Nirvana’s legacy remains interesting

[Dylan]

www.easternecho.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?3667


Nirvana’s legacy remains interesting


By Joel Adkins / Columnist
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2005


Nirvana. Anybody even remotely knowledgeable about music knows at least the rough tale of Nirvana. Long have I waited to write an article about the band awaiting a news story that would make such a piece both relevant and timely. Then last week while I sat idly on the second floor of Pierce Hall, I was thumbing through the pages of January’s edition of Spin magazine when I noticed that Courtney Love, Kurt Cobain’s widow, was one of the faces that appeared on the cover. Great disdain tugged at the pit of my stomach, as it always does when I catch a glimpse of this music industry sleeper. It was then I decided it was time to write that article.

Nirvana has enjoyed much musical praise but the band and it’s members have certainly not gone without a share of criticism, the most vile of which originates from individuals who paint Nirvana’s lead singer and guitarist, Cobain, as nothing more than a drug-abusing loser. Of course such sentiments generally come from the mouths of people who dub an 18-year-old who barely, if even, scrapped through high school, has no future prospects but to get drunk and fat, a hero because, like cattle, they were herded into the military.

Kurt Cobain rose from the armpit of Washington State, a small logging town called Aberdeen, and with his band mates became one of the greatest musical acts of this generation, if not among the most prolific throughout all of music history. On Nov. 23, 2004 the long awaited Nirvana box set, With the Lights Out, was released. The set contains three CDs and a DVD and has been met with much success both critically and commercially. Nearly 11 years after Cobain’s death and the subsequent dismantling of the band, Nirvana still garners record sales, a feat only a handful of musical acts have ever been able to accomplish.

There is, however, a more important story in all of this and that is precisely the reason I have longed to write an article concerning the band. Cobain’s death in April of 1994 was ruled a suicide and for the most part this conclusion has prevailed. Since his death, there have been those that suspected foul play but their voices perpetually fell upon deaf ears. For a number of years I had heard bits of the murder theories but I, like most, brushed them off as the creation of overzealous fans.

I have read a fair amount about the band and its lead singer, including the biography written by Charles Cross Heavier Than Heaven and the book simply entitled Journals, a work featuring writings from Cobain’s various personal journals. Neither of these books support or even suggest that Cobain was murdered, although the biography by Charles Cross was approved by Courtney Love and therefore would certainly not promote a murder theory as she is the prime suspect in most fans’ minds.

It wasn’t until last June when I came across a book titled Love and Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain that I changed my mind. Authors Max Wallace and Ian Halperin wrote the book and upon beginning the book I found myself reading with a very skeptical eye, but Wallace and Halperin tackled the subject with such passion and insight it was hard not to believe their claims. They had set out as two music journalists on a mission and that mission was to uncover the truth; what they found was quite shocking.

As I do not have unlimited space I’ll ask you to be patient and await next week’s column where I’ll highlight the main arguments for their theory. Obviously I won’t be able to cover them all because as the saying goes, it could fill a book, and in this case already has. My only hope is that some inkling of the truth will be spread to a wider audience.

[Danielle]

The point of this article to detail and document a writers escalating belief in the idea that Kurt was murdered. If that is what the Nirvana legacy now is confined to then I am disgusted. I am willing to admit that these theories are responsible for that and it dilutes true art in the process. Culturally this has huge implications and that is why I whole heartly disagree with it.

Most of the information in Love and death and Tom Grants webpage is circumstancial at best or it is missing information. Even Hallperian and Wallace came out recently and stated they thought it was possible that the fingerprints were smudged off the gun with the recoil firing. The problem with those books and webpages is you miss the inaccuracies because the overall portriat is so absorbing, It's just manipulative writing and bias idealogy.

[HippieChild]

Have you read Love & Death yet? If not, I suggest you do before commenting on "missing items" from the book. It's quite thorough; intriguing, telling and NEVER out-and-out accuses Courtney of murder. It interviews various people, including experts in toxology and leaves the readers to draw their own conclusions. You can find it on Amazon.com at a good price; I got mine for only 10 dollars. (plus shipping and handling.)

BTW, nothing about the"Chim-Chim" note. I doubt it's very existance. Sounds like a story Courtney planted.

