Product Description
Now in paperback, Journals includes never-before-seen material that will keep everyone talking.

Kurt Cobain filled dozens of notebooks with lyrics, drawings, and writings about his plans for Nirvana and his thoughts about fame, the state of music, and the people who bought and sold him and his music. His journals reveal an artist who loved music, who knew the history of rock, and who was determined to define his place in that history. Here is a mesmerizing, incomparable portrait of the most influential musician of his time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (196)

Good Condition.
The book arrived fairly quickly and was in excellent condition. It could have arrived sooner though.

Amazing!
The best book I have ever purchase! I gave them as gifts to true Nirvana lovers. Completely priceless that his fan could have a piece of this writing, let alone a book. It is a blessing someone but this masterpiece together.

i thought i was getting and paid for a new book
I got a used book and thought i was getting and paid for a new one???

insightful
Okay, so I'm 15 right? I really like this book, because it gave me insight into what I wanted the book for in the first place. I can tell that he REALLY loved Courtney Love, I can tell he was deranged, I can tell he was brilliant, and I can tell that towards the end there he was losing it. My final conclusion is that he most likely killed himself, to no help of Courtney Love. I could be wrong, but I say that the heroin caught up with him where I'm sure it already crossed his deep, sorrowful, and epically crazy mind.

An open door to a private world
This book is sort of forbidden for us, it was never meant to be a book , and yet it is the most interesting piece of reading you'll find signed by Cobain himself.

I guess when Courtney Love run out of money she made this written collage and offered it to the best buyer she could find.

if you're ok with "violating moral feelings" or "breaking an entrance" into someone's private life ,then this book is for you, but don't expect to find hidden secrets or bold statements, you have to remember it was Love's idea and certainly it was Love's editted version. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first in-depth biography of the troubled genius Kurt Cobain. Based on exclusive access to Cobains unpublished diaries, more than 400 interviews, four years of research, and a wealth of documentation, Heavier Than Heaven traces Cobains life from his early days in a double-wide trailer outside of Aberdeen, Washington, to his rise to fame, fortune, and the adulation of a generation.Amazon.com Review
The art of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain was all about his private life, but written in a code as obscure as T.S. Eliot's. Now Charles Cross has cracked the code in the definitive biography Heavier Than Heaven, an all-access pass to Cobain's heart and mind. It reveals many secrets, thanks to 400-plus interviews, and even quotes Cobain's diaries and suicide notes and reveals an unreleased Nirvana masterpiece. At last we know how he created, how lies helped him die, how his family and love life entwined his art--plus, what the heck "Smells Like Teen Spirit" really means. (It was graffiti by Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna after a double date with Dave Grohl, Cobain, and the "over-bored and self-assured" Tobi Vail, who wore Teen Spirit perfume; Hanna wrote it to taunt the emotionally clingy Cobain for wearing Vail's scent after sex--a violation of the no-strings-attached dating ethos of the Olympia, Washington, "outcast teen" underground. Cobain's stomach-churning passion for Vail erupted in six or so hit tunes like "Aneurysm" and "Drain You.")

Cross uncovers plenty of news, mostly grim and gripping. As a teen, Cobain said he had "suicide genes," and his clan was peculiarly defiant: one of his suicidal relatives stabbed his own belly in front of his family, then ripped apart the wound in the hospital. Cobain was contradictory: a sweet, popular teen athlete and sinister berserker, a kid who rescued injured pigeons and laughingly killed a cat, a talented yet astoundingly morbid visual artist. He grew up to be a millionaire who slept in cars (and stole one), a fiercely loyal man who ruthlessly screwed his oldest, best friends. In fact, his essence was contradictions barely contained. Cross, the coauthor of Nevermind: Nirvana, the definitive book about the making of the classic album, puts numerous Cobain-generated myths to rest. (Cobain never lived under a bridge--that Aberdeen bridge immortalized in the 12th song on Nevermind was a tidal slough, so nobody could sleep under it.) He gives the fullest account yet of what it was like to be, or love, Kurt Cobain. Heavier Than Heaven outshines the also indispensable Come As You Are. It's the deepest book about pop's darkest falling star. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (231)

Excellent!
This is an amazing biography.I couldn't put the book down!A great read for Nirvana fans.It makes you appreciate his music even more.

Kurt Cobain
This was a very informative and interesting biography about Kurt Cobain. Since I live in the Pacific NW and am familiar with Aberdeen, Olympia and Seattle I felt very connected to things said about these locations and felt like I was there while reading this book. Kurts death/suicide was a great loss to the music community. After reading this book it makes me curious of how Courtney and Francis are doing now. It would have been nice to have more photos.

Knocks Kurt off his pedestal, in a good way
Back when I was about 15, I fell hard for a bad boy named Jack. He was a plaid-sporting, guitar-toting grunge god and, of course, worshiped at the Nirvana altar. Yes, I admit it - the discovery of my favorite band for about 5 years stemmed from a schoolgirl crush. But that doesn't make it any less legitimate, in my opinion. Just like a I fell for Jack, I fell for Kurt. When you're 15 and everything that is pumped through the radios and mall speakers is top 4o, discovering alternative music is like someone pulling the wool OFF your eyes. I couldn't believe that there was all this amazing music out there that I had never even heard of!

Okay, back on track. So I as I hankered to learn everything I could about Nirvana and impress Jack, I stumbled upon a book called "Heavier Than Heaven". I figured a biography would be a treasure trove of knowledge! And I was right, it was! But it was so much more, too!

Kurt Cobain is revered as a god in most music circles. He knocked Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, off the #1 spot in the Billboard Chart for god's sake! Even if grunge is not your thing, you still respect him for revolutionizing the music scene. However, "Heavier Than Heaven" brings Kurt Cobain back to earth and knocks him off his pedestal so to speak. And that's my favorite part.

