On this day in 1994, legendary Rock and Grunge icon, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, committed suicide in his Seattle, Washington apartment. However, Cobain’s body was not discovered until 8 April when Veca Electric employee, Gary Smith, was at Cobain’s residence to install new security lights. Smith noticed a lifeless body on the floor of the apartment. What Smith found was a deceased Cobain with a shotgun strung across his chest, a nauseating head wound, and a suicide note. As well, large concentration of heroin and some traces of diazepam were found in Cobain’s body.

Just days earlier amid Nirvana-break up rumors, Cobain was confronted by his wife, Courtney Love, and nine other close friends in an effort to get Cobain to enter rehabilitation for his rampant drug abuse. After initially being unreceptive to the intervention, Cobain agreed to enter Exodus Recovery Center. However, a couple of days later Cobain left the treatment center. The Nirvana singer battled depression and drug abuse for years. It has been asserted by some that Cobain’s suicide note highlighted his intentions of leaving Love, Seattle, and the music business in general. The King County Medical Examiner determined that Cobain died of a “contact perforating shotgun wound to the head” and ruled his death a suicide. The medical examiner also noted that Cobain had puncture wounds on the insides of both elbows.

Over the years many have speculated that Cobain did not commit suicide. Rumors of a murder, some even claiming that Courtney Love participated in Cobain’s death, have been rebutted by several investigators. Furthermore, Love reported that in early March 1994, while herself, Cobain, and their daughter were in Rome, Cobain attempted suicide by overdosing on champagne and Rohypnol. Cobain recovered in a Rome hospital and returned to Seattle shortly thereafter. Love claims that was Cobain’s first attempted suicide. His second attempt, just a month later cost Cobain his life. Cobain was 27 years old.

Written by Michael Meeze (follow him on Twitter)

• Author
• Recent Posts

Michael McCarron

Michael is the Founder and Director of the Philly-based LGBT+ non-profit, Punk Out. He enjoys moshing endlessly, forgetting his karaoke performance from the previous night, and pushing that Big Gay Agenda.

Latest posts by Michael McCarron (see all)

• UTG PREMIERE: Kat Hamilton – “Reminders” - October 28, 2015
• OP-ED: Take Back the Microphone - October 16, 2015
• Mayday Parade Stream New Single “Letting Go” - October 1, 2015