The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain

Last updated
The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain
The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain cover art.jpg
Directed by John Dower [1]
Written byJohn Dower
Produced by BBC
Starring Kurt Cobain
Release date
  • 2006 (2006)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain is a 2006 BBC documentary about the last hours of the life of Kurt Cobain who was the front man of American grunge band Nirvana. [2]

Contents

Premise

The documentary details the last 48 hours of the life of Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain leading up to his death in April 1994, including details such as how he used to frequent the Aurora Avenue in Seattle to use drugs. [3] The documentary was directed by John Dower whose works also included the boxing documentary Thrilla in Manila , [1] and Live Forever: The Rise and Fall of Brit Pop . [4] The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain includes interviews with stars such as Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan, [4] who coincidentally sat next to Cobain on a flight back to Seattle shortly before he committed suicide. [5] [6] [7] The documentary also features interviews with Charles R. Cross who wrote the Cobain biography Heavier Than Heaven , Cobain's grandfather Leland Cobain, Sub Pop photographer Charles Peterson, Chad Channing who was Nirvana's drummer before being replaced by Dave Grohl, producer Jack Endino, and Melody Maker journalist Everett True. [8]

The last 48 hours of Cobain's life was subsequently not detailed in his official 2015 HBO documentary, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck . [9]

Reception

In 2015, The Hairpin ranked The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain sixth in their A Definitive Ranking of Every Kurt Cobain Movie Ever Made. [10] In a 2014 review, Open Culture stated that "Much more than its title suggests, the hour and twenty minute doc works well as a biography of Cobain and a brief history of Nirvana and the Seattle scene that birthed them". [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Grohl</span> American rock musician (born 1969)

David Eric Grohl is an American musician. He founded the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter. From 1990 to 1994, he was the drummer of the grunge band Nirvana.

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

Kurt Donald Cobain was an American musician. He 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 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duff McKagan</span> American musician (born 1964)

Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan is an American musician. He was the bassist of hard rock band Guns N' Roses for twelve years, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. McKagan rejoined the band in 2016, following their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<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.

<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.

<i>Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana</i> Biography by Michael Azerrad

Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana is a 1993 biography of the American rock band Nirvana written by music journalist Michael Azerrad. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suicide of Kurt Cobain</span> Death of Nirvana singer and guitarist

On April 8, 1994, Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and guitarist of the American rock band Nirvana, was found dead at his home on Lake Washington Boulevard in Seattle, Washington. Forensic investigators and a coroner later determined that Cobain had died on April 5, three days prior to the discovery of his body. The Seattle Police Department incident report stated that Cobain was found with a shotgun across his body, had suffered a visible gunshot wound to the head and that a suicide note had been discovered nearby. Seattle police confirmed his death as a suicide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loaded (band)</span> American hard rock band

Loaded is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1999. Since 2001, the band's line-up has included vocalist and rhythm guitarist Duff McKagan, lead guitarist Mike Squires and bassist Jeff Rouse. Since 2009, Isaac Carpenter has been the band's drummer, replacing Geoff Reading.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Peterson (photographer)</span> American photographer (born 1964)

Charles Peterson is an American photographer well known for his work with the Seattle independent record label Sub Pop and for capturing the then-newly emerging grunge scene in images. His photos are presented in the movie Kurt Cobain: About a Son.

<i>Sick</i> (Loaded album) 2009 studio album by Loaded

Sick is the second studio album by American rock band Loaded. It is their first album since reforming after they went on hiatus in 2002. It was recorded and produced by Martin Feveyear at Jupiter Studios in Seattle, Washington, and was released on March 30, 2009, in Europe and April 7 in the US, through Century Media Records. Writing for the album began in 2008 when vocalist Scott Weiland departed Duff McKagan's other band, Velvet Revolver, in April of the same year. Recording for the follow-up to their 2001 debut album Dark Days began and was completed in June 2008.

<i>Kurt & Courtney</i> 1998 documentary film

Kurt & Courtney is a 1998 British documentary film by Nick Broomfield investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Kurt Cobain, and allegations of Courtney Love's involvement in it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Rouse (musician)</span> American bassist (born 1969)

Jeff Rouse is an American musician who is best known as the bassist for the rock bands Alien Crime Syndicate and Duff McKagan's Loaded. In September 2014, it was announced Rouse was the newest member of Fozzy. Previously, Rouse was a member of a number of Seattle-based groups such as Vendetta Red and Sirens Sister while he also has his own solo project titled To the Glorious Lonely and The Gemini Affair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaac Carpenter (drummer)</span> American drummer (born 1979)

Isaac Heath Carpenter is an American musician, producer, and audio engineer. He is best known as the former drummer for the alternative rock group Gosling as well as its previous incarnation Loudermilk. Currently, Carpenter is the drummer for Awolnation. He previously played with Duff McKagan's Loaded as well as Adam Lambert's live band and he has performed and/or recorded with The Exies, Ours, Seaspin, Black Lab, Marion Raven, Tyga and Unified Theory among others.

