Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana

Last updated

Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana
Come As You Are The Story of Nirvana (cover).jpg
First edition cover
Author Michael Azerrad
LanguageEnglish
Subject Biography
Publisher Doubleday
Publication date
October 1993
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (paperback)
Pages344
ISBN 0-385-47199-8

Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana is a 1993 biography of the American rock band Nirvana written by music journalist Michael Azerrad. [1] [2] It was written before the suicide of band leader Kurt Cobain. Azerrad met with the members of the band and conducted extensive interviews about the band and its members' histories.

Contents

Writing and release

In late 1992, Azerrad was contacted by Cobain and his wife Courtney Love, who asked him to write a book about Nirvana. [3] Over the next six months, Azerrad conducted interviews and research for the book in Seattle area. [3] Following the completion of the book, Doubleday requested that Azerrad allow Cobain to read the book out of courtesy; Cobain was allowed to read the manuscript before publication, but was not allowed to change any of its content apart from correcting minor factual errors. [3] Azerrad and Cobain met at the Warwick Hotel in Seattle over the course of three days to review the manuscript. [3] Cobain enthusiastically approved of Azerrad's work, telling him "That’s the best rock book I’ve ever read" once he had finished reading it. [3] Doubleday scheduled the book's release for October to coincide with the release of Nirvana's third album In Utero . [3]

Following Cobain's death, Azerrad wrote a new final chapter for the second printing, released in 1994.

Radio & Records reported in May 1994 that Cobain's family would not let the book's publisher, Doubleday, sell the movie rights to the book. [4] In June 1994, Gavin Report reported that Azerrad had turned down several offers to sell film rights to his book. [5]

Azerrad worked with filmmaker AJ Schnack to use the 25 hours of audio interviews that Azerrad had conducted with Cobain for the book as the basis for a documentary on Cobain's life. [6] [7] Titled Kurt Cobain: About a Son , the movie debuted at festivals in 2006.

The 30th Anniversary Deluxe edition, The Amplified Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana, was released on October 24, 2023. Called "a book within a book", this edition is nearly double the length of the original biography. It includes hundreds of new essays and extensive annotations. [8] [9]

Critical reception

In a review for Billboard by Chris Morris, he said that "A wizardly combination of smart journalism and intelligent analysis, "Come As You Are" is as good as rock bios get". [10] Entertainment Weekly gave the book an 'A' rating, writing that it "delivers the goods". [11] People called it "a fascinating study of Cobain". [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Cobain</span> American rock musician (1967–1994)

Kurt Donald Cobain was an American musician who was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and a founding member of the grunge band Nirvana. Through his angsty songwriting and anti-establishment persona, his compositions widened the thematic conventions of mainstream rock music. He was heralded as a spokesman of Generation X and is widely recognized as one of the most influential alternative rock musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nirvana (band)</span> American rock band (1987–1994)

Nirvana was an American rock band formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. Founded by lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic, the band went through a succession of drummers, most notably Chad Channing, before recruiting Dave Grohl in 1990. Nirvana's success popularized alternative rock, and they were often referenced as the figurehead band of Generation X. Despite a short mainstream career spanning only three years, their music maintains a popular following and continues to influence modern rock culture.

<i>Bleach</i> (Nirvana album) 1989 studio album by Nirvana

Bleach is the debut studio album by American rock band Nirvana, released on June 15, 1989, by Sub Pop. After the release of their debut single "Love Buzz" on Sub Pop in November 1988, Nirvana rehearsed for two to three weeks in preparation for recording a full-length album. The main recording sessions for Bleach took place at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle, Washington between December 1988 and January 1989. It is the only Nirvana album released on the Sub Pop label and their only studio album to feature drummer Chad Channing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come as You Are (Nirvana song)</span> 1992 single by Nirvana

"Come as You Are" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by frontman and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the third track and the second single from the band's second studio album Nevermind, the single released in March 1992. It was the band's second and final American top 40 hit, reaching number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100, and second UK top 10 hit, reaching number nine on the UK Singles Chart. The single reached the top 10 in eight countries and the top 40 in eleven further countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Bloom</span> 1992 single by Nirvana

"In Bloom" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It appears as the second track on the band's second album, Nevermind, released by DGC Records in September 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rape Me</span> 1993 song by Nirvana

"Rape Me" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the fourth song on the band's third and final studio album, In Utero, released in September 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lithium (Nirvana song)</span> 1992 single by Nirvana

