Kurt Cobain: Journals

[Ender]

Those of you who are Nirvana fans (and anyone under the age of forty had damn well better be one!) should check out the recently published collection of Kurt Cobain's writings entitled JOURNALS. Featuring some 270 pages taken directly from twenty spiral ring notebooks left behind after his death (copied and reproduced right down to the original handwriting), JOURNALS is filled with diary entries, song lyrics, sketches, cartoons, advertisings for the band, letters written to friends, stream of conciousness essays, and tons of other cool crap from the recesses of one of the most talented young musician of this generation (and many others as well).

I just picked up mine the other day and am about a quarter of the way through it. I'm really impressed by the lengths they went to make the book as authentic as possible, and there's some very insightful material included. One of the journal entries features a story about Kurt's first suicide attempt back in High School, which is oddly hilarious in a very innappropriate way. A number of memorable quotes as well, my favorite of which has to be "Censorship is very American".

It's not perfect of course, since some of the entries seem pointless/filler, and there's a certain level of discomfort associated with perusing another person's private writings, but nevertheless it's a good read. I recommend picking it up along with Nirvana's new best hits CD which was released last week.

[Morgana]

I read an excerpt of one of Kurt Cobain's journal entries where he was saying how emotionally raped he felt because the public was intruding in on his privacy, and that pretty much convinced me not to read any of his further entries. I am a fan, Nirvana reflected my entire attitude back in the early 90's, and no doubt, I am curious. But I just don't think having his private thoughts revealed to the world is something Kurt Cobain would've wanted. I simply can't read his journals.

[Ender]

Yeah, I was very conflicted about reading them as well. I try to justify it in my mind ("He's dead, after all, I doubt he'll voice any objections..."), but ultimately there is a feeling of guilt that comes with reading the entries. I can live with it, but if others can't I don't blame them.

The cover of the book (a reproduction of the cover of one of his actual notebooks) has "If you read, you'll judge." written across it.
The opening page also has a small note reading "Don't read my diary whem I'm gone. ...Ok, I'm going to work now, when you wake up this morning please read my diary, look through my things, figure me out." Precisely who that message was intended for I'm not sure, but it does make for an interesting forward and gives you something to think about on the issue of privacy.

[countchocula]

I'm with Morgana. They're referred to as private journals for a reason. This is just a way for someone to cash in on Kurt's legacy, as is the greatest hits release. There's really no point in buying that album unless you're just getting into Nirvana. One unreleased track doesn't give me enough incentive to pick it up, especially since the unreleased track in question has been released and excessively played on MTV/VH1.

[Grebdron]

I have to say, I'm under 40 and not particularly a fan of Kurt Cobain. He did not necessarily speak to my generation. I think Nirvana's was the first music that made me think it was too loud and I couldn't undertand the words.;) I personally think Dave Grohl is more talented.

But I have conflicting thoughts about this whole thing. Yes, they were his private journals, and it sickens me that someone (Courtenay?) is profiting from it. I would never spend money on this shit, just for that reason.

But, I'm really sick to fucking death of these "tortured" artists feeling "emotionally raped" when the public is "invading" their private lives. They know god-damn well what they're in for when they get into that business. They strive for the publicity, and fan adoration, then piss and moan about it when they get it. They want it exclusively on their terms. Bullshit!

Nobody forced them to get into that business. Flip fucking burgers for a living if you don't want fanatics. And if you really must "release the tortured artist" inside you, write fucking poetry. There's a million unpublished, starving poets. They are releasing what's inside them, and don't have to deal w/Joe Public.

Rant over.:D

[Ender]

Look, i didn't buy the book because I wanted to invade Cobain's privacy, I bought it because I wanted a better understanding of who he was and what his life was like.

[Grebdron]

I'm not ranting at you. I'm railing on the celebs who want their fame and welath, on their terms only.

[Ender]

Yeah, I realize that, I was just staging a general defense for myself (which I didn't really feel the need to do before starting this topic...).