Cross gives you a pretty clear idea of Cobain's life and why he ended up the way he did. He shows you that Kurt was a real person, with real feelings and relationships. I loved seeing him rise from the obscure to the infamous. If you were like me, a Nirvana fan in high school, or are one now, or even just want to find out more about the revolutionary state of the early 90's music scene, I definitely recommend "Heavier Than Heaven" by Charles Cross.

Solid, But Was The Author Scared of Courtney??
A solid, well-researched and competently written book that paints a sympathetic portrait of Kurt Cobain as a deeply disturbed young man with enormous natural talent for music and for making art. Ambitious and lazy, sensitive and callous, self-centered and self-loathing, Cobain was a bundle of contradictions. By the end of reading this book you can't help but feel sorry for him: He was a certifiable weirdo as well as a genuine rock and roll genius, one who openly sought the fame and fortune that likely helped destroy him.

Between his drug abuse and the demands of the music industry and his own dark psyche, Cobain seemed doomed once Nirvana's Nevermind started to blow up. This book traces his life in a straight ahead fashion and the farther in you read, the sadder it gets. Here's a man who came up in the world feeling unloved and carried that feeling to his grave, despite the fact millions were deeply moved by him and what he could do in a song (including me).

One major complaint I have about Heavier Than Heaven is that its portrayal of Courtney Love is so tame and gentle you have to wonder whether Cross was writing this book with her cooperation or if he was writing it in fear of her.

Second, where the hell is Dave Grohl? With one half of the Nirvana's most famous rhythm section basically absent from this book, it's hard to be confident you're getting the whole deal here on what Cobain was really like. His lack of inclusion - or lack of cooperation - is a shame and a glaring omission. Krist Novoselic is interviewed extensively and comes off as soulful and decent, while Cobain's close friend and drug buddy, Dylan Carson, comes off as both thoughtful and unapologetically subterranean.

This is a good book. But a better one should be written someday and maybe it will, but only when people around Cobain care a little less about legacy and more about presenting a greater historical truth. Cross could write this book. The question is, will those who can tell it let him do it?

Good in some spots, average in others...bit of a whitewash for Love
This book is often touted as the "definitive" Cobain biography. While it is certainly the one with the highest profile, there are several major faults with it.
Author Cross had undoubtedly had the most access out of any Cobain biographer to both Cobain's belongings (journals, home movies, private recordings, etc.) as well as several key figures in Cobain's life. The problems with this are twofold:
1) Much of that access came about as a result of Cross writing the book with the permission and oversight of Courtney Love. Many of the Cobain family members Cross spoke with were still receiving disbursements from the Cobain estate, which is controlled by Courtney Love. Now, unlike some (not all) Nirvana fans, I'm not a rabid Courtney Love hater. The problem I DO have with the amount of control Love exerted over the book is that the information undoubtedly went through the Love filter as to how events were perceived. That is just leaning too heavily on one person's version of events.
2) Just because Cross HAD said access to so much (then) private Cobain material DOESN'T mean Cross is somehow able to know with certainty what Cobain was thinking and feeling, and this is something that is explicitly stated at more than a few points in the book. Cross doesn't know exactly what Cobain did on the day that he died, much less what he thought. Nobody does.
It is a useful book in terms of viewing the overall scope and landscape of Cobain's short life. Regarding the basic chronology of known events and facts, Cross is in tune with the general account of who, what, where and when. As for why, it is this point that Cross takes a bit of what is clearly Love-influenced license at times, and this is the single largest trapping Cross and the book fall into. ... Read more

Product Description

On Friday, April 8, 1994, a body was discovered in a room above a garage in Seattle. For the attending authorities, it was an open-and-shut case of suicide. What no one knew then, however, is that the deceased -- Kurt Cobain, the superstar frontman of Nirvana -- had been murdered. Drawing on case tapes made by a P.I. hired by Courtney Love when her husband escaped from drug rehab and went missing -- and on new forensic evidence and police reports obtained under the Freedom of Information Act -- Love & Death explodes the long-standing theory that Kurt Cobain took his own life.

Award-winning investigative journalists Max Wallace and Ian Halperin have conducted a ten-year crusade for the truth, and in Love & Death they present a stunning, convincing argument that the whole truth has yet to be revealed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

Very Good
I bought this book for my son, and he could not put it down. Absolutely loved it.

not just a theory
This book was exactly what I was expecting. Amazing, sad and wonderfully researched. I've been following Tom Grant's investigation and this explained a lot in detail, as well as provided new information (for example, transcripts of tapes with Courtney Love). It was fascinating and I couldn't put it down. There are TOO MANY inconsistencies in the Kurt Cobain police report and the "official version" of what happened. SPD needs to reopen the case and have it investigated by and independent agency. Consider this: 1. Kurt was not suicidal. 2. he did not escape rehab and THEN buy a gun (CL falsely reported this, he had the gun a month or so before). 3. there were no fingerprints of the gun or the pen used to write the "suicide note". 4. the "suicide note" was written by TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. 5. Kurt had so much heroin in his system he wouldn't have been able to shoot up, roll down his sleeve, put away the paraphernalia and then pick up the shotgun and kill himself (not to mention that the position of the gun would be laid perfectly across his chest, it should have ricocheted off).... THIS AND MORE IS DISCUSSED IN THIS BOOK. EXCELLENT READ FOR ANYONE WHO QUESTIONS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO KURT COBAIN. SHOWS THROUGH EVIDENCE AND LOGIC THAT THIS WAS NOT A SUICIDE AND THAT THIS ISN'T JUST ANOTHER CONSPIRACY THEORY!!! AFTER READING THIS YOU CAN SORT THE LIES AND PR SPIN FROM THE TRUTH THAT HAS BEEN SUPPRESSED AND DISTORTED FROM DAY ONE.

Sad story, good book.
Was Kurt Cobain really murdered by his psychotic hosebeast wife? We'll probably never know for sure, but this book provides some interesting theories on what might have happened. There's oodles of information to process but it's arranged very nicely to make the book an intriguing and quick read.

