Editing Kurt Cobain (section)

== Media ==
=== Books ===
Prior to Cobain's death, [[Michael Azerrad]] published ''[[Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana]]'', a book chronicling Nirvana's career from its beginning, as well as the personal histories of the band members. The book explored Cobain's drug addiction, as well as the countless controversies surrounding the band. After Cobain's death, Azerrad republished the book to include a final chapter discussing the last year of Cobain's life. The book involved the band members themselves, who provided interviews and personal information to Azerrad specifically for the book. In 2006, Azerrad's taped conversations with Cobain were transformed into a documentary about Cobain, titled ''[[Kurt Cobain: About a Son]]''. Though this film does not feature any music by Nirvana, it has songs by the artists that inspired Cobain.

Journalists [[Ian Halperin]] and [[Max Wallace]] published their investigation of any possible conspiracy surrounding Cobain's death in their 1998 book ''[[Who Killed Kurt Cobain?]]''. Halperin and Wallace argued that, while there was not enough evidence to prove a conspiracy, there was more than enough to demand that the case be reopened.<ref>Halperin & Wallace, p. 202</ref> The book included the journalists' discussions with Tom Grant, who had taped nearly every conversation that he had undertaken while he was in Love's employ. Over the next several years, Halperin and Wallace collaborated with Grant to write a second book, 2004's ''[[Love and Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain]]''.

In 2001, writer [[Charles R. Cross]] published a biography of Cobain, titled ''[[Heavier Than Heaven]]''. For the book, Cross conducted over 400 interviews, and was given access by Courtney Love to Cobain's journals, lyrics, and diaries.<ref name="Heavierthan">{{cite web|url=http://www.hyperionbooks.com/book/heavier-than-heaven-a-biography-of-kurt-cobain/|title=Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain|publisher=HyperionBooks.com|access-date=July 26, 2009|archive-date=June 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623205923/http://www.hyperionbooks.com/book/heavier-than-heaven-a-biography-of-kurt-cobain/|url-status=live}}</ref> Cross' biography was met with criticism, including allegations of Cross accepting second-hand (and incorrect) information as fact.<ref>''Nirvana: the True Story'' by [[Everett True]]</ref> Friend [[Everett True]]—who derided the book as being inaccurate, omissive, and highly biased—said ''Heavier than Heaven'' was "the Courtney-sanctioned version of history"<ref name="SmellsLike2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=184892|title=Smells Like Everett True – Books – The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper|publisher=Thestranger.com|date=March 27, 2007|access-date=April 8, 2012|archive-date=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120145033/http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=184892|url-status=live}}</ref> or, alternatively, Cross's "Oh, I think I need to find the new [[Bruce Springsteen]] now" Kurt Cobain book.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magnetmagazine.com/interviews/true.html|title=MAGNET Interview: Everett True|work=magnetmagazine.com|author=Matthew Fritch|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030617162627/http://magnetmagazine.com/interviews/true.html|archive-date=June 17, 2003|access-date=April 5, 2012}}</ref> However, beyond the criticism, the book contained details about Cobain and Nirvana's career that would have otherwise been unknown. In 2008, Cross published ''[[Cobain Unseen]]'', a compilation of annotated photographs and creations and writings by Cobain throughout his life and career.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/23454963/cobain_unseen_rare_photos_artw/photo/17|title=Cobain Unseen: Rare Photos, Artwork and Journal Entries|magazine=Rolling Stone|author=Charles M. ''(sic)'' Cross|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020044620/http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/23454963/cobain_unseen_rare_photos_artw/photo/17|archive-date=October 20, 2008|access-date=April 5, 2012|author-link=Charles R. Cross}}</ref>