[HippieChild]

Regarding the "smudged" fingerprints. Yes, it's possible, but the gun was handled by three people; the saleman, Dylan, and Kurt. All the prints were smudged? I doubt it. Also, it doesn't account for the lack of fingerprints on the pen and why the SPD didn't test the rootbeer can, which was still half full. (or empty, depending on your thinking) Nor does it account for the combed hair and the odd positioning of the gun and incapacitating dose of heroin. Too many questions.

And what about Courtney's perfect make-up in the Rome incident? She thought he was dead so she put on her make-up? What say, Danielle? No woman, no matter how beautiful "wakes up" at 4am in perfect make-up. Then there's the unaccounted for 2 hours before she called for an ambulance. NOBODY from the desk received a 4am call. It was between 6 and 630 am. I'm afraid to ask, but what's your explaination of that?

[Danielle]

HippieChild said:

Have you read Love & Death yet? If not, I suggest you do before commenting on "missing items" from the book. It's quite thorough; intriguing, telling and NEVER out-and-out accuses Courtney of murder. It interviews various people, including experts in toxology and leaves the readers to draw their own conclusions. You can find it on Amazon.com at a good price; I got mine for only 10 dollars. (plus shipping and handling.)



BTW, nothing about the"Chim-Chim" note. I doubt it's very existance. Sounds like a story Courtney planted.

Mmm yes I suspected this. I am quiet clued into Love and death thankyou and if there is no missing information than why on earth did they fail to mention in the book that the fingerprints may have been smudged or that toxicologists that had spoken to couldn't all agree on the side effects of the heroin in Kurts blood? Yes missing information and they recentley admitted that.

Further, history and indeed this case due to the fact that it is now history is bias in it's own nature. When you view a document you must ask yourself why this person had written it and what they believed personally will always shine through . In Hallperian and Wallaces' case their bias is purely to create a book directed at their target auidence of people who believe Kurt Cobain was murdered. They don't need to suggest that Courtney Love is responsible for Kurt Cobains death due to the fact that impression is already in the mind of 80% of the readers. When viewing historical sources you must have caution. Bias always has a role and in Hallperian and Wallaces' case the main issue here is still money. Due to the fact they are publishing a book I would guarantee they would like to see it succeed, there is nothing wrong with this but the above information and more was editted form the text. I will not view such a document with picking up on the slight but crucial inaccuraties that continue to be present within the text.

Bias is everywhere,even in pro Courtney Love texts. I view everything I read with suspicion.

[Danielle]

HippieChild said:

Regarding the "smudged" fingerprints. Yes, it's possible, but the gun was handled by three people; the saleman, Dylan, and Kurt. All the prints were smudged? I doubt it. Also, it doesn't account for the lack of fingerprints on the pen and why the SPD didn't test the rootbeer can, which was still half full. (or empty, depending on your thinking) Nor does it account for the combed hair and the odd positioning of the gun and incapacitating dose of heroin. Too many questions.



And what about Courtney's perfect make-up in the Rome incident? She thought he was dead so she put on her make-up? What say, Danielle? No woman, no matter how beautiful "wakes up" at 4am in perfect make-up. Then there's the unaccounted for 2 hours before she called for an ambulance. NOBODY from the desk received a 4am call. It was between 6 and 630 am. I'm afraid to ask, but what's your explaination of that?

Too many questions and you just keep firing them at me in an attempt to make me come and side with you in the nice little Kurt was murdered circle. Hippiechild my study of historical documents has proved one thing to me that evidence is susceptible to bias, editting, digital enhancement and many other factors. One look at Soviet Russia under Stalins iron fist will present photographs that attempt to link him with Lenin and they're fake. In this day and age it is easier to do as well due to digital technology and computer art plus much more. One suggestion.

Where's the police documents about the fingerprints? I have the other but I can't locate that.

[Danielle]

I will also add about the gun/pen issue lacking fingerprrints. By the murder theories own admission these weren't checked for fingerprints until a month after the events on 5th of April. Most people would believe this would warrant a murder theory to grow and connect it's self with corruption but I offer a different view. It is far more everyday and mundane than rock n roll mythology. But possibly this not a murder issue but a law enforcement issue of under funding. Kurt Cobain wouldn't be the only person in the world and indeed America to suffer the fate of a low funded police force that has neglected work accidently. This happens quiet regularly with low funding and inadequate suppiles and would adventually connect itself with a high profile case.
Although that may sound 'way out' and bias to murder theoriest this happens everyday, mainly to everyday people. I'm not saying this is what happend I am just offering it up for consideration.