The Fine Line Between Genius and Stupid...
If there's a worse piece of investigative journalism than Love & Death, I haven't read it. This book's A + B = 9 approach to forming its theory on Kurt Cobain's death would be comical if it weren't so irresponsible.

The flimsy murder theory here is that Courtney Love is .... maybe... sort of.... possibly responsible for ordering a hit on Kurt Cobain. The "evidence" presented is totally absurd. What little forensic evidence is given centers around whether Cobain had too much heroin in his blood to pull the trigger of the gun that killed him. At first glance this is a tantalizing and sexy bit of info. Did someone incapacitate Cobain so he could be killed KGB style?

Well, based on the dorky evidence presented, no. Word to the author, opiates work on the brain, not in the blood, so saying his blood had too much heroin for him to fire a weapon is like saying he drowned because he lived near water. To know whether Cobain had had too much heroin to fire a weapon you would have to look at his brain. But opiate effects on the brain remain, largely, a mystery, including the scientific fact that no one can say for sure how much heroin it takes to incapacitate a person.

So, beyond the fact that the authors are focusing on the WRONG thing to advance their idiotic theory, the thing they are trying to prove is, duh, currently unknowable. Just ask a pharmacologist about this instead of a lowly lab assistant, like Mssrs. Wallace and Halperin did.

Cobain's family has a history of depression and suicide and Cobain had spoken openly about his suicidal thoughts for months leading up to his death. He was also about to go on the road with a full blown addiction to a number of drugs, not just heroin. A nasty withdrawal was in the cards for him and I would bet the fear of this, along with all the other pressures of being a rock star, were simply overwhelming. Yes, drugs were most definitely at the center of Cobain's death -- that and the fact that he shot himself in the head.

America, England, and Canada, wake up! This book will not only make you poorly informed, it will turn you into stoopit. You'll certainly sound stupid if you defend the painfully weak theories and spiteful insinuations in this work of "journalism."

Here's my own theory: The authors of this book are shameless morons. I wish I had four hands so I could give this terrible, awful, hurtful book four thumbs down.

kurt cobain fans
sad story, some music mag I was reading recommended it.it's just ok.kinda leaves you hanging. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the first biography to explore, with shocking detail, the drama that formed this troubled, tragic rock star. Neither an apology nor a condemnation, Kurt Cobain presents a vivid insider's view of the life and death of a man who galvanized a generation and gave birth to the "grunge" revolution with his band Nirvana. Sandford portrays the provocative, small-town rebel with the talent of John Lennon, and then shows him at work on concert stages in Seattle, New York, and London. Readers follow the struggles of Cobain's emotional life-his tumultuous relationships with family and his fellow band members, his drug addiction and sexual appetite, his stormy marriage to Courtney Love, and the birth of his daughter, who, as Cobain wrote in his suicide note, "reminds me too much of who I used to be." During his research, Sandford has had access to Cobain's family, his colleagues, his former friends and lovers, and even author William S. Burroughs, whom Cobain considered to be his "greatest influence." The result is a graphic account of the life that led to the day in April 1994 when Cobain turned a shotgun on himself and became a martyr to disaffected youth around the world.Amazon.com Review
Too many rock books--particularly those about the recently,luridly dead--are hastily assembled from clippings and feature onlythe most superficial assessment of the artist and music inquestion. It's a pleasure to report, then, that veteran musicjournalist Christopher Sandford has produced a solidly researched andcoherently argued portrait of Nirvana's front man. The author doesn'tflinch from the ugly aspects of Kurt Cobain's personality andlifestyle, nor is he wholly admiring of the music. This criticalperspective ultimately makes Cobain more human and his 1994 suicidemore tragic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

Now I'm confused
I have to admit I bought it all, hook, line and sinker as they say.I guess I have to believe the bad reviews.I wonder how much of either reviews are true now.I did come away thinking Kurt was one messed up dude.I still believe that.But, now, there's a doubt about how much and where he was really messed up...I enjoyed the book overall and am disappointed to find out I still don't know a thing about Kurt Cobain.Or do I?

Utter garbage
This book is the most vile, poorly written, shoddily researched piece of trash I've ever read in my life. I can only agree with Jack Endino that the author was too dimwitted to realise he was being taken for a ride by the majority of his (unnamed) sources; the fact that he chose to print their various outlandish and unproven claims as fact is quite pathetic. I would give a wide berth to any other fiction book written by this moron under the guise of biography, my grandmother knows more about Nirvana than he does. Anyone interested in Kurt Cobain should read the Azerrad and Cross bio's, then piece together the rest for themselves from interviews, videos etc.. but whatever you do avoid this drivel!!!! I hope there is a circle in hell reserved for tabloid journo's trying to make a name for themselves by peddling nonsense about people infinitely more talented than they are.. Christopher Sandford is a cockroach. No stars.

Stay Away!
This book is a poorly-written piece of tabloid garbage, full of untrue and outrageous stories, and obviously written by a guy who has a vendetta against Cobain. I was so offended that I burned it in the fireplace. Stay away!

Why Diss A Legend?
First off i liked this book in the beggining it caught my attention,even through the constant lies and errors.It contains alot of informative bits and pieces,many are untrue but it makes for a great fictional world.

Dissing is a large part of this book,Kurt gets ranked on even after he died.Thats really disrespectful, ecspecially toward the person who shaped modern rock.Some of the info that holds true for the most part is too generic.Rehashed info we knew for many years.Kurt is portrayed as moody beyond belief and a loser.
Hey there is pictures!Redeeming?No but something to tide over your bordem and to prepare you for more lies.They do cover a good amount of time in good detail though so the book isn't entirley bad.I think this is a bare minimum decent book,and thats all i can afford to give this book.

