some time ago I was surfing the web and discover something interesting about Kurt Cobain, something that tell many bands who influencend of Kurt Cobain with Nirvana. The article on this (beginning 10/29/90 (“Dave Grohl settles in”) and ending 8/30/92 (“The Reading Festival,” Nirvana’s final UK concert)) Anglo-centric 672 days of influence has behind the scenes anecdotes documenting the highs and the lows; it also has this list of songs “that inspired Kurt Cobain,” which the mag’s staff put together based on Cobain quotes and their editorial expertise. Here it is, with a recap of their reasoning for inclusion.
01. “Kool Thing” – Sonic Youth
Q included this because “the alternative rock heroes were instrumental in getting Nirvana signed by Geffen.”
02. “Debaser” – Pixies
As Cobain said, he “was basically trying to rip off the Pixies.”
03. “More Than A Feeling” – Boston
They’re thinking that “Smells Like Teen Spirit”’s opening bore a “strong resemblance” to this cut.
04. “Seasons In The Sun” – Terry Jacks
The first record Kurt ever bought.
05. “My Sharona” – The Knack
In Kurt’s band bio, he wrote that Nirvana sounded like “Black Sabbath playing The Knack.”
06. “Rise Above” – Black Flag
Q traces Kurt’s lyrical sense to this punk staple.
07. “Sweet Emotion” – Aerosmith
Kurt and Krist put out a band ad listing Led Zep and Aerosmith as key influences.
08. “Chord Organ Blues” – Daniel Johnston
We all know how much Kurt loved his Daniel tee.
09. “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” – Leadbelly
Covered during Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged appearance.
10. “I Saw Her Standing There” – The Beatles
From Meet The Beatles!, which made it into Kurt’s posthumously published Top 50 albums list.
11. “Lizzy” – Melvins
Kurt auditioned for a slot with the Melvins, but had a bout of the nerves and “fogot all the songs.”
12. “Lake Of Fire” – Meat Puppets
Included ’cause the band joined Nirvana for three songs at the Unplugged performance.
13. “The Revenge Of Anus Presley” – Butthole Surfers
Q says that the Surfers’ “outrageous lyrics appealed to Cobain’s often puerile sense of humour.”
14. “Search And Destroy – Iggy And The Stooges
Said Kurt: “Iggy Pop was my total idol.”
15. “Back In Black” – AC/DC
First riff 14-year-old Kurt ever learned!
16. “Black Sabbath” – Black Sabbath
Noted as a key influence on Bleach. Also noted for having inventing heavy metal.
17. “Fortunate Son” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Teeneaged Kurt and Krist once had a CCR tribute band called Sellout. Awwww.
18. “Anarchy In The UK” – Sex Pistols
Included for the thought that “A denial!” was a Gen X update of “Get pissed! Destroy!”
19. “Son Of A Gun” – The Vaselines
Nirvana covered three Vaselines songs in its day.
20. “My My Hey Hey (Into The Black)” – Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Kurt’s suicide note quoted Young: “It’s better to burn out than to fade away.”
so all the songs that has shaped the work of Nirvana's work becomes more valuable and fascinating, Kurt Cobain is a unique and interesting person.
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