Biography
Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – c. April 5, 1994) was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana. Cobain formed Nirvana with Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1985 and established it as part of the Seattle music scene, having its debut album Bleach released on the independent record label Sub Pop in 1989. After signing with major label DGC Records, the band found breakthrough success with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from its second album Nevermind (1991). Following the success of Nevermind, Nirvana was labeled "the flagship band" of Generation X, and Cobain hailed as "the spokesman of a generation". Cobain however was often uncomfortable and frustrated, believing his message and artistic vision to have been misinterpreted by the public, with his personal issues often subject to media attention. He challenged Nirvana's audience with its final studio album In Utero (1993). During the last years of his life, Cobain struggled with heroin addiction, illness and depression, his fame and public image, as well as the professional and lifelong personal pressures surrounding himself and his wife, musician Courtney Love. On April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle, the victim of what was officially ruled a suicide by a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. The circumstances of his death have become a topic of public fascination and debate. Since their debut, Nirvana, with Cobain as a songwriter, has sold over 25 million albums in the US alone, and over 50 million worldwide.
Acted in 9
2020s
- 2025
BUSCANDO MI NIRVANA
Movie
2010s
- 2018
Kurt Everywhere
Movie
2000s
- 2004
Nirvana: With the Lights Out
Movie
1990s
- 1997
- 1994
Nirvana: Terminal 1, Munich
Movie
- 1993
Nirvana: Veterans Memorial Coliseum Phoenix, Az
Movie
- 1991
Nirvana: Astoria Theater London
Movie
Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Kurt Cobain
- 1990
Sound 4
2020s
- 2027
The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All
Theme Song Performance
- 2024
Hippo
Music
1990s
- 1993
Nirvana: Unplugged In New York
Songs, Vocals
- 1991
Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Vocals
Wrote 2
2010s
- 2011
Nirvana: Live at the Paramount
Author
1990s
- 1991
Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Lyricist
Appearances53
2020s
- 2026
- 2025
- 2023
I Hate Myself and I Want to Die
Self (archive footage)
The Teacher
Self (archive footage)
- 2022
Foo Fighters: One Less Hero
Self (archive footage)
- 2021
Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff
Self (archive footage)
Grunge: A Story of Music and Rage
Self (archive footage)
When Nirvana Came to Britain
Self (archive footage)
- 2020
70 Years of Youth Revolt
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
2010s
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2015
Soaked in Bleach
Self (archive footage)
- 2012
Too Young to Die
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
Hit So Hard
Self (archive footage)
- 2011
Nirvana: Live at the Paramount
Self - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses
Self
- 2010
Nirvana: Live On Air
Self
2000s
- 2009
Nirvana: Live at Reading
Self - Vocals, Guitar
Loki: Arnaldo Baptista
Self (archive footage)
- 2007
Welcome to My Castle!
Self
- 2006
Nirvana The Path from Incesticide to In Utero
Self
All Apologies: Kurt Cobain 10 Years On
Self
- 2005
The Work of Director Anton Corbijn
Self (segment "Heart-Shaped Box")
The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'
Self (archive footage)
Classic Albums: Nirvana - Nevermind
Self (archive footage)
- 2004
Kurt Cobain: The Early Life of a Legend
Self
(This Is Known as) The Blues Scale
Self
- 2001
VH1 News Special: Grunge
Self (archive footage)
25 Years of Punk
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1998
Kurt & Courtney
Self (archive footage)
- 1997
- 1996
- 1994
Nirvana: Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!
Self - Vocals, Guitar (archive footage)
Freaks, Nerds & Weirdos
Self
- 1993
RuPaul's Christmas Ball
Self
Nirvana: Unplugged In New York
Self - Vocals, Guitar
MTV Unplugged: Nirvana
Self
Nirvana: Live and Loud
Self - Vocals, Guitar
Nirvana: Unplugged in New York - Rehearsal
Self - Lead Vocals, Guitars
Nirvana: Live at Hollywood Rock Festival
Self
- 1992
1991: The Year Punk Broke
Self
- 1991
Nirvana: Live in Amsterdam 1991
Self - Lead Vocals, Guitars
Nirvana: Live at the Paradiso
Self
Nirvana: Teatro Castello, Rome, Italy
Self
Sub Pop Video Network Program 1
Self (archive footage)
- 1990
Nirvana - Live on Leeds Polytechnic, UK, 1990
Self - Vocals, Guitar
1980s
- 1989
Nirvana: Rockin’ T.P., Santa Fe 1989
Self
- 1984