This is a notorious book, don't buy it
But don't take my word for it, see what Jack Endino himself had to say:[begin quote] "... recently someone sent me a photocopy of just two (!) pages (106 and 107) from Chris Sandford's book on Nirvana, entitled "Kurt Cobain". In it he describes the sessions for Bleach from the point of view of "Endino's engineer" and even an unnamed "second source at Reciprocal"; he describes Kurt putting lit matches in his mouth, spraying antiperspirant down his throat, pouring beer on the mixing board, taking "fistfuls of pills", etc, etc. Let me f*****g set this straight: this is pure fiction. In all the times I worked with Kurt I never even saw him drink a beer in the studio. His pre-Nevermind times in the studio with me were utterly normal; the band was there to work ... either [Sandford] made all this up (can't really see why he would want to) or better yet, someone else decided to take the gullible journalist for a ride, figuratively speaking ... I haven't read the rest of the book yet 'cause I don't want to spend the cash, but I hope for Kurt's (and his daughter's) sake that the rest of it isn't like those two pages I got. (Later note: It is. I've since read it. The whole book is full of equally outlandish nonsense. Sigh. OK, now extrapolate from how 100% fictional the two pages I know about are...) Seeing this kind of fiction printed about Kurt really bums me out. Look, all you potential book-writers, Azzerrad's done it already; the rest of you can just go home." [end quote] See [...] for more. ... Read more

Product Description
The first publication of Kurt Cobain's diaries, which were found after his death in 1994. Genuinely moving, provocative and candid, and suprisingly funny, pieces of writing which, as a whole, provide a unique account of the rise and fall of a great popular artist and icon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Interesting look on Kurts musings..
All I can say is this is the the raw writings and you have to picture Kurt before he hit it big with Nirvana. Not sure the average person will be able to wrap their mind around his writings but a good place to prep is this article:[...]

Good read... But that not great
This book was obviously a very good read, but a lot of it is scattered and too personal for public consumption. I think Kurt was alive and light years away from his stage in his music career he might have allowed a small number of copies of some of his journals be distributed, if it were up to him. I think the problem is that his core writings, most of which we don't have access to, aren't completely balanced with his short ramblings and thoughts/ideas in these journals which doesn't give us the complete perspective. I guess it's better than nothing and it's betterthat all of his journals aren't revealed for the public.

Hmmmm.....
Well, I must say, I am a 21 year old male who can really relate to alot of Nirvanas music, so I decided to check out Kurts personal journals to kind of get more of a fix.I must say I don't feel very comfortable reading another persons PRIVATE journal, even if it is one of my rock idols'.It's really like you're reading the actual thing, they really made it feel like it.It's basically a bunch of Kurts personal rambling angst ridden inserts that don't really make much sense unless you know his timeline pretty well.I would STRONGLY ADVISE YOU NOT TO GET THIS JOURNAL though.It's his personal stuff that no one else should read.It really can make you feel uncomfortable.People making profit off of Kurts private thoughts is really quite sickening.I would suggest getting the Biography instead.. Much more intertaining, and comfortable read about the man.

in his own words
This is a painfully intimate, and at times, uncomfortably voyeuristic, look into the intelligent mind of Kurt Cobain. It's a collection of letters, drawings, monologues and other scraps, that, for me personally, was slightly disappointing.

I definitely enjoyed, and even revelled in the uniqueness of Kurt's use of language. Obviously these writings weren't intended for an audience, so Kurt assumes enormous licence and expresses himself with absolute freedom and honesty. Kurt is frequently witty and there's a surprising lightness to his humour at times, which I found refreshing, as years of Nirvana-mania have obscured the humanity of Kurt Cobain -- until now. Here he emerges as a very ordinary, depressed artist -- which is a mixed blessing.

If you've ever been depressed yourself, then you will relate to Kurt's ramblings all too well. I know I did! Kurt's nihilistic pages here are prescient -- it's obvious that he couldn't go on like this. So, be prepared to wade through pages of frustration and misery that go nowhere, just like your own teen journals. Kurt seems truly sick of himself, as well as his mysterious stomach condition, and his nothing-to-lose recklessness suggests that it was only a matter of time.

To his credit though, even at his lowest ebb, he still has the capacity to see the macro problems, rather than just the micro. I was especially impressed by his insights into feminist issues. Many of Kurt's observations are intelligent and compassionate. His sensitivity, as well as his unexpected sense of humour, endear you to him. The Journals are readable, compulsive and engaging -- I'd recommend the book -- but don't expect to be DAZZLED in any way. This book reinforces Kurt's ordinariness, rather than his genius.

This should not have been published.
I am a die-hard Nirvana fan and have also done alot of reading about Kurt(and , consequently, Courtney).I was quite troubled to have access to such a private side of Cobain, but, like a bad car accident, you just can't turn away.I do not regret reading it, I just wish someone, somewhere would have said no.Despite the privacy issue, I did find it interesting and am glad to have it in my collection.Still pick it up now and then. ... Read more

Product Description
This unique, best-selling series features quotes gathered over the years from family, friends, and the artists themselves giving the reader a personal insight into their music and world. Fully illustrated throughout with black and white photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Great For Any Fan.
Anyone Who Is In Love With This Couple As Much As I Am Will Love This Book.

Excellent..!
I've looked for a biography that speaks of headings and hAs Kurt and Courtney's opinions arranged by topic. Courtney's so intelligent. I read the back of her mother's biography, and to see the cover on the back, you'd think Courtney was a cross eyed retard who just has to be locked up forever. "Desperately attention seeking" and "confabulation" are words on the back. That, and the fact that her mother is a therapist and uses the word "healing" a lot makes me not want to open the book. But I've got a mind to see how it is..

great read
I thought this was a great book. The book features quotes from both Kurt Cobain and Courtney love, on many different topics. The book also features some great photos of Kurt and Courtney. If you're a Courtney Love or Kurt Cobain fan, I highly recommend this book. You get the truth straight from Kurt and Courtney's mouths.

coffee-table book
Disappointing. It's the kind of book that was published about some guy who was smashed in a train wreck the day after it happened accompanied by a whole lot of pictures of the guy while he was alive and some liner notes and that's about it. No insight to be derived from here.

fascinating, useless, riveting...
They said it, do we believe it? Who cares!This book is for the die-hard Kurtney fan who wants to read every crazy morsel that ever dripped from their lips.The photos are great, there is an especially appalling photo of Courtney that is not to be missed...I personally can't get enough of either one of these punk rock cartoon characters and this book is a keeper! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (35)

Okay book!
If you are looking for a general glimpse into the like of Kurt Cobain, this is an okay book; however, there are better Cobain biographies.