[moby is still alive]

Ender:

If you wrote your deepest darkest thoughts into a journal, you wouldn`t want your sister/brother/parents reading the damn thing, so why is it different for anyone willing to shove out $20?

[Reigh Kaufman]

I keep a journal, and for reasons other than to keep up with what I did or did not do. The reason is simple: a) I may want to remember certain days because b) I may one day want people to read my story. I presume Kurt didn't anticipate it going the way it did and therefore thought it best to chronicle his life thus far (even pre-nirvana when he was aspirational). So I have no problem with it being published. I won't buy it because we didn't get his permission...but I won't blame anyone who does. We are the fans. We are the legacy. We carry the ideas and songs forward now that Kurt himself cannot.

[Ender]

Well yes, I have a journal, and yes, I don't want anyone reading through it. But after I'm dead I really won't care. They could copy if off and hand it out as a pamphlet at my funeral ala' CRUEL INTENTIONS. From my POV, what's the point of writing down something that no one is ever supposed to read? Why not just keep it to yourself if you don't want it to be known instead of putting it down on paper, a medium specifically designed to be picked up and read by others? If someone wrote a biography or made a biopic about Kurt featuring the same details given in JOURNALS, would anyone object? But that's my view and doesn't neccesarily reflect that of Kurt Cobain, or anyone else living or dead for that matter.

My advice: At least look at the damn book before you go judging anyone, myself included.

[Morgana]

I've kept a journal for years, I have stacks and stacks of notebooks. I write more for my own self-reflection though. And once I am gone, I want those notebooks burned. I'd burn them myself, but I keep thinking maybe some day I'll get into a nostalgic mood and will want to reread them.

I think everyone's brought up some great points. The issue of celebrities and their right to privacy comes up over and over again. Where to draw the line?

[electriclite]

This is exactly why I don't ahve a journal. If you want your thoughts private you don't write'em down on paper to make them easier to read.

My sister has a journal, and my mom is always sneaking into it because since my sister has shut her out of her business this is all my mom has to know what she's doing or thinking. Of course my sister is always pissed.

Well genius you have 3 options 1.) don't write down your private thoughts and actions where people can have access to them 2.) Clue people in on yourself or 3.) Write obscurely or metaphorically.

But that's just my idea.

So what if the guy complained about his privacy? Who said you have to automatically give in willingly to the invasion of your privacy? Some people in the business handle it better than others, and most just are woefully under prepared for it. Kurt was one of those people and I don't think he imagined he would be as popular and as celebrated as he was/is.

From what I've read Kurt was just one of those very sensitive individuals who would've been happy just living in his garage making music, and just couldn't handle the weight of fame.I also heard that Kurt was actually thinking of getting out of the business, but obviously not soon enough.

[BubbaStrangelove]

Grebdron - Cobain, I think, may have been very naive. I don't think he expected anything to happen like it did.

Imagine if you had a band like Nirvana at the end of the 80s, then by 91 you were knocking Michael Jackson off the charts. That is pretty damned unexpected.

Whereas, if you had a band like N'Synch, you would probably be a bit more prepared for such fame.

I think Cobain tried to play along with everything, but in the end, just gave up/freaked out - whatever.

But there is no doubt in my mind that Cobains success surprised him as much as it did everyone else. I don't think he was writtiing "Floyd The Barber" thinking, "Hehe - I'll make millions with this."

[moby is still alive]

nobody writes in a journal/diary thinking one day it`ll be published, all they want is to be able write down their thoughts on whatever, and not having ppl peeking through, whether its their parents or their fans, there`s no excuse...

if you buy this book, that goes to show & proves, that ppl are sick that they would actually want to know every little minute detail about someones life, regardless of the invasion of their privacy...

[Grebdron]

Originally posted by electriclite
From what I've read Kurt was just one of those very sensitive individuals who would've been happy just living in his garage making music, and just couldn't handle the weight of fame.