[HippieChild]

Mmm yes I suspected this. I am quiet clued into Love and death thankyou and if there is no missing information than why on earth did they fail to mention in the book that the fingerprints may have been smudged or that toxicologists that had spoken to couldn't all agree on the side effects of the heroin in Kurts blood? Yes missing information and they recentley admitted that.

LOL, like shooting fish in a barrell. You didn't read it or you'd know it's mentioned. Page 227:

One of Harrison's arguments is particularly compelling: Why were there no legible fingerprints found on the shotgun? As Harrison says, "Dead men don't wipe fingerprints off theeir own guns."

Indeed, the lack of fingerprints has always been one of the anomalies of the case. When the police dusted for fingerprints, they actually fouond four latent prints. But, according to the deputy medical examiner, Nikolas Hartshorne, "We know those prints belonged to Kurt because we had to jpry the gun out of his halnd when we found him." Yet nowhere else on the shotgun was there a single print found, legible jor otherwise.

SPD spokesman Sean O'Donnell had a ready explanation for the lack of fingerprints: "I think it's clear that anyone who is familiar with firearms and their use would know that as they hold a weapon, that frequently that weapon will move in their hand. Additionally, when that weapon is discharged, that causes a jerking motion, which causes the hands to move over the surface of the weapon. And all those factors could cause any fingerprints that may have been left on the weapon to be unusable.

We consulted a retired FBI fingerprint specialist named Max Jarrell to ask him whether O'Donnell's explanation made sense. He was not convinced. "Your more likely to have trouble lifting prints off a handgun than a shotgun," Jarrell explained. "With a shotgun, there's a much larger printable surface. Your much more likely to find some usable latent prints. I find it unlikely that his hand would have wiped off all the fingerprints after he fired it."
Moreover, Hartshorne himself had declared that, because of the cadaveric spasm, Kurt's hand immediately gripped the barrel of the gun after firing it. Therefore it couldn't have slid over the surface of the weapon as O'Donnell described. Also unexplained is the fact that the police found no jprints on the pen thrust through the so-called suicide note.

Caught ya!! If you read the book you'd have read this part and known the prints were well mentioned. And you still don't account for the missing two hours and the full make-up in Rome. What's wrong, Danielle? No ready explaination? Or are you backed into a corner?

Also if you had read the book there is a whole chapter devoted to the heroin in Kurt's blood and it's incapacitating side effects, along with the "tolerance theory." My, my, not so "clued in" as you thought, are you?

[HippieChild]

Where's the police documents about the fingerprints? I have the other but I can't locate that.

go to: www.justiceforkurt.com/investigation/documents/shotgun_fingerprints.shtml

These are the pictures of the actual police reports regarding the shotgun prints. 4 latent sets of prints, no more.

This isn't Stalin or Russia or any of those examples you sited. This is a musician who died under suspicous circumstances and people want to know what happened. If "low funding" is the reason for shoddy police work, as you say, that's all the more reason why the case should be reopened. Also, it's no excuse. In america everyone, even the dead, have civil rights and it sounds like Kurt's were violated.

I'm not "trying to get you into my neat little Kurt was murdered circle." I'm trying to get you to see how ridiculous your reasoning is. Every argument has been debunked by people on the board, not just me, and quite easily, yet rather admit that there may at least be something to it, as logic dictates, your excuses become lamer and lamer. CHIM-CHIM? Give me a break.

[Andrea]

Danielle wrote: The point of this article to detail and document a writers escalating belief in the idea that Kurt was murdered. If that is what the Nirvana legacy now is confined to then I am disgusted. I am willing to admit that these theories are responsible for that and it dilutes true art in the process. Culturally this has huge implications and that is why I whole heartly disagree with it.

Danielle, I'm a little shocked and disgusted at what you wrote. Does human life have no value for you? You only seem to be concerned about Nirvana's image and cultural impact (regardless of thinking about the analogy that I presented about the Monroe legacy - I don't believe that the murder theory detracts from Nirvana's musical contributions in any way possible) to such an exact that you callously fail to considered whether it is of any value to determine whether Cobain was murdered or not. Don't you want to know like the rest of us? Maybe you have your ideas so tidily wrapped up that it's not important to you to realise that if Kurt was murdered then 'culturally' he's been deprived of continuing his musical contribution... Are 'cultural implications' more important to you than human life itself?

