Kurt Cobain before he was famous

The nobody years

1. 

   1967 Born in declining logging town

   Aberdeen, Washington, sits on the coast, a logging town already sliding into decline. This is where Kurt Cobain is born in 1967, among mills and wet timber roads.

   Was born in Aberdeen, Washington, a declining logging town on the coast. Source

2. 

   1976 Parents divorce, he's nine

   He's nine years old when his parents divorce. For years afterwards he's moved between relatives, one household to the next.

   His parents divorced when he was nine, and he was moved between relatives for years afterwards. Source

3. 

   1981 First guitar from uncle

   For his fourteenth birthday, his uncle hands him a guitar. In a town of mills and rain, it's the first thing that's entirely his.

   Was given his first guitar by his uncle for his fourteenth birthday. Source

4. 

   1985 Drops out weeks before graduation

   He walks away from Aberdeen High School just weeks before he would have graduated. The diploma is that close, and he leaves it there.

   Dropped out of Aberdeen High School weeks before he would have graduated. Source

5. 

   1985-1986 Janitor at his old school

   Soon after, he's working as a janitor. For a period he's pushing a mop through the very high school he dropped out of.

   Worked as a janitor, for a period cleaning the same Aberdeen high school he had left. Source

6. 

   mid-1980s Slept under Young Street Bridge

   He later says he spent time sleeping under the Young Street Bridge, where it crosses the Wishkah River. Some relatives dispute the claim.

   Later said he had spent time sleeping under the Young Street Bridge over the Wishkah River, a claim some relatives disputed. Source

7. 

   1987 Forms Nirvana with Novoselic

   In Aberdeen he meets bassist Krist Novoselic, and they bond over the local band the Melvins. Out of that, in 1987, comes Nirvana.

   Formed Nirvana in Aberdeen with bassist Krist Novoselic, the two bonding over the local band the Melvins. Source

8. 

   1988 First single, 1,000 copies

   Their first single, Love Buzz, comes out on Sub Pop's singles club. The whole pressing is a thousand copies.

   Released the first Nirvana single, Love Buzz, on Sub Pop's singles club in a run of 1,000 copies. Source

9. 

   1989 Bleach recorded for $600

   The debut album Bleach is recorded on about six hundred dollars of studio time. Part of that bill is paid by a bandmate.

   Recorded the debut album Bleach for about 600 dollars of studio time, part of it paid by a bandmate. Source

Reconstructions of documented moments, generated with AI. Not archive photographs, and not depictions of real people. © The Nobody Years