...
Another Courtney Love propaganda tool. She can't even keep her story straight, so how people are dumb enough to believe the lies is beyond me. Check out Tom Grant's website for some truly eye-opening information.

Courtney Love and her book of lies. . .
I had the chance to review this on the internet before buying.Thankfully I did.I would not recommend this book to anyone who really gave anything for Kurt Cobain and or Nirvana.The book is inaccurate and follows a form known as Courtney Love and her book of lies.She helped write this book and who knows what is true and what is not.My opinion is to try Love and Death or Who killed Kurt Cobain or for that matter, try Tom Grant's Investigation manual.Written by someone other than Ms. Courtney Love herself.

A pretty good book.
I bought this book one day at a bookstore because I didn't have much money but I was deeply interested in the Cobain story. I ended up being enthralled by it and I loved it.

But it does have some serious flaws. If you are someone who has a passing interest in Nirvana or someone who wants a very affordable, quick explanation of Kurt Cobain's story because of his popularity & influence, then this may be a good book for you. But if you are someone who loves Nirvana or someone who wants to actually understand Kurt Cobain's story as best as possible, don't get this book and instead purchase "Heavier Than Heaven" by Charles Cross.

Although Never Fade Away is an interesting book and it does describe some good stories & good information, upon reading Heavier Than Heaven I realized how inadequate Never Fade Away is. Charles Cross was given access to deep important information that others can not chance upon, and it makes Never Fade Away look unresearched and from afar. It gets important facts wrong, occasionally. Heavier Than Heaven truly is the definitive biography.

The most boring Kurt Cobain book
This book has no structure... Its so boring. Usually when I read a book about Kurt Cobain I cant put it down, but this one I could... EASILY. Ive tried on many occasions, to read this book and stick with it, but I couldnt. Its almost like a addict who cant quit whatever, they just fail. And I failed to enjoy this book. Its boring, and it only talks about stuff Ive already heard. And it documents when the fans and world heard about Cobain's death. Its a good thing I didnt buy it new, and got it for $2.99 at Half Price books, I couldnt have ever forgiven myself for wasting my money on this. Its even worse than Heavier than Heaven... Read Who killed Kurt Cobain? or Love and Death, by the same genius authors. The truth is in those novels. ... Read more

Product Description
This brand-new small format edition of GodSpeed is much more than a biography, it is unlike anything you have read about Kurt Cobain before. Going beyond the facts, it transmutes Cobain's extraordinary life into an equally exteraordinary work of art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Kickass!
This book was a great way to see Kurt Cobain's life, plus the comic is great. Flameboy is a very talented artist.

Kurt Cobain' what a legend
This book is the perfect way to keep the spirit of Kurt Cobain alive. It is an amazing book, and everything that is written in this book is true of Cobain and his character, and the pictures and just breath taking..!! It talks about his life, the love he felt, how he suffered under the pressure of addiction, that eventuly led to his suicide. If someone is a Cobain fan, just interested in him, or simply can see beyond what they think they know about him, you should read this book. I recomend it!!!!

A Comic About Kurt?
Creamin'. This is truly an amazing peice of work. This is absolutely creamin'.

Godspeed
This is a must for a true Nirvana Fan the art work awesome and the story is written very well.

Meh
i've seen some bashings of this book, and that's what made me hesitate about buying it. i did get a scanned version of it, read it and i must say: it is a remarkable comic book. it did exagerate facts in kurt's life, yes, but it isn't supposed to be accurate, it's not a bio, it's a comic. i did love it. excellent graphic work and, well, the way it was written is preety good too. the writer has done some research before actually putting anything down on paper. if you are a comic book fan, kurt cobain fan and understand the difference between a comic and a biography, get this book. if not, better just leave it alone. ... Read more

Product Description
When rock superstar Kurt Cobain was found dead in April 1994, the police quickly labeled the death a suicide. In "Who Killed Kurt Cobain?", two award-winning investigative journalists raise explosive questions whose answers may point to the possibility that the rock superstar was actually murdered of photos, many in color . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (81)

Oh, where do I start.
Well, for one. I didn't see what Kurt's sex life had to do with the book's investigation. In fact I don't need to know what he did between closed doors, and frankly neither does anyone else. Also this book is long and drawn out. Though, there is a lot of facts that point out some weird unsettling clues about his death, there also isn't any obvious evidence that Courtney Love was behind it. Hell, I highly doubt that she could devise a plot to murder her husband, when she can't even stay sober long enough to perform on Jay Leno. And Finally. Even if Kurt Cobain was murdered, do you think this book could bring him back. No. Be it suicide or homicide, he died and unfortuneately for his family, friends, and fans there's no changing that.

This book was made for the purpose of getting money from angry, grief stricken younger fans of Nirvana.

Totally wasted
So Courtney lied.
So Courtney is a addict who is always stoned.

That is all the real evidence these two have to sell their theory that she murdered Kurt.

They must be aspiring to write for the National Inquirer.

Misleading title
This book would have been a waste of time even if it had been free.

It doesn't answer the question in its title as it has no answers it is only a book of questions . . . what if this, what if that, what if . . .?

I might as well have been spending the weekend with by sister and brother-inlaw and their 2 year old who only asks why this, why that, why, why, why?

It was a poorly thought out book that has managed to sucker in thousands of buyers.

A waste of trees and time
I have never read anything so poorly written before.