In 2002, a sampling of Cobain's writings was published as ''[[Journals (Cobain)|Journals]]''. The book fills 280 pages with a simple black cover; the pages are arranged somewhat chronologically (although Cobain generally did not date them). The journal pages are reproduced in color, and there is a section added at the back with explanations and transcripts of some of the less legible pages. The writings begin in the late 1980s and were continued until his death. A paperback version of the book, released in 2003, included a handful of writings that were not offered in the initial release. In the journals, Cobain talked about the ups and downs of life on the road, made lists of what music he was enjoying, and often scribbled down lyric ideas for future reference. Upon its release, reviewers and fans were conflicted about the collection. Many were elated to be able to learn more about Cobain and read his inner thoughts in his own words, but were disturbed by what was viewed as an [[Invasion of privacy|invasion of his privacy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nd.edu/~observer/11192002/Scene/0.html |title=Nirvana releases a hit and miss|work=Notre Dame Observer|date=November 19, 2002|author=David Hartwig|access-date=April 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040307110632/http://www.nd.edu/~observer/11192002/Scene/0.html |archive-date=March 7, 2004 }}</ref>

In 2019, on the 25th anniversary of Cobain's death, former Nirvana manager, [[Danny Goldberg]], published ''[[Serving the Servant|Serving the Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain]]''. In promotion of the book, Goldberg stated:

{{blockquote|I think that in terms of icons, Kurt was kind of the last icon of the rock era and then the hip-hop era started.

Then, obviously, in our kid's generation, hip-hop has been a dominant voice for adolescence. It's not the only one,  there were still rock artists but not only was he iconic in terms of depth in which he touched people, that music was pop. Those songs were as big as [[Rihanna]], [[Travis Scott]] or [[Justin Bieber]] or anything today.

They were pop hits as well as touching the underground culture. That fusion of pop and underground, I don't think rock has produced someone else who could do that since Kurt. I think he's arguably the last of that era.

You could almost have [[bookend]]s of an era that started with [[The Beatles]] and ended with Kurt. I mean, yeah, there was rock and roll before The Beatles but The Beatles broadened it and I think you can make that argument.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 20, 2019 |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/nirvana_manager_i_dont_think_dave_grohl_touches_people_as_deeply_as_kurt_did_i_suspect_dave_would_acknowledge_that_too.html |title=Nirvana Manager: I Don't Think Dave Grohl Touches People as Deeply as Kurt Did. I Suspect Dave Would Acknowledge That Too |work=[[Ultimate Guitar]] |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Jenke |first=Tyler |date=April 21, 2019 |url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/nirvana-manager-kurt-cobain-last-icon-rock-era/ |title=Nirvana's manager calls Kurt Cobain the 'last icon of the rock era' |work=[[Tone Deaf (magazine)|Tone Deaf]] |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mazzarone |first=Mike |date=April 20, 2019 |url=https://www.alternativenation.net/nirvana-reveal-dave-grohl-made-money-kurt-cobain/ |title=Nirvana Reveal If Dave Grohl Made More Money Than Kurt Cobain |work=Alternative Nation |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref>}}

=== Film and television ===
In the 1998 documentary ''[[Kurt & Courtney]]'', filmmaker [[Nick Broomfield]] investigated Tom Grant's claim that Cobain was actually murdered. He took a film crew to visit a number of people associated with Cobain and Love; Love's father, Cobain's aunt, and one of the couple's former nannies. Broomfield also spoke to [[The Mentors|Mentors]] bandleader [[Eldon Hoke|Eldon "El Duce" Hoke]], who claimed Love offered him {{USD|50,000|long=No}} to kill Cobain. Although Hoke claimed he knew who killed Cobain, he failed to mention a name, and offered no evidence to support his assertion. Broomfield inadvertently captured Hoke's last interview, as he died days later, reportedly hit by a train. However, Broomfield felt he had not uncovered enough evidence to conclude the existence of a conspiracy. In a 1998 interview, Broomfield summed it up by saying:

{{blockquote|I think that he committed suicide. I don't think there's a smoking gun. And I think there's only one way you can explain a lot of things around his death. Not that he was murdered, but that there was just a lack of caring for him. I just think that Courtney had moved on, and he was expendable.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Prairie|url=http://www.minireviews.com/interviews/broomfield.htm|title=Kurt and Courtney: Interview with Nick Broomfield|work=Minireviews.com|access-date=April 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010301212925/http://www.minireviews.com/interviews/broomfield.htm|archive-date=March 1, 2001}}</ref>}}

Broomfield's documentary was noted by ''[[The New York Times]]'' to be a rambling, largely speculative and circumstantial work, relying on flimsy evidence as was his later documentary ''[[Biggie & Tupac]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Leland|first=John|title=New Theories Stir Speculation On Rap Deaths|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/07/arts/new-theories-stir-speculation-on-rap-deaths.html|access-date=September 30, 2013|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 7, 2002|archive-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002202518/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/07/arts/new-theories-stir-speculation-on-rap-deaths.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The documentary ''[[Teen Spirit: The Tribute to Kurt Cobain]]'' was released as a [[home video]] in 1996,<ref>{{cite web |last=Prato |first=Greg |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/teen-spirit-tribute-to-kurt-cobain-dvd-mw0000940490 |title=AllMusic Review |website=[[AllMusic.com]] |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref> and on DVD in 2001.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=August 18, 2001 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/2001/2001-08-18-Billboard-Page-0044.pdf |title=What's In Your DVD Player? - MVD |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref> ''[[The Vigil (1998 film)|The Vigil]]'' is a 1998 [[comedy film]] about a group of young people who travel from [[Lethbridge]], Alberta, Canada to [[Seattle]] in the United States to attend the memorial vigil for Cobain in 1994. It stars [[Donny Lucas]] and [[Trevor White (actor)|Trevor White]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Brennan |first=Sandra |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-vigil-v174337 |title=The Vigil |work=[[AllMovies.com]] |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=April 8, 2015 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/kurt-on-film-a-guide-to-cobains-cinematic-legacy-175517/the-vigil-for-kurt-cobain-1998-226896/ |title=Kurt on Film: A Guide to Cobain's Cinematic Legacy |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref>