Martin John Feveyear born late 1966 is a British record producer and audio engineer based in Seattle, Washington. Beginning as a singer-songwriter and musician, Feveyear soon began recording work for artists in both the UK and US before moving to Seattle at the age of 25. Together with Christian Fulghum, he opened Jupiter Studios in Seattle in 1996. He has since worked with artists and groups — producing, engineering, arranging, mixing, mastering and additional instruments — such as Mark Lanegan, Mudhoney, Duff McKagan's Loaded, Kings of Leon, The Presidents of the United States of America, Queens of the Stone Age, Amber Pacific, Jesse Sykes, Sirens Sister, Green Apple Quick Step, Nevada Bachelors, The Minus 5, and Brandi Carlile, among others.

<i>The Taking</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Loaded

The Taking is the third studio album by American rock band Loaded. It was produced by Terry Date in Seattle, Washington, and was released on April 19, 2011, through Eagle Rock Entertainment. Writing for the album began in 2009, while the band was touring in support of Sick. It was the first Loaded release, since Episode 1999: Live, without drummer Geoff Reading, who, after departing the band, was replaced by Isaac Carpenter in September 2009.

<i>Soaked in Bleach</i> 2015 American docudrama directed by Benjamin Statler

Soaked in Bleach is a 2015 American docudrama directed by Benjamin Statler, who co-wrote and produced it with Richard Middelton and Donnie Eichar. The film details the events leading up to the death of Kurt Cobain, as seen through the perspective of Tom Grant, the private detective who was hired by Courtney Love to find Cobain, shortly before his death in 1994. It also explores the theory that Cobain's death was not a suicide. The film stars Tyler Bryan as Cobain and Daniel Roebuck as Grant, with Sarah Scott portraying Courtney Love and August Emerson as Dylan Carlson.

<i>Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck</i> 2015 American documentary about Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck is a 2015 American documentary film about Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain. The film was directed by Brett Morgen and premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. It received a limited theatrical release worldwide and premiered on television in the United States on HBO on May 4, 2015. The documentary chronicles the life of Kurt Cobain from his birth in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1967, through his troubled early family life and teenage years and rise to fame as frontman of Nirvana, up to his suicide in April 1994 in Seattle at the age of 27.

<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.

<i>Kurt Cobain: Moments That Shook Music</i> 2024 British TV series or programme

Kurt Cobain: Moments That Shook Music is a BBC documentary that first aired on April 13, 2024, in the United Kingdom to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Kurt Cobain who was the lead singer and guitarist of American rock band Nirvana.

References

  1. 1 2 Siegel, Tatiana (April 15, 2015). "Tribeca: 'My Scientology Movie' Filmmakers Were Confronted by Church Members During Shoot". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  2. "The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain". BBC Online . Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  3. Seminara, Dave (March 25, 2014). "Chasing Kurt Cobain in Washington State". The New York Times . Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "DUFF MCKAGAN Featured In New KURT COBAIN Documentary". Blabbermouth.net. February 13, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  5. "Duff Mckagan Says He Was One of The Last People to See Kurt Cobain Alive". Blabbermouth.net . October 24, 2004. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  6. Robinson, Joe (October 23, 2011). "Duff Mckagan Heckled About Kurt Cobain at Book Signing". Ultimate Classic Rock . Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  7. Cross, Alan (July 10, 2014). "GnR's Duff McKagan Recalls Kurt Cobain's Last Ever Airline Flight". A Journal of Musical Things . Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  8. "The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain - Full Cast & Crew". TVGuide.com . Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  9. Littleton, Cynthia (November 25, 2014). "'Humanistic Portrait' of Kurt Cobain Coming in HBO, Universal Pictures Intl. Docu". Variety.com . Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  10. Slone, Isabel (April 24, 2015). "A Definitive Ranking of Every Kurt Cobain Movie Ever Made". The Hairpin . Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. "Watch the Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain on the 20th Anniversary of the Musician's Suicide". openculture.com. April 5, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2020.