"Cobain Unseen" - Charles R. Cross

Little, Brown - 160 pages - $35



Kurt Cobain took his own life more than 14 years ago, but the mystique of the Aberdeen-born grunge musician lives on. Seattle-based Charles R. Cross is a New York Times best-selling biographer of several rock and roll stars, including Cobain ("Heavier Than Heaven"). But even after writing that 180,000 word account of his life, Cross was compelled to return to this cultural icon in order to address Cobain's unique and abundantly expressed creative genius, which was constantly roiling with nightmares, fascinations and fixations.

"Cobain Unseen" is the result. It is a remarkable interactive assemblage of photographs, artwork and other personal items that gives insight into the young man who did so much to influence his generation.

Cross's chronological narrative provides a sympathetic portrait of a boy who grew up in poverty but whose creativity was recognized and encouraged in many ways. There are photographs of a young Kurt contemplating the drum set he got for Christmas or tackling a new drawing at his easel.

Early evidence of his artistic talent can be seen in fold-out copies of paintings he did as a child and his humor (and lifelong preoccupation with the digestive system) is obvious in a handmade Thanksgiving card tucked into a pocket depicting a feasting Pilgrim, accompanied by a loud burp.

But his engrossment in subjects that interested him and failure to attend to matters that did not suited him poorly for conventional schooling. Ritalin was prescribed. It didn't seem to help much at the time and years later Cobain associated that childhood medication with his later problems with drug addiction.

As a teen, Cobain decided rock and roll was his ticket out of Grays Harbor County. A copy of his food stamp ID card is visual proof that this scheme did not bear fruit immediately. He moved to Olympia and, after a time of hand-to-mouth living, coalesced with some fellow musicians into the band called Nirvana.

"Cobain Unseen" includes flyers advertising the band's early shows, a contact sheet documenting a performance at the University of Washington's HUB ballroom and a reproduction, on a sheet of computer labels, of the homemade stickers Cobain made to promote the band.

When success finally arrived, it slammed into Cobain's psyche with the impact of a runaway train. True, it provided him with the means to pursue his interests in art, writing and music. This book shares some of his prolific output - collages, lyrics, journal entries and more. But it also introduced him to an exhausting touring schedule and new demands from fans and record company executives.

He had married singer Courtney Love and the birth of their daughter brought him obvious joy, as shown in many family photos never before published. But it added to the pressure he felt, too.

Cobain used heroin to escape. Depression had dogged him throughout his life - along with debilitating physical ailments. Eventually he could take no more.

"Cobain Unseen" is an unprecedented approach to understanding this troubled but fascinating life cut short.



The Bookmonger is Barbara Lloyd McMichael, who writes this column focusing on the books, authors and publishers of the Pacific Northwest. Contact her at bkmonger@nwlink.com.