(Credits: Far Out / Alamy)
Wed 11 February 2026 16:06, UK
In isolation, the grunge movement seems rooted in sluggish rock sensibilities and a brooding attitude. However, there’s actually a level of authenticity embedded deep within that appears to have only sprung from the brilliant mind of Kurt Cobain.
Many grunge players no doubt revolutionised the scene, but Cobain’s ability to transform his personal experiences into art came second to none. As Henry Rollins poetically put it, “Kurt Cobain… tapped into a vast chunk of American youth who were depressed, bummed out, and here’s a guy who looks like them, comes from them, sings for them, about them, and to them.”
He was a one-man zeitgeist moment who refused to be commercial. He was something new. As Rollins concluded, “He was a brilliant musician and a very talented, honest voice, in a very corrupt media. Nirvana is a band in my mind that never compromised, they said here it is and we’re always ready for you to leave it.” The same can be said for the music that inspired him.
The previous decade had witnessed an enhanced war on commercialism, with many rock virtuosos and hair metal figures either attempting to stand in direct opposition to the failings of the music industry or pandering to it. There was, of course, a hefty handful choosing to do both, which came in the form of appearing rock ‘n’ roll for commercial benefits, but the arrival of grunge forced many to slow down and reassess.
Cobain’s melancholic disposition was never a pretence. While many rock innovators and subsequent grunge pioneers adopted a ‘fake’ façade of intrigue and mystery to enhance their own appeal, Cobain was very much what you see is what you get. Faced with the traumas of a troubled upbringing and unimaginable physical and mental pain in adulthood, Cobain’s only avenue for expression and relief became his music.
(Credits: Far Out / Alamy)
Although dark, most of Nirvana’s discography reflected his inner turmoil, presenting many of his inner, darkest thoughts without any sugar-coating or deceiving filter. This made him one of the most raw and honest creative visionaries ever to exist and enabled the grunge movement to peer into the mainstream, forever influencing the cultural sphere with more value placed on gritty realism.
However, Cobain also quietly admired other musical artworks, which likely gave him a sense of comfort in the solitude, reminding him that he never truly experienced loneliness, pain, and disillusionment alone. Some of these favourites were captured by Gilbert Blecken, who took a photograph of Cobain when he once asked him to write down ten of his favourite albums. Funnily enough, Cobain handed him a list of 11 because “he felt he had to namecheck Mudhoney.”
Of course, he was talking about Mudhoney’s Superfuzz Bigmuff, the record that was released to poor success but soon became heavily associated with the debut that heavily influenced the Seattle grunge scene. Many of Cobain’s favourites reflected his appreciation for the real game-changers, including Dying for It, which masterfully blended different facets of existence with charm and occasionally humour.
Cobain’s love for this EP was no secret, particularly when the band began covering several of their songs around the time of release. In fact, Nirvana often explained, in rare truthful interview moments, how they felt indebted to the pioneering Mudhoney who effectively held the door open for them in the world of gruesome grunge.
Many of Cobain’s choices are, unsurprisingly, albums that broke the mould, like Pixies’ Surfer Rosa and Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks, alongside Breeders’ Pod and the Stooges’ Raw Power. For Cobain, great punk and rock albums laid it all bare and could be as “sloppy” as a musician wanted as long as it was executed with “passion.” This is why he became endeared to the Pistols, who, in his mind, created “the best production of any rock record I’ve ever heard.”
The musician allowed his love for these albums to factor into his own writing, especially choices like Raw Power, which undeniably helped to shape the sound and feel of albums like In Utero. While some appear a little off-kilter, even for Cobain, many mirror his affinity with authentic and thought-provoking trailblazers and those who place the same amount of significance on doing whatever you please, regardless of the status quo.
His concern was with sincerity. And whether you were sincerely joking or sincerely singing the blues, Cobain was interested.
Kurt Cobain’s favourite albums:Dying For It – The VaselinesScratch Acid – Scratch AcidPod – BreedersSurfer Rosa – PixiesButthole Surfers – Butthole SurfersRaw Power – the StoogesBurning Farm – Shonen KnifeGreat Expectations – Jad FairLead Belly’s Last Sessions – Lead BellyNever Mind the Bollocks – Sex PistolsSuperfuzz Bigmuff – Mudhoney