The song that killed Kurt Cobain

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” was released as the first single from the album Nevermind on September 10th, 1991, catapulting Nirvana to the most absolute global stardom and submerging Kurt Cobain in a spiral of pain and self-destruction.

Cobain could not stand fame and having become a mass idol. Humble and always attentive with his fans, he never forgot his humble origins and he barely showed up in Hollywood-style parties. Kurt Cobain hated the mainstream.

The irony of Smells Like Teen Spirit is that in the 90s Teen Spirit was the name of a female deodorant that Kurt often borrowed from his then girlfriend Tobi Vail (drummer from the punk band Bikini Kill). One day, Kathleen Hanna (singer of Bikini Kill and girlfriend of Dave Grohl) Vail's friend painted with spray on a wall: "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" trying to remind her that she smelled like a woman. Kurt loved it ... at least until he found out that Teen Spirit was a trademark.

Used to consume Methylphenidate from an early age (same classification as substances such as cocaine, morphine and amphetamine) to mitigate a diagnosed hyperactivity and attention deficit, Kurt was a fragile and hypochondriac person who grew up with constant fear of rejection and being humiliated. Addicted to heroin, depressive and with severe chronic stomach pains, there were many times when Kurt tried to take his own life before finally getting it in 1994.

Perhaps that is where all the anger with which Kurt sang Smells Like Teen Spirit came from. The song that captured the disappointment and existential frustrations of a large part of a generation of lost teenagers and would end up becoming an absolute reference of the Grunge phenomenon in the 90s.

Only 3 years after touching the sky, on March 1st, 1994 Nirvana played their last ever gig at Terminal 1 in Munich (Germany). They finished that concert with Heart Shaped Box, which ended up being the last song Nirvana ever played live.

At that moment, exhausted because of the European Tour, Kurt was suffering from bronchitis and Nirvana canceled the rest of their European dates and Cobain flew to Rome to recuperate. But in Rome, he had to be taken to the hospital after overdosing on champagne and Rohypnol. Days after he voluntarily entered at the Exodus Recovery Center in Los Angeles where he would escape on April 1. On the plane back to Seattle, he met Guns N 'Roses bassist, Duff McKagan, in the seat next to him. He would be the last person to see Cobain alive

For years Nirvana had declined millionaire offers to perform at the Lollapalooza festival, but in 1994 the band of Seattle had finally agreed to play and their name appeared as headliner together with Smashing Pumpkins and Beastie Boys. However, on April 4th of that year, amid strong rumors of separation Nirvana canceled their participation.

Just a day later, on April 5th, a 27 years old Kurt shot himself in the head in his house in Seattle, although it would still take 3 days for the world to find out, after being discovered by an electrician.

Smells Like Teen Spirit (Lyrics)

Song by Chris Novoselic, David Grohl and Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)

Load up on guns, bring your friends
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
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey

I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
Yeah, hey

And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it's hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial
A denial, a denial, a denial, a denial