"Lithium" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It appears as the fifth track on the band's second album, Nevermind, released by DGC Records in September 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sliver (song)</span> 1990 single by Nirvana

"Sliver" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic. It was first released as a non-album single by the band's then record label, Sub Pop, in September 1990. The same recording was re-released on the compilation album Incesticide by DGC in December 1992, and a new music video, directed by Kevin Kerslake, was released in May 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennyroyal Tea</span> 1993 song by Nirvana

"Pennyroyal Tea" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the ninth track on the band's third and final studio album, In Utero, released in September 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drain You</span> 1991 song by Nirvana

"Drain You" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist, Kurt Cobain. It is the eighth track on their second album, Nevermind, released in September 1991. The song was released as a promotional single in late 1991, and also appeared as a b-side on UK retail editions of the first single from that album, "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">On a Plain</span> 1991 promotional single by Nirvana

"On a Plain" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist, Kurt Cobain. It is the 11th track on their second album, Nevermind, released in September 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Apologies</span> Song by Nirvana

"All Apologies" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It appears as the final track on the band's third and final studio album, In Utero, released by DGC Records in September 1993. The song closes the American version of the album, while non-US versions of In Utero feature an additional song, "Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through the Strip", which begins after approximately 20 minutes of silence on the same track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">About a Girl (Nirvana song)</span> 1989 song by Nirvana

"About a Girl" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the third song on their debut album, Bleach, released in June 1989.

"Negative Creep" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist, Kurt Cobain. It is the seventh song on their debut album Bleach, released in June 1989.

<i>Journals</i> (Cobain) Collection of writings and drawings by Kurt Cobain

Journals is a collection of writings and drawings by American musician Kurt Cobain, who was the lead singer and guitarist of Nirvana. Though the content is undated, it is arranged in approximately chronological order. It was published in hardcover by Riverhead Books in November 2002, and in paperback by Riverhead Books in November 2003. Journals opened at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list (non-fiction). It contains scrawled notes, drafted letters, shopping lists, and drawings by Cobain.

"Scentless Apprentice" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain, drummer Dave Grohl, and bassist Krist Novoselic. It is the second track on their third and final studio album In Utero, released in September 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Azerrad</span> American musician and writer

Michael Azerrad is an American author, music journalist, editor, and musician. A graduate of Columbia University, he has written for publications such as Spin, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. Azerrad's 1993 biography Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana was named by Q as one of the 50 greatest rock books ever written. His 2001 book Our Band Could Be Your Life, a collection of profiles on prominent indie rock bands, received similar critical acclaim.

"Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It is the fifth song on their third and final studio album, In Utero, released in September 1993.

<i>Live at the Paramount</i> (video) 2011 video by Nirvana

Live at the Paramount is a live video and album by American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 2011. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc as part of the 20th anniversary of the band's second album and mainstream breakthrough, Nevermind.

<i>The Vigil</i> (1998 film) 1998 Canadian film

The Vigil is a 1998 comedy film about a group of young people who travel from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada to Seattle in the United States to attend the memorial vigil for Nirvana band leader Kurt Cobain in 1994. It stars Donny Lucas and Trevor White.

References

  1. ↑ "Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana". Penguin Random House Canada. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  2. ↑ Walls, Seth Colter (September 27, 2011). "Kurt Cobain Thought Nevermind Was Nirvana's Worst Album". Slate . Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Azerrad, Michael (September 22, 2021). "My Time with Kurt Cobain". The New Yorker . Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Screen Scene" (PDF). Radio & Records . May 27, 1994. p. 21. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ "No Rush for Cobain Story on TV" (PDF). Gavin Report . June 10, 1994. p. 6. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  6. ↑ Post-Intelligencer, Seattle (January 11, 2008). "The real Kurt Cobain". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  7. ↑ Linden, Sheri (February 17, 2008). "Audio tracks help paint the portrait". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  8. ↑ "The Amplified Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana". Barnes & Noble . Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  9. ↑ "The Amplified Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana". HarperCollins . Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ Morris, Chris (November 6, 1993). "In Print" (PDF). Billboard . p. 54. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  11. ↑ Appelo, Tim (November 19, 1993). "Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  12. ↑ Staff, People (April 18, 1994). "Picks and Pans Review: Come as You Are: the Story of Nirvana". People . Retrieved December 14, 2022.


Edouard Manet - Le chanteur espagnol.jpg

This article about a biographical or autobiographical book on musicians is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.