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View Full Version : Kurt Cobain's favorite artists...

DroppinScience
04-02-2006, 07:45 PM
Since we're all apparently still listening to Nirvana and debating their merits and what could have been nearly 12 years after his death (the anniversary is coming up... April 5th) and such, now is a good time to compile the artists that Cobain loved and constantly advocated while he was alive.

This is especially worthwhile as the man had some excellent taste and helped some real unknowns get their music exposed because of his endorsements.

Here is the incomplete list:

Vaselines (Scottish indie pop who were short-lived; Nirvana covered "Jesus Don't Want Me For A Sunbeam", "Molly's Lips" and "Son of a Gun"... EXCELLENT band, do listen to them)

Meat Puppets (Nirvana also covered "Lake of Fire")

The Raincoats (post-punk band whom I've been wanting to get into)

Who else??
zorra_chiflada
04-02-2006, 07:50 PM
creedence clearwater revival
DroppinScience
04-02-2006, 07:54 PM
creedence clearwater revival

Preferably the lesser-known artists. But sure, you can list the ones that everyone knows.

So with that said...

Devo and David Bowie!
zorra_chiflada
04-02-2006, 08:00 PM
Preferably the lesser-known artists. But sure, you can list the ones that everyone knows.

So with that said...

Devo and David Bowie!

i didn't realise that your music threads had rules

p.s. the vaselines and the meatpuppets are ones that everyone knows.
EN[i]GMA
04-02-2006, 08:02 PM
I believe I heard he liked the Minutemen, but I could be wrong.
DroppinScience
04-02-2006, 08:03 PM
i didn't realise that your music threads had rules

Well Cobain liked to recommend the bands that nobody knew about at the time, so I thought it'd be nice to see a list of all those.
TAL
04-02-2006, 08:04 PM
Foo Fighters!
zorra_chiflada
04-02-2006, 08:05 PM
well, there's all the riot grrl acts, but i suppose they're too popular as well.
DroppinScience
04-02-2006, 08:07 PM
p.s. the vaselines and the meatpuppets are ones that everyone knows.

The only reason we know about The Vaselines is because Cobain loved them and he urged Sub Pop to release a career-spanning compilation in 1992.

If you're trying to tell me people knew who they were beforehand, I remain unconvinced.
DroppinScience
04-02-2006, 08:08 PM
well, there's all the riot grrl acts, but i suppose they're too popular as well.

It's okay. None of them are as popular as CCR, so go nuts.
zorra_chiflada
04-02-2006, 08:09 PM
no. i don't think i want to post anymore. i'm exhausted already.
Documad
04-02-2006, 09:35 PM
no. i don't think i want to post anymore. i'm exhausted already.
Ha Ha.

I have no idea who Kurt liked (other than Sonic Youth of course), but Dave liked Husker Du. :)
Kid Presentable
04-02-2006, 09:47 PM
Somebody tell me they had heard the Pixies in 1991. Somebody younger than me. I'm 25.
DroppinScience
04-02-2006, 09:51 PM
Somebody tell me they had heard the Pixies in 1991. Somebody younger than me. I'm 25.

I'm 23! They listened to the Pixies! Happy?
DroppinScience
04-02-2006, 09:51 PM
Ha Ha.

I have no idea who Kurt liked (other than Sonic Youth of course), but Dave liked Husker Du. :)

Are you into Scream, by any chance? Dave Grohl was in that band before he was in Nirvana.
Kid Presentable
04-02-2006, 10:14 PM
I'm 23! They listened to the Pixies! Happy?
Were you listening to The Pixies in 1991? Did you hear 'Teen Spirit' and think "Wow, they're ripping off the pixies!"? Because at 10 years old, I certainly didn't give three shits about the pixies, and much less had I even heard any of their music beyond what some student radio shit would play.

All I'm saying is that Nirvana put The Pixies over in the minds of the target demographic.
DroppinScience
04-02-2006, 10:15 PM
Were you listening to The Pixies in 1991? Did you hear 'Teen Spirit' and think "Wow, they're ripping off the pixies!"? Because at 10 years old, I certainly didn't give three shits about the pixies, and much less had I even heard any of their music beyond what some student radio shit would play.

All I'm saying is that Nirvana put The Pixies over in the minds of the target demographic.

Dude, I never even heard of the Pixies at that time. And I was only into Nirvana by a MONTH before he offed himself.
SobaViolence
04-02-2006, 10:30 PM
I'm 23! They listened to the Pixies! Happy?

cobain said every song they made was just another attempt to rip off a pixies track...
Documad
04-02-2006, 10:37 PM
I had heard of the Pixies, but I hadn't really listened to the Pixies. I heard Nirvana because it was on MTV all the time. I had pretty much given up on listening to new music, but at that point there was so much shit -- everything sounded like something you would hear at an aerobics class -- and then there was Garth Brooks. Even my local college radio station was blah. To me 1990-91 was the year of aerobics music.