[[Gus Van Sant]] loosely based his 2005 movie ''[[Last Days (2005 film)|Last Days]]'' on the events in the final days of Cobain's life, starring [[Michael Pitt]] as the main character Blake who was based on Cobain.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/may/06/cannes2005.cannesfilmfestival |title=Howard Feinstein on Gus Van Sant's new film, Last Days |last=Feinstein |first=Howard |date=May 6, 2005 |website=The Guardian |access-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720114847/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/may/06/cannes2005.cannesfilmfestival |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2006, the [[Jon Brewer]] directed documentary, ''[[All Apologies: Kurt Cobain 10 Years On]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whatisondisneyplus.com/movie/409154/all-apologies-kurt-cobain-10-years-on |title=All Apologies: Kurt Cobain 10 Years On (2006) |website=whatisondisneyplus.com |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Teuton |first=Dan |date=March 14, 2013 |url=https://businessmag.co.uk/profiles-cpt/jon-brewer-emperor-media/ |title=Jon Brewer - Emperor Media |work=businessmag.co.uk |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref> and the [[BBC]] documentary, ''[[The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain]]'', were released.<ref>{{cite news |last=Siegel |first=Tatiana |date=April 15, 2015 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tribeca-my-scientology-movie-filmmakers-884275 |title=Tribeca: 'My Scientology Movie' Filmmakers Were Confronted by Church Members During Shoot |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00795mc |title=The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain |publisher=[[BBC Online]] |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref> In January 2007, Love began to shop the biography ''Heavier Than Heaven'' to various movie studios in Hollywood to turn the book into an [[A-list]] feature film about Cobain and Nirvana.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nirvana-211-1343187 |title=New Kurt Cobain biopic to feature original Nirvana music |date=November 6, 2007 |website=NME |access-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823195509/https://www.nme.com/news/music/nirvana-211-1343187 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A [[Brett Morgen]] film, entitled ''[[Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck]]'', premiered at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] in January 2015, followed by small-screen and cinema releases.<ref name="Hollywood">{{Cite web |last=Siegel |first=Tatiana |date=December 3, 2014 |title=Why Courtney Love Isn't a Producer on Kurt Cobain Documentary |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-courtney-love-isn-t-753391/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730151624/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-courtney-love-isn-t-753391/ |archive-date=July 30, 2021 |access-date=January 30, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Morgen said that documentary "will be this generation's ''[[Pink Floyd – The Wall|The Wall]]''".<ref name="factmag">{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/01/04/director-brett-morgen-reveals-first-details-of-kurt-cobain-documentary/|title=Director Brett Morgen reveals first details of Kurt Cobain documentary|publisher=Factmag.com|date=January 4, 2013|access-date=December 5, 2013|archive-date=November 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105001435/http://www.factmag.com/2013/01/04/director-brett-morgen-reveals-first-details-of-kurt-cobain-documentary/|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Soaked in Bleach]]'' is a 2015 American [[docudrama]] directed by Benjamin Statler. The film details the events leading up to [[Death of Kurt Cobain|the death]] of Kurt Cobain, as seen through the perspective of Tom Grant, the private detective who was hired by [[Courtney Love]] to find Cobain, her husband, shortly before his death in 1994. It also explores the premise that Cobain's death was not a suicide. The film stars Tyler Bryan as Cobain and [[Daniel Roebuck]] as Grant, with Sarah Scott portraying [[Courtney Love]] and [[August Emerson]] as [[Dylan Carlson (musician)|Dylan Carlson]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/soaked-in-bleach-review-kurt-cobain-courtney-love-1201519277/ |title=Film Review: 'Soaked in Bleach' |last=Harvey |first=Dennis |date=June 24, 2015 |website=Variety |access-date=August 23, 2018 |archive-date=June 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628124944/https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/soaked-in-bleach-review-kurt-cobain-courtney-love-1201519277/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Love's legal team issued a cease-and-desist letter against theatres showing the documentary.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2015/06/courtney-love-cease-and-desist-soaked-in-bleach-kurt-cobain-documentary-1201445904/ |title=Courtney Love Sends Cease & Desist Against Kurt Cobain Movie 'Soaked In Bleach' |date=June 16, 2015 |website=Deadline |access-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823195509/https://deadline.com/2015/06/courtney-love-cease-and-desist-soaked-in-bleach-kurt-cobain-documentary-1201445904/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Regarding the depiction of Nirvana, and in particular Kurt Cobain, the indie rock author Andrew Earles wrote:

{{blockquote|Never has a rock band's past been so retroactively distorted into an irreversible fiction by incessant mythologizing, conjecture, wild speculation, and romanticizing rhetoric. The Cobain biographical narrative – specifically in regard to the culturally irresponsible mishandling of subjects such as drug abuse, depression, and suicide – is now impenetrable with inaccurate and overcooked connectivity between that which is completely unrelated, too chronologically disparate, or just plain untrue.|Andrew Earles<ref>{{cite book|last1=Earles|first1=Andrew|last2=Cross|first2=Charles|last3=Gaar|first3=Gillian G.|last4=Gendron|first4=Bob|last5=Martens|first5=Todd|last6=Yarm|first6=Mark|title=Kurt Cobain and Nirvana – Updated Edition: The Complete Illustrated History|publisher=Voyaguer Press|year=2016|chapter=Ch6 – Sigh Eternally|pages=187|isbn=978-0760351789|chapter-url={{Google books|plainurl=yes|id=GwyQDAAAQBAJ|page=187}}}}</ref>}}[[Matt Reeves]]' film ''[[The Batman (film)|The Batman]]'' depicts a version of [[Bruce Wayne]], performed by [[Robert Pattinson]], that was loosely inspired by Cobain. Reeves stated, "when I write, I listen to music, and as I was writing the first act, I put on Nirvana's 'Something in the Way,' that's when it came to me that, rather than make Bruce Wayne the [[playboy lifestyle|playboy]] version we've seen before, there's another version who had gone through a great tragedy and become a [[recluse]]. So I started making this connection to Gus Van Sant's ''Last Days'', and the idea of this fictionalised version of Kurt Cobain being in this kind of decaying manor."<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Batman: Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne Is Inspired By Kurt Cobain, Says Matt Reeves – Exclusive Images|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/the-batman-robert-pattinson-inspired-by-kurt-cobain-matt-reeves-exclusive/|access-date=December 18, 2021|website=Empire|date=December 18, 2021 |archive-date=December 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218153556/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/the-batman-robert-pattinson-inspired-by-kurt-cobain-matt-reeves-exclusive/|url-status=live}}</ref> "Something in the Way" was used in trailers to promote ''The Batman'' prior to its release and is featured twice in the film.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Batman – Movie Trailers – iTunes|url=https://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/the-batman/|access-date=December 18, 2021|website=trailers.apple.com|language=en-US|archive-date=November 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101131957/https://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/the-batman/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Moran |first1=Sarah |title=What Is The Nirvana Song In The Batman? Soundtrack Explained |url=https://screenrant.com/the-batman-soundtrack-guide-song-nirvana/ |access-date=March 5, 2022 |work=Screen Rant |date=March 4, 2022}}</ref>

To mark the 30th anniversary of Cobain's death a new documentary titled ''[[Kurt Cobain: Moments That Shook Music]]'' aired on [[BBC Two]] and [[BBC iPlayer]] on April 13, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001yctz |title=Kurt Cobain: Moments That Shook Music |website=bbc.co.uk |access-date=April 6, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gagliardi |first=Pino |date=April 5, 2024 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/bbc-kurt-cobain-documentary-moments-that-shook-music-1235867231/ |title=30 Years After His Death, BBC to Air Kurt Cobain Documentary |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=April 6, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=March 27, 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/bbc-music-remembers-kurt-cobain |title=BBC Music Remembers Kurt Cobain with range of programmes across the BBC |work=[[BBC Online]] |access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref>

=== Theatre ===
In September 2009, the [[Roy Smiles]] play ''[[Kurt and Sid]]'' debuted at the [[Trafalgar Studios]] in London's West End. The play, set in Cobain's greenhouse on the day of his suicide, revolves around the ghost of [[Sid Vicious]] visiting Cobain to try to convince him not to kill himself. Cobain was played by [[Shaun Evans]].<ref name=Whatsonstage>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8831247477600|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616081828/http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8831247477600|archive-date=June 16, 2011|title=Danny Dyer Plays Vicious in Kurt & Sid Premiere|work=Whatsonstage.com|publisher=[[Whatsonstage]]|date=July 13, 2009|access-date=July 23, 2020}}</ref>

=== Video games ===
{{Further|Guitar Hero 5#Kurt Cobain controversy|label1=''Guitar Hero 5'' § Kurt Cobain controversy}}

Cobain was included as a playable character in the 2009 video game ''[[Guitar Hero 5]]''; he can be used to play songs by Nirvana and other acts. Novoselic and Grohl released a statement condemning the inclusion and urging the developer, [[Activision]], to alter it, saying they had no control over the use of Cobain's likeness. Love denied that she had given permission, saying it was "the result of a cabal of a few assholes' greed", and threatened to sue. The vice-president of Activision said that Love had contributed photos and videos to the development and had been "great to work with".<ref name="Swash2009">{{Cite news |author=Swash, Rosie |date=September 11, 2009 |title=Kurt Cobain video game ''Guitar Hero'' gives Love a bad name |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/sep/11/guitar-hero-upsets-nirvana-fans |url-status=live |access-date=April 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907123317/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/sep/11/guitar-hero-upsets-nirvana-fans |archive-date=September 7, 2013}}</ref>