But my point is that nobody forced him to be "in the business." He was perfectly capable of just living in his garage making music, or writing poetry, or weaving baskets. And if he was schizophrenic or manic-depressive he was in the somewhat unique position of being able to afford all the frigging treatment he could have ever needed. I just have no sympathy for these tortured geniuses. And if he was thinking of getting out of the business, just get out.

[RogueSpear]

I don't think this is something I would really want to read. I was and still am a very big Nirvana fan and I just wouldn't feel right reading something that was not meant for me to read. Especially since Kurt is dead and has no control whatsoever over this.

Besides I feel I already know plenty about Kurt the person and the band having read Michael Azzared's book Come As You Are which was written before Kurt's suicide. It's a very good book that gets into the backstory and everything else that went on with Nirvana. Kurt really was a very tortured soul.

And, Bubba Strangelove was correct. Kurt never expected to be successful, in fact I don't really even think he wanted to be successful. It just sort of happened and he went on with it even though he didn't want to. In his suicide note Kurt basically wrote that he could no longer go about being a rockstar because he hated it so much. But unfortunately Nirvana was so successful that there was no way they could get out of it. At least that's what I got from the book.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. I doubt I would ever read these journals. I think I already know enough about the subject. Besides, some things we just aren't meant to read.

[Grebdron]

Originally posted by RogueSpear
Nirvana was so successful that there was no way they could get out of it. At least that's what I got from the book.

I don't think I buy that. Stop making music. It really is that simple. Cat Stevens did it. Take your millions that you've already made and go buy an island. Live out your days in obscurity.

[Ender]

Originally posted by BubbaStrangelove
Grebdron - Cobain, I think, may have been very naive.

Looking through JOURNALS, I can say definitively that yes, in many ways he was.

Originally posted by moby is still alive
nobody writes in a journal/diary thinking one day it`ll be published.

I do. The difference is that in my case it's just wishful thinking.

Originally posted by moby is still alive
if you buy this book, that goes to show & proves, that ppl are sick that they would actually want to know every little minute detail about someones life, regardless of the invasion of their privacy....

First things first, I am not a sick person, and I'll thank you to keep the name calling to yourself. This is not "EVERY INTIMATE DETAIL OF HIS LIFE!" these are carefully selected writings, many (maybe even most) of which were meant for public consumption (song lyrics, poems, short stories, promotional material, etc.).

And no one has answered my question yet. If a biography or biopic of Kurt Cobain were made which told the same details of his life (which is the point of a biography, is it not?), would that be "wrong" too? Are movies like MAN ON THE MOON or HENDRIX also invasions of privacy? How about books like THE DIARY OF ANN FRANK or MARTIN LUTHER KING: HIS LIFE? Why not? They showcase intimate details of a persons life and past. Isn't it the same thing? The only thing that changes is who's doing the talking.

[BubbaStrangelove]

With no disrespect to Cobain, but I think if he really, really, really didn't want anyone to read his journal --

He would have buried it before he shot himself.



Let's remember that this is the guy who addressed his fans in a suicide note.


And Grebdron - Yeah, couldn't get out. He was under a record contract, and there were even legal issues after his death since he was in the middle of a contract. I've seen countless interviews where he's said that he's trying to adopt a new style just to spite the record label who is forcing him to make more albums. And yeah, of course he never had to sign a label, but mistakes happen.

I don't think he wanted much sympathy. He was a chronic bitch, and he always acknowledged that. The first lines of his last album were, "Teenage angst has paid off well, now I'm bored and old."

Regardless of whether you liked him, we are talking about a real person, and not some superficial cardboard cutout that's only playing the role of tormented artist.

I mean - Salvador Dali, Picasso, Sid Barlow, Cobain.... I don't have sympathy for what these artists went through, but I am damn sure in no position to downplay their strife. Maybe their problems aren't the types that would detriment me, but hey - we all go through our own shit. Look at Winona.