I didn't listen to any other music because of Kurt, but rock magazines started covering local music scenes again -- in Seattle yes, but also in other cities.
Kid Presentable
04-02-2006, 11:02 PM
Dude, I never even heard of the Pixies at that time. And I was only into Nirvana by a MONTH before he offed himself.

I was not engaging in an attack. Just trying to prove my point.
DroppinScience
04-02-2006, 11:12 PM
I was not engaging in an attack. Just trying to prove my point.

Is your point that most people only knew "Smells Like Teen Spirit" ripped off the Pixies years after the fact?
Kid Presentable
04-02-2006, 11:20 PM
Is your point that most people only knew "Smells Like Teen Spirit" ripped off the Pixies years after the fact?
Yeah, that and I guess the result that hundreds of "Hard Core Pixies Fans" came along coincidentally.
DroppinScience
04-02-2006, 11:47 PM
Yeah, that and I guess the result that hundreds of "Hard Core Pixies Fans" came along coincidentally.

Well, I've always been someone who's been playing catch-up (partially due to when I was born and also to when I actually got serious about getting into music), so I've been a poseur for life. :p
Kid Presentable
04-03-2006, 12:05 AM
Well, I've always been someone who's been playing catch-up (partially due to when I was born and also to when I actually got serious about getting into music), so I've been a poseur for life. :p
I don't know that it's so much about posing, as it is about the influence that Kurt guy had on people.

Me, I prefer to find things after they have been proven a good idea. I used to try to get ahead of everybody, but meh, who's got time for that?
DroppinScience
04-03-2006, 12:23 AM
Me, I prefer to find things after they have been proven a good idea. I used to try to get ahead of everybody, but meh, who's got time for that?

True. But sometimes it's nice to get into something before or during the fact, rather than after the fact. Basically, so you can actually go: "I was there."

Nevertheless, that IS hard work...
Tzar
04-03-2006, 01:04 AM
Beastie Boys are ripping off Elvis :eek:
Calimero jr.
04-03-2006, 01:54 AM
I'll add The Melvins and REM. Kurt was a big fan of the former, and also collaborated on their album "Houdini". He apprently was mazed of how REM was able to write such great pop-rock songs, just like the Pixies.
DroppinScience
04-03-2006, 07:04 AM
I'll add The Melvins and REM. Kurt was a big fan of the former, and also collaborated on their album "Houdini". He apprently was mazed of how REM was able to write such great pop-rock songs, just like the Pixies.

Yeah, Kurt was a roadie in Melvins' early days, too. Also, his first band was Fecal Matter and that included a member of the Melvins.

Oh yes, I believe that a-z once said Kurt was a big fan of Daniel Johnston. So I'll add him...
yeahwho
04-03-2006, 09:26 AM
Night Ranger.
B4BY 4NN
04-03-2006, 06:35 PM
Shonen Knife
Auton
04-03-2006, 09:11 PM
ABBA (the earlier stuff)
Big Daddy Kane
Phil Collins
Joe Jackson
Flock of Seagulls
Ice Cube

In an interview he once said that "Nevermind" was the result of listening to Tony Orlando and Dawn on acid. You can really tell on "Come as you are" (y)
thegoodmrbrodie!
04-04-2006, 12:45 AM
excellent!!! i have been wanting to get into joe jackson for a while!!! now i have a reason!!! thank you!!!
Satan
04-04-2006, 03:57 PM
Black Flag that was his first punk show

Black Sabbath, Led Zepp, Aerosmith he pissed his pant in the car cuz he was drunk, he was 11.

Soundgarden.....The Screaming Life ep was his fav. bak in 87

um Green River, Mudhoney, Dickies, Sex Pistols and such I will remember more later.

Also A band from britian called Captain America so..............ok
DroppinScience
04-04-2006, 04:00 PM
excellent!!! i have been wanting to get into joe jackson for a while!!! now i have a reason!!! thank you!!!

I'm just glad I now have a reason to listen to Phil Collins. ;)
Rip Round'n Roc
04-04-2006, 04:45 PM
i forget what was said, but he referenced a neil young song in his suicide note
dave790
04-04-2006, 05:32 PM
Pixies are good. Nirvana were good. Influence is everywhere in music, they're both decent bands and personally I'm glad they exist/existed.

Give me Lithium and Hey anytime of the day (y)
DroppinScience
04-05-2006, 01:05 AM
i forget what was said, but he referenced a neil young song in his suicide note

"It's better to burn out than to fade away."
The Notorious LOL
04-05-2006, 01:25 AM
when did you go into "jock nirvana" mode anyway?
DroppinScience
04-05-2006, 01:49 AM
when did you go into "jock nirvana" mode anyway?

I'm reading "About A Boy" right now and the book is set in '93/'94 and there is constant talk about Nirvana and Kurt's suicide in the storyline.

That and it just so happens to be his anniversary made it all the more fitting...