This "book" is a waste of time and of paper.

Looks at both sides of the story, exhaustively researched
This book has been popularized as the one that contains private investigator Tom Grant's theory that Courtney Love hired someone to kill Kurt Cobain.I read it thinking it would be borderline wacko with the conspiracy theory.I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was an exhaustively researched account of the history of Nirvana, Kurt, Courtney, the days surrounding Kurt's death, and the investigation of the incident by the Seattle PD.The authors do present Grant's theory and his main arguments pointing to murder, but they are quick to point out that there absolutely no smoking gun, nothing explicity incriminating Courtney.They even point out some failing's in Grant's work and theories.Their main case is that there are enough unanswered questions and questionable actions during the investigation that the case should be re-opened.In fact, most people who review Grant's theory, when polled, say that the investigation should be re-opened to lay to rest all the discrepancies that he turned up.

The authors took nothing at face value when writing this book.Anytime someone claimed to have a degree, or that an incident happened, or the police were called, or that they said a certain thing, anything, the authors looked it up and verifyed whether it was true.If they couldn't verify it, they identify it as a claim.A lot of Courtney's official bio seems to be her wacky brand of lies and tirades, since the authors found many, many discrepancies in her statements, especially those to her biographer, Melissa Rossi.

Courtney is a fascinating woman, a spectacle, a force to be reckoned with.The authors remind us that no matter how much Courtney bashing goes on, we have to remember that our icon Kurt did love and trust her, and she was one of the few people he was close to.The portrayal of Courtney in this book has made me want to learn more about this dynamic woman.

Read this book to see an excellent case laid out in front of you, and then see what you think.I'm reading the author's 2004 follow-up, Love & Death:The Murder of Kurt Cobain next. ... Read more

Product Description
Nearly three years after his suicide at age twenty-seven, Kurt Cobain remains at the forefront of the musical scene, and a moving tribute about his life includes revealing photographs, interviews, and incisive writing by top music journalists. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Kurt and Nirvana fans will love it :)
This book has a lot of pictures, high quality ones. It also has a lot of stories about Kurt and Nirvana. It talks about each album and each different part of Kurt's life, and some people's point of view about Kurt and what he meant to them. If you love Nirvana or Kurt, buy it. :)

You should buy this book
This is one of the best books I have read about Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. It has interviews with Krist, Dave,and Kurt. It has some really cool pictures in it, too! I don't know if they think Kurt's death was murder or suicide though. Very well written and worth my money! If you are thinking about buying this book I have 2 words for you: BUY IT! This book is for any Kurt Cobain and Nirvana fan!

much better
this book really lets you get to know Cobain a lot better than "Heavier than heaven" did. In that books the facts are inaccuarte and you can't tell where the facts end and where the authors opinions begin. This is much better, a great read. Buy this instead of "heavier than heaven"

now that you know about the man learn more about his death; there is so much that you don't know and sadly it's all true. justiceforkurt.com

this site will change your life...

A true classic

One of the most interesting books I've ever read. This book has an excellent collection of Rolling Stone articles of Kurt Cobain. Believe me, this conatins some excellent articles on Kurt Cobain prior to his death and after. This also has some exclusive interviews with him as well. The collection of pictures are also fantastic. What a great idea this was again for many dissapointed Nirvana fans. This is abolsutely a must have for the Nirvana fans. It's one of those books that you will never want to lose or put down. Buy it. Don't get it from the library. You'll end up wanting to get it again.

Very Informative
I found this book very informative.It helps you depict Kurt Cobains traits alittle bit easier.He was a very odd person and from many interviews you can tell.

This book has alot of pictures making this experience a bit more colorful.You can read different opinions of Kurt through the eyes of many people and they roughly all say the same thing...Why?Why did he commit suicide?This book may leave many different impressions on that.

The book also limelights Nirvana,Kurt Cobains top notch band.You can understand the finicial situations they went through up to their loads of skyrocketing money and albums.
The book is set chronologically so you can read about what happend during the making of each album.You can also see the changes Kurt went through to achieve his darker persona.You also read of the happier young Kurt and all of his youthful experiences

I have owned this book now for two years and every time i read it i find something new i didn't know before.This book is long enough to help you decide if you think Kurt is an idol or a blow out.You can also understand the amount of drugs used wich is really upsetting,but on brighter note this is a good way to be introduced to rock legend. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

not very impressive
The word usage was good, not ab ad writer, but some facts were way out of truth, like how he describes kurt "and did so much damage to his head hat police could only identify his body through fingerprints. dental records were no use because nothing was left of his mouth" that is total bs. there was no exit wound, and hardly any blood. his head was clearly not "blown off" and there was hardly ANY damage to his head..that upsetted me.. its an insult to kurt's memory

Not as good as it sounds, but not all that bad either.
The Cobain Dossier is a good book and is a good read if you have the extra time, but if you're looking for something with a lot of detail I recommend Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana. The Cobain Dossier does state some facts and has some awesome pictures, if anything I would have bought it anyhow just for the pictures. Although, the thing about the book that I don't really like is each chapter is written by a different author and although it does go in order, the chapters really don't flow. Most all the information found in this book can be found in Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana, and Who Killed Kurt Cobain (The Mysterious Death of an Icon). But again, if you have the extra time and money, this is a good book. If not for the reading, then for the pictures alone.

Dead almost 8 years now.....
Much like Lennon, Hendrix, and Morrison, the ghost of Kurt Cobain has probably learned that there really is no bigger business in entertainment than an untimely demise.This dossier gathers together 22 articles from British and American magazines on the man, his band and his wife, each recounting the overly familiar story of grunge, drugs, stomach pains and shotguns.While often engrossing stuff, much here dwells on post-suicide events, making this not only morbid, but sometimes repetetive reading.