Secondly, no harm can come from a journalist investigating the facts and doing some research of his own to either reject or endorse the murder theory. It's precisely this kind of attitude that keeps the case from being re-opened. What it needs is for the case to be blown wide open so that Courtney, Cali, Santa Claus or whoever, can either be vindicated of tried for murder. What's wrong with that? Axxx

[Danielle]

I've never personally insulted any of you and that isn;t fair to say I don't respect human life. Of course I do but you're asking me to think Kurt was murdered and I'm not going to. I'm offended and you just don't like people who disagree with you. I am not going to discuss this topic if it isn't an intelligent and unbias dabate because I won't allow you to insult me. I've never done that to you. I care about the cultural impact of these theories but not more than Kurts life. But Kurt ended that by his hand anyway. How dare you? And what would you guys know sitting around posting about a theory that thrives on the internet and nowhere else, is buildt on nothing but circumstantial evidence and is obviously conducted by a man who didn't do his job properly to begin with. f**k you, you don't say things like that just because people have a different opinion to you.

[Andrea]

Good morning Danielle, Wow Danielle! I must have hit a nerve (or maybe even a main artery!) to warrant such hostility in your reply. But you have to take responsibility for the stuff that you write, and I’m sorry that I offended you, but your post did create that impression.

I have no problem with people who disagree with the murder theory (which is why I welcomed the journo’s thoughts on it- rather than dissing his interest) so long as they present a coherent argument and back-up their statements with sources (which you often don’t).

While I do enjoy reading your posts, I can totally understand why some people including myself at times can find them infuriating and annoying as you have a tendency to make wild sweeping statements that are often not very accurate. For example; Elvis being a cultural joke - The Brits might also disagree with you, since the re-release of Jailhouse Rock is currently at No.1 in their music charts! Yes in 2005!

And another; ‘theory that thrives on the Internet and nowhere else’ – you forget books, 2 documentaries, numerous radio and TV interviews, and news media – I wouldn’t really call these ‘nowhere else’!!! See what I mean? Axxx

From the British BBC site:-

www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/top40/

&

Wednesday, 12 January, 2005
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4167511.stm

Elvis set to make chart history

Elvis is on course to notch up his 20th chart topper
Elvis Presley is on course to claim the 1,000th UK number one chart single, according to the latest sales figures.

A reissue of his song One Night is outstripping sales of nearest rivals the Manic Street Preachers by as much as 9-1 in some music retailers.

The late singer's 18 chart toppers are being re-released week by week in the year he would have been 70.

Presley's Jailhouse Rock currently holds the top spot, originally a number one in 1958.

It is predicted to slip to number five when the new chart is announced on Sunday.

If One Night tops the chart, it will be the legendary star's 20th number one - three more than The Beatles.

Ahead 'by a mile'

Major music stockists have said that Elvis is comfortably outselling its rivals and will "definitely" claim the number one spot.

A spokesman for Virgin Megastores said the record is ahead of the Manics and fellow rival the Killers "by a mile", and that they are looking to increase their stocks of the track.

Woolworths also reported that Elvis is doing "tremendously well", shifting nine times more than his nearest competitor.

By 1977, Elvis already had an illustrious chart career behind him

HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said that Elvis was "pretty certain" to claim the historic chart topper.

"It's fantastic news given that the honour could have fallen to an unknown artist or a pretty bland single," he said.

"With the obvious exception of The Beatles, there is no other act in the history of popular music which has the iconic and enduring appeal of Elvis," added Mr Castaldo.

The late musician's record company BMG are also offering artwork and a collectors' box for the number one reissues, which is proving popular with commited fans of Presley.

[HippieChild]

Wow Danielle! I must have hit a nerve (or maybe even a main artery!)

Ooh, what a mess. I'll get the bandaids. ;D

[Andrea]

Hippiechild, better assess the cultural implications before you reach for those bandaids...

[HippieChild]

Hippiechild, better assess the cultural implications before you reach for those bandaids...

ROFLMAO!!! Maybe some good old fashioned leeches.....