Smells Like Teen Spirit

I am a huge Nirvana's fan. 

Like any fan, you would like to know as much as possible of your idol. 

Kurt Donald Cobain was born on 20 February 1967 at Grays Harbor Hospital in Aberdeen, Washington, the son of waitress Wendy Elizabeth (born 1948) and automotive mechanic Donald Leland Cobain (born 1946). Making them 19 and 21 respectively, when Kurt was born. 

Kurt's first home was at 2830 1/2 Aberdeen Ave Hoquiam, Washington, US. He stayed in the smaller unit. 

The smaller Hoquiam house was a revolving door of different tenants. Most people don't stay there for more than a few months (1st unit). In fact, a few weeks after Kurt was born, he moved into the bigger house at the back house. (Pic - 2nd unit). It was literally twice the size. The rent for bigger house was an extra USD $5 but was a lot of money back then for someone not earning much and just starting a family, according to Don Cobain (Kurt's dad).

They stayed there until September 1969 when the house on 1210 East First Street Aberdeen, Washington, US was purchased for USD$ 7,950. This would officially make it the 3rd house Kurt stayed in. But it would be one of the most famous of his homes. Kurt stayed there until his parents divorced when he was about 8 years old. According to American Spy Fox. Wendy and Kimberly Cobain continued staying there.

Their first performance was at a house party at Tony Poukkula (a member of the band Laytem) home sometime in March 1987, Nussbaum Road, Raymond, Washington 98577. Kurt (vocals, guitar), Krist Novoselic (bass) and Aaron Burckhard (drums).

This performance was arranged by their friend and defector manager at the time, Ryan Aigner. Amazingly enough, it was Ryan who arranged for everything, transport, equipments and petrol money. The band merely needed to show up and perform. This was so early in their career that they band did not have an official band name yet. Tony friend Jeff recorded the performance on his Sony walkman.

This is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFqujYRPSx4

This is indeed remarkable as most bands do not have their first performance being recorded. Songs performed were Aero Zeppelin, If You Must, Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin Cover), How Many More Times (Led Zeppelin Cover), Mexican Seafood, Pen Cap Chew, Spank Thru and Hairspray Queen. 

This is the link to the documentary at a later date:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f64jjc9nQCI

Kurt & Kris became friends when attending Melvin practices at Dale Clovers house. 609 West Second Street Aberdeen. 

The other places they would frequently practice is at Krist Mom's Maria's Hair Salon at 107 S. "M" Street, Aberdeen. Rehearsals were upstairs on the 2nd floor. (pink building)

Their first show as the band Nirvana was on 19 March 1988. Comprising of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Foster. Before that landmark show as Nirvana, they went by several names including Skid Row, Ted Ed Fred, Pen Cap Chew, and Bliss among others.

For a time (1989 to 1991) Kurt resided at 114 1/2 Pear Street Olympia, Washington with then girlfriend Tracy Mirander and later with Dave Grohl. Kurt would later date Tobi Vail. It was a 3 separate unit dwelling. Kurt wrote a large majority of the most famous Nirvana songs at this home.  It was here that Kathleen Hanna from Bikini Kill using a sharpie wrote graffiti on the wall that Kurt "Smells Like Teen Spirit". The house was erected in 1914.

1st unit is where Kurt & Tracy initially moved in. Subsequently, the 2nd bigger unit.

The 3rd unit is where the graffiti was written on the wall. The rest as they say is history

The ABC news on the reasoning behind the name of Smells Like Teen Spirit:

https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/kathleen-hanna-on-how-she-named-smells-like-teen-spirit/10269194

In 1852 Pioneer square was the second neighbourhood established by European American settlers in what would become Seattle. 

OK Hotel at 212 Alaskan way S, Seattle, Washington, 98104, US had a famous club in its heyday. The hotel was build by Harry Buttock in 1917. The club was open in 1987 until 2001, when the Nisqually earthquake damaged the building and forced the club to close.

 

17 April 1991, Nirvana debuted "Smells Like Teen Spirit" here. The gig was Nirvana's attempt to raise enough gas (petrol / fuel) money for a trip to California to record Nevermind - Steve Freeborn, the co-owner of the club along with Tia Matthies. Among the notable performance there were Goo Goo Dolls, Janes Addiction, Pearl Jam, Queens of the Stone Age, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Tad, No Doubt and many more.

The link to the debut of Smells Like Teen Spirit: 

44.10 minutes into the track

https://youtu.be/GP6aVTUGKbU

This place was amply researched by Charles R Cross who wrote an article on this and also the book Heavier Than Heaven. As of 2022 this place is now a vegan grocery store called Isle of plants.

Nirvana’s last ever gig took place on 1 March 1994, at Terminal Einz, Munich, Germany. 

In between they had played a total of 405 gigs and concerts. 

They only produced 3 studio albums before Kurt's untimely demise.

• Bleach under record label Sub Pop. Released on 15 June 1989. Format: CD / Cassette / LP.
• Nevermind under record label DGC. Released on 24 September 1991. Format: CD / Cassette / LP.
• In Utero under record label DGC. Released on 13 September 1993. Format: CD / Cassette / LP.

The 171 Lake Washington Boulevard East Seattle, is the home where Kurt's body was found on 8 April 1994. 

Two fun facts.

* Kurt Cobain wrote with his right hand but played guitar left handed. This was confirmed by his uncle Gary Cobain. 

No idea why Kurt played the guitar left handed. It could be that he was naturally left handed, but was taught to write with his right hand. Thus, many people think he was right handed.

Most left handers are forced to do a lot of things with their right hand just because of society. 

Or it could be that some of his favourite guitarist were left handed. Jimi Hendrix, Tony Iommi, Paul McCartney, Otis Rush, Albert King and Bobby Womack.

The theory that Kurt was actually left handed but was forced to do certain things including writing right handed was supported by the flooring video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLMkb8qD5Xg

* Jack Ending speaking of the genus and economics of Kurt Cobain. It was evident in the song School. A whole song that was a hit with only 3 lyrics.

Facts were obtained from various sources including Brian Peterson, Charles R Cross, Steve Freeborn, Scott on Tape, Daniel Sarkissian and American Spy Fox.