Kurt, to you with love
This book is a must have for every Kurt Cobain fan.The pictures are excellent.It goes into great detail about his childhood until he became the star that he was destined to be.Most of the facts are correct and you can't put it down once you stop reading it.It is true Kurt.This book represents the bad and good but I still love Kurt Cobain.He went through so much in his life - mostly difficult times.So, definitely - buy this book.You won't regret it.

Good book
This book was a touching story of Kurt's life and death, a tribute to his great music. ... Read more

Product Description
An unparalleled look inside the brilliant mind of one of America's most revered rock legends, Cobain Unseen collects previously unseen artifacts and photographs from the estate's archives to form a fascinating portrait of the creativity, madness, and genius of Kurt Cobain.
Personal items and photographs take readers deeper inside Cobain's life than they've ever been before, and interactive features, such as Kurt's handwritten sticker-sheet of Nirvana name tags, facsimiles of unseen journal pages, and gatefolds of his graffiti-embellished guitars make this an essential keepsake. An audio CD showcasing spoken-word material by Cobain, some of it never before released, will be included. Accompanying the previously unpublished images and memorabilia is a compelling biographical narrative by New York Times-bestselling author Charles R. Cross. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Scrapbook
It was a quick read but enjoyable as a Nirvana fan. If you are a fan there is probably not much in the book you didn't already know. It overwhelmingly has a scrapbook feeling to it but also provides some great backstories to accommodate those scraps.

Don't buy this book!!!
I bought this book without realizing that the book was written by a friend of Courtney Love's. I can't beleive I bought this and put even more of Kurt's money into her pockets. You really can't trust anything that is put out after his death because most everything goes through Courtney before it is released. This book did nothing more then exploit his legacy further and try to make him look as pathetic as possible in order to convince you that he had commited suicide, when there is so much evidence to tell you otherwise its crazy anyone believes he actually did. Which is exactly what she has been trying to convince you of since his death. I stopped reading the book after the chapter that spent way to much effort trying to convince the reader of his obsession with suicide. It went so far as to say that the interviews he had done for a biography written about him were fabrications and weren't actual facts. I am sickened by the fact that books like this are released. Any true Cobain fan will realize that this book isn't based on facts but of what certain people want you to believe. Bravo Courtney you once again succeeded in dragging Kurts legacy through the mud. I will most definetly be returning this book.

More info than other books
I have read a lot of Cobain books and this one brings a lot more info to the table. I particularly like how the book is much more personal than others and gives a whole new look to his life. A very good read and a very good price.

Amazing
If you are a fan of Kurt Cobain i highly recommend this book. The book had not just diary entries by Kurt, but paintings and drawing he drew- some when he was very little!The book just has a wealth of information that really gives you a personal look into Kurt Cobain's thoughts and creativity. The one thing I did not like about this book was I found a lot of the information the author gave to be the same as his other Kurt Cobain bio, Heavier Than Heaven. Its a must have book for any fan of Kurt Cobain, but if you have read Heavier Than Heaven you will find some of the information repetitive.

Cobain Unseen
Incredible.Just buy it, you won't be disappointed.An amazing insight.Never before seen items.Very well presented.A secret hiding with every turn of the page.WOW. ... Read more

Product Description
Kurt Cobain loved music, and it did not take long for him to realize all he wanted to do in life was play and write songs. When he and his band, Nirvana, became part of the Seattle music scene, more and more people were able to listen to and appreciate his music. Ultimately, dissatisfaction with fame and a dependence on heroin resulted in his suicide. Author Jeff Burlingame, who personally knew Cobain, explores the rock legend's too-brief life, his revolutionary music, and the enduring legacy he left behind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great book, highly recommended
I want to start off by saying I am not the reading type, in order for me to read a book it much capture my attention right away.I was unable to put this book down after just reading the first sentence.I would highly recommend this book to anybody that is trying to learn more about the beggining of Nirvana and the life of Kurt Cobain and what it was like for him growing up.Jeff you did an awesome job writing this book.

Ok Book - But Only Basic Surface Story
I was looking for a book that didn't favor either the suicide or murder theory but was neutral.This is that, however it is short and really just tells the basic story. It just skims the surface and doesn't go too deep. I was looking for something more in-depth.It is a easy short read and informative. It does seem to be a little more geared towards a younger audience it explains what some things that most people would know for example Heroin and warns not to do it. The author had known Kurt Cobain personally at a point in his life and I enjoyed his personal story, though like the book it was brief.Depending on what you are looking for this might be great. If you want something in-depth you might need to do what I am now doing and buy both Heavier Than Heaven and Love and Death.I haven't read them but I have a feeling they both havebiases. I think maybe a true biography of Kurt Cobain by a neutral author has yet to be written.

Don't waste your money on this one.
This was written for a third grader. If you want a much better picture of Kurt Cobain, get Heavier Than Heaven or Come As You Are. Very rudimentary in the information that is offered. I learned one or two things that I hadn't from all the other books I've read about Nirvana and Kurt Cobain. If you're a little kid that has heard of Kurt and Nirvana, then you may want to read it because it's written for those that were born after his death.

You Don't Have to be a Nirvana Fan to Enjoy This One!
Burlingame captures the essence of the "Seattle Scene" in the late 80s and early 90s that is often misunderstood by outsiders. The author is not only from Cobain's hometown but knew him before his world fame. The credibility that adds to this book is outstanding.

I have taught middle school social studies for the past ten years. I often do a unit on "Rock History" and will be including this book for sure.

I salute you!!!
A great book. I graduated with Jeff. He's talented and this book demonstrates his writing abilities. A definite must for any Nirvana fan. One day my daughter will enjoy it (she's only 22 mos). I wish him success with his future books.

