10 Kurt Cobain Song Influences
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Kurt Cobain, (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994) was musically influenced by the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Queen, KISS and the Pixies. Each of his songs was inspired by an experience, a person, a book, a band or another song. Here are ten songs written by Kurt Cobain, each with one of their influences.
Lithium – Nevermind
Nirvana on MTV Shows in Early 90sThis song came out of Cobain’s experience living with the born-again Christian family of his friend, Jesse Reed. When Kurt was a rebellious teen, his father placed him in the care of family and friends. For a time with a the Reeds, he became a devout Christian. But he later renounced Christianity and engaged in “anti-God” rants.
I found my friends
They're in my head
I'm so ugly, that's okay
'Cause so are you
Something in the Way – Nevermind
When Cobain left high school two weeks prior to graduation because he realized he didn’t have enough credits to graduate, his mother told him get a job or leave. She banished him after one week, and he remained homeless for a while, sometimes staying with friends, and sometimes hanging out under a bridge over the Wishkah River. That experience inspired this song.
Tap has sprung a leak
And the animals I've trapped
All become my pets
And I'm living off of grass
About a Girl – Bleach
Inspired by his conflicts with a girlfriend, Tracy Marander from Olympia, WA, who used to insist he get a job. She supported them both by working at the cafeteria of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, but he spent most of his time sleeping into the late evening, watching television and concentrating on art projects. Marander did not know this song was about her until after his death.
I do with an ear to lend
I do think you fit this shoe
I do but you have a clue
I'll take advantage while
Aneurysm – “B” side of Smells Like Teen Spirit / With the Lights Out (2004) / Deluxe Reissue of Nevermind (2011)
When Cobain met a punk rock girl named Tobi Vail, his infatuation made him so stressed and overwhelmed that he vomited. This event inspired the lyric, “Love you so much it makes me sick,” in “Aneurysm.”
Over do it and have a fit
Love you so much it makes me sick
Come on over and do the twist
Beat me outta me, beat me outta me
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nevermind
Girlfriend Tobi Vail wore the deodorant “Teen Spirit” and another friend of his spray painted “Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit” on his wall, as a joke. Cobain was unaware of the deodorant name, and mistook the slogan as having a revolutionary meaning.
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's over-bored and self-assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Aero Zeppelin – Incesticide
Cobain was a fan of classic rock bands from the 70s, like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Queen and KISS. He occasionally covered these bands and wrote this song as a tribute to Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith.
What's the reason in a rhyme if a plan means anything?
What's the meaning in a crime, it's a fan if anything?
Where's the meaning in a line? It's a brand, it's a brand
How a culture comes again, it's [Incomprehensible] yesterday
Heart Shaped Box – In Utero
This song was inspired by watching documentaries about children with cancer. He told biographer Michael Azerrad, “Anytime I think about it, it makes me sadder than anything I can think of.” The song’s name came from a heart-shaped box that Courtney Love had given Cobain. However, he had originally titled the song “Heart-Shaped Coffin.”
I've been locked inside your heart-shaped box for weeks
I've been drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black
Hey! Wait! I got a new complaint
Rape Me – In Utero
Cobain wrote it not only as an objective discussion of rape, but a metaphorical protest against his treatment by the media.
Pennyroyal Tea – In Utero
“Dave [Grohl] and I were screwing around on a 4-track,” said Cobain, “and I wrote that song in about thirty seconds. And I sat down for like half-an-hour and wrote the lyrics and then we recorded it.”
I have very bad posture
I sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
Distill the life that's inside of me
I sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
Scentless Apprentice – In Utero
Patrick Süskind’s novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer inspired Cobain to write the song. The book is an historical horror novel about a perfumer’s apprentice born with no body odor of his own but with a highly developed sense of smell, and who attempts to create the “ultimate perfume” by killing virginal women and taking their scent.
His smell smelled like no other
He was born scentless and senseless
He was born a scentless apprentice
Go away, go away, go away!
Dave
May 16, 2012 3:48 pm
You fail to mention how The Pixies influenced probably every song they did. I’ve heard Smells Like Teens Spirit was a direct ripoff of The Pixies sound.
dan the man
May 14, 2012 1:48 pm
loved the guy’s music…………..r.i.p. kurt.
Sughar
May 14, 2012 4:28 am
I just want to hear his voice again………
Sughar
May 13, 2012 12:33 pm
This is my first time seeing some of these videos……..love the “Something in the Way” video…..I miss Kurt…….
adam
April 20, 2012 1:10 pm
18 years, Wow, & I’m pretty sure Kiss sucks. http://youtu.be/degc9teWcFQ
Juan Carlos
March 9, 2012 12:21 pm
By the way great article!!!
Juan Carlos
March 9, 2012 12:11 pm
Christianity might have killed him sooner, but just like most Grunge bands from the 80’s and unlike the Heavy Metal bands from the 70’s/80’s, Nirvana was heavily influence by 60’s and 70’s classic rock artists like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix and CCR and all the Woodstock lineup, and some blues artists from the 50’s and before… According to Rolling Stone Magazine; Cobain, Along with Hendrix and Page, is one of the greatest guitarists of all time and one of the most influential after the 90’s. Cobain, whose controversial death is still an open source for debate, also liked Jazz music.
Igor Fedorov
April 23, 2012 4:52 pm
We should not forget about Black Flag and The Pixies… but he liked even King Crimson, so, having learnt that, it’s a bit difficult for me to estimate the scope of his musical competence, so to speak…
Truth
March 5, 2012 12:18 pm
He should have stuck to Christianity.
darkpenguin350
February 22, 2012 11:34 am
This is just terrible. Nirvana was influenced more by bands like Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, Melvins and the Butthole Surfers than by Queen or Kiss.
Taylor Mcilrath
April 18, 2012 8:04 pm
yeah , im pretty sure kurt hated kiss