty years ago today, Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle as a result from a probable self-inflicted shot to the head presumably a few days before.
At the time of his death, Nirvana was in the pre-stages of working on their third studio album in addition to Cobain attending a rehab facility in California for heroin addiction. Never one to capitalize on his fame, he was often uncomfortable with being an idol in addition to battling depression, alcohol and drugs.
In the years since his death, drummer Dave Grohl formed the highly successful Foo Fighters; bassist Krist Novoselic became a Washington State politician while occasionally recording songs for the Foo Fighters. Courtney Love, the widow of Cobain and singer of Hole continuously preserves (at whatever cost) the legacy of her late husband.
Nirvana will be inducted into this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York City on April 10.
While the world is taking to social media and to Viretta Park in Lake Washington to mourn the 20th anniversary of the grunge legend’s passing, another grunge legend also died in Seattle on this day. Alice In Chains original frontman Layne Staley may have died in 2002 but his death proved to be another blow to Grunge’s legacy, as we knew it.
Staley had death hovering over him for years. After years of drug abuse along with the death of his fiancé and numerous attempts in rehab, he decided to step out of the spotlight for the exception of contributing to the super groups Class of 99 and Mad Season.
Those who saw him on occasion said he had deteriorated significantly and became desolated. He had dropped to around 80 pounds, lost several teeth, became sickly pale and gaunt. In Staley’s last interview before with Adriana Rubio before his death, he mentioned, “I know I’m near death. I did crack and heroin for years. I never wanted to end my life this way. I know I have no chance. It’s too late. I never wanted [the public’s] thumbs’ up about this f---ing drug use. Don’t try to contact any AIC (Alice in Chains) members. They are not my friends.”
His body was discovered on April 19 where cocaine was found along with two crack pipes and spray paint cans. An autopsy determined that Staley died of a drug overdose.
In the years since his death, Alice In Chains decided to come out of hiatus and recruited William Duvall as their new lead singer. They have since released two albums: Black Gives Way to Blue and The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here.
Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley were a rare breed. They wore their emotions on their sleeve and never attempted to hide their anguish in their voices nor in their lyrics.
I can continue to go in depth in regards to their deaths and their contributions to music but I must end it on this note: We still remember their respective legacies to this day simply because they were two talented musicians that brought a generation of confused and broken souls to the forefront and slowly but inadvertantly, helped them find solace .
