Kurt Cobain - Kurt Cobain

Advantages: the thoughts of the man himself, very overwhelming
Disadvantages: money spinner for courteney, kurt never dated his entries

...Around the anniversary of Cobain's death, MTV goes Nirvana crazy, using it as an excuse to re-run the famous Nirvana Unplugged, and the Nirvana live shows. This year was slightly different, with the release of their 'new' album, their greatest hits album with their previously unreleased song. Accompanying the album, was this book, released not long after. There have been many theories about Kurt's death, and many cynics would point out that releasing his private thoughts would be a guaranteed money spinner, on top of the money that top suspect and wife courteney love was already guarenteed to make from post-humous record sales. Anyway, on the book, despite it being an obvious money making attempt, it is a fascinating read. This book really shows a side of Cobain that only his closest friends knew, humurous at a lot of junctions, yet... Read review

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Advantages: Informative, detailed in most respects, a good read
Disadvantages: Author's psychoanalytical agenda gets in the way of the facts

...Kurt Cobain has been one of the most written about musicians in contemporary culture. A huge following and unrelenting fascination - compounded by his tragic suicide in 1994 - has made Cobain a universal icon. ‘Heavier Than Heaven’ written by author and music magazine editor Charles R. Cross, was published in 2001, after a period of great hype and speculation. The biography covers Cobain’s life from childhood to his death, and charts his success with Nirvana in adequate detail. There is one major difference between this biography and previous books written about Cobain: the biographer had had vital input (and blessing) from Cobain’s widow and head of estate, Courtney Love. Always at the center of some controversy, Love lent Cross Cobain’s 120-something personal journals (which are now a publication in... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Gripping, informative, brilliant!
Disadvantages: Depressing, unsuitable for bedtime reading to small children

...Heavier than Heaven tells, in remarkable and graphic detail, the story of the short life of 90’s rock legend Kurt Cobain. It contains everything you ever wanted to know about Cobain, giving you a unique insight into his life. This is no fairytale. God knows there is no happy ending. But it really is an enthralling story. After reading the first few years of Kurt's life, I was gripped, I really couldn't put it down. It is dark and gruesome in places, Cross plunges us into Kurt’s world and his hell described by those who knew him best. It takes us through every chapter of his short life, from his birth to his legendary suicide in 1994, constantly supplying a wealth of information about Kurt’s relationships and family, the places where he lived, and his experiences with Nirvana, with Courtney Love and his daughter Frances Bean... Read review

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