Mark ... Read more

Product Description
When the body of rock icon Kurt Cobain was found in his Seattle home with a bullet through his head, the reverberations were felt across the world. His untimely death in 1994 was instantly labelled a suicide, and his millions of fans resigned themselves to the loss of their angst-ridden hero. But was it really the obvious suicide his fans accepted. Ian Halperin and Max Wallace reveal an alarming array of inconsistencies. They offer compelling reasons for reopening this suicide case, so that fans will know how their hero died. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

True Story.
This book basically tells the story of how he grew up, (like so many other Kurt books) and how he got to be a rock star. If anyone has doubts as to why so many people still believe Kurt was murdered. READ THE BOOK. If you think Kurt killed himself. READ THE BOOK! Trust me, the story will tell all. The ending is soooooooooooooooooooo uh. amazing!!!! It's a really good book. R.I.P sweetie.

A waste of trees and time
This is the most poorly written book I have ever read.

It was a waste of time and of paper. ... Read more

Product Description
On Friday April 8th 1994 the body of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was discovered in a room above his garage in Seattle. The police declared it an open-and-shut case of suicide, but this book, drawing on new forensic evidence and police reports, explodes the myth that Cobain took his own life and reveals the official scenario was scientifically impossible."Love and Death" paints a critical portrait of Courtney Love - suspected of knowing the whereabouts of Cobain for the few days previous to his death, and that Cobain was planning to divorce her. The case tapes of Love's own PI Tom Grant are revealed, introducing a number of characters that were connected to Cobain and his death. Award winning investigative journalists Max Wallace and Ian Halperin present a chilling and convincing case that Cobain was murdered, and call for the case to be reopened and properly investigated. ... Read more

Product Description
Nirvana Kurt Cobain 2011 Calendar - A3 Poster Size - By Dream ... Read more

Product Description
Godspeed: The Kurt Cobain Graphic takes Cobain's story and plays it out as a totally unique graphic novel. From the luminous colours of an idyllic childhood through the flamboyant hues of success and stardom, Cobain's story inevitably declines into a much darker palette. The script draws from the singer's tortured self-image as well as straightforward biographical fact so that the tone of the book fluctuates between subjective dream-state and objective reality.Much more than a biography, Godspeed is unlike anything you have read about Kurt Cobain before. Going beyond the facts, it transmutes Cobain's extraordinary life into an equally extraordinary work of art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Engrossing and disturbing
I think this book is a very captivating read.It gives alot of detail about Cobain's childhood, rocky adolescence, the forming of Nirvana, all the way through to his death.By the end of the book, it's pretty easy to understand why he killed himself.Alot of people are going to say that it's not true, that it's the "Courtney sanctioned" version of what happened, that Cross is making it up to cover up a murder, but this is nonsense.Overall, Courtney Love is not portrayed in an overly-flattering way, neither is Cobain portrayed in a bad light.People who say that Cross makes Love look great and Cobain look bad either have not read the book or are reading that interpretation into the book.

Alot of people complain about the end, when Cross fictionalizes Cobain's last hours, but he never says that it's fact - to the contrary, Cross points out that that chapter is a fictionalization of what it might have been like.Does fiction have a place in a biography?In "Heaver Than Heaven," I say yes.It would have been a huge letdown if his death had been muddied over - even though we don't know what happened for sure.

I give the book four stars because it's a very engrossing read.My understanding of Kurt Cobain increased greatly after reading this book, and I think my appreciation for Nirvana's music also deepened.It's a haunting, sometimes disturbing portrait of one of rock music's most mythical legends.

Heavier Than Heaven
By: ANETA BASALAJ

By writing this book, Charles Cross is letting the world know everything about Kurt Cobain, including details even Kurt probably didn't realize about himself. He starts from Kurt's childhood and describes his entire life all the way up to his death.

Cross is a veteran music journalist, which makes him the perfect person to write about one of music's most incredible people. He used to be the editor of The Rocket, the Northwest's highly regarded entertainment and music magazine, which was also the first publication to do a cover story on Nirvana. It is obvious that Cross really knows what he is talking about in this book.

Cross went through over four hundred interviews and an extensive four years of research in order to write Heavier Than Heaven. He goes into great detail, providing not only the facts, but analysis as well, which makes the reader more interested in reading and has him or her thinking throughout the book. Cross did not leave a single important event of Kurt's life out. Not only does the reader have a massive amount of knowledge about Kurt after finishing the book, he or she also gains respect for him.

The obvious strength of the book is the enormous amount of information provided by Cross. This is also a weakness in the sense that readers might find themselves getting restless reading fact after fact, which is not necessarily the author's fault. Another strength of Heavier Than Heaven is the fact that the book is very chronologically accurate. The author does a very good job of not skipping around dates, especially when starting a new chapter. All in all, Heavier Than Heaven is a very well written book that any Nirvana fan should add to his or her bookshelf.

Good story, Good author.
This book is a wonderful tribute to Kurt's life. Charles Cross' writing style makes you feel as though you were watching a movie. His descriptions reach points where you'd think they were best friends and the amount of detail leaves you wondering how he could know so much about someone who isn't even alive to ask anymore. Cross uses many quotes from the people in Kurt's life and fills you in from day one, starting with Kurt's parents before he was even born. I dislike the amount of names mentioned in the book however. Many characters are only name drops, which becomes confusing at times because you're not sure who is being spoken about. Other than the obsessive amount of names, the stories are fairly easy to follow. The author added some pictures about 200 pages in, from mostly Kurt's family that were very touching to look at. I thoroughly enjoy it, and do not regret buying it. I'd say it's definitely worth the money.

awsome
Heavier Than Heaven

Kurt Cobain was a small town boy gone big.After living a hell of a childhood he finally found what he wanted.Kurt and two friends started a band.They took the name nirvana which a new state of mind.They took off on American tour.They fired their drummer Chad Channing.They recruited new drummer Dave Grohl.They got famous.Kurt killed himself by overdosing on heroin and shooting himself in the head.

I can say this is one of the best books I have ever read.This book gives you every thing you need in a book.I don't care if this review is not long enough this is all I have to say.

The characters are Kurt Cobain.

From the mouth of Courtney Love
This is a biography of Kurt Cobain as Courtney Love wants it to be. ... Read more