Kurt Cobain's Biography

Kurt Donald Cobain was born in Grays Harbor Community Hospital, Aberdeen, near Seattle, on 20 February 1967.

Kurt Cobain's parents divorced in 1976 and in 1979 his father, Don, petitioned the Superior Court for custody of Kurt, who ended up staying with various relatives.

In 1983, Kurt Cobain met Chris Novoselic and they went around Aberdeen making graffiti.

In May 1985, Cobain dropped out of Aberdeen High School and tried heroin for the first time. Two year later, Cobain, Novoselic and Aaron Burckhard form various groups and finally settle down as Nirvana, which was to become the main catalyst of the 'grunge scene'.

A year later, Dale Crover replaced Burckhard as drummer and this role in Nirvana would go through a number of changes.

Burkhard comes and goes again and is eventually replaced by Chad Channing. In November 1988 Nirvana released their first single. "Love Buzz/Big Cheese". "Bleach" their debut album was released in June 1989.

In 1991, Nirvana left Sub-Pop and signed for Geffen. "Nevermind" was released and became a landmark record and in January 1992 it reached Number One. A month later Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love on 24 February.

In 1993, "In Utero" was released, but Cobain was going through well-documented difficulties and in May he was admitted to hospital in Seattle having had a heroin overdose.

In March 1994, Kurt Cobain overdosed again - on champagne and tablets in what was thought to be a suicide attempt.

On 5 April, Kurt Cobain killed himself.

May 2005 saw the premiere of a film, Last Days, by director Gus Van Sant, which was inspired by Cobain and the Seattle music scene of the time.

Kurt Cobain came top of Forbes's sixth list of the highest earning dead celebrities after Courtney Love sold a 25% stake in his song catalogue.