In honor of what would have been Kurt Cobain's 45th birthday today here is some cool information about the ledgend:

Kurt Cobain Fast Facts

• ·         Born February 20, 1967
  • ·        Grew up in a small logging town in Washington; after his death, a sign was put up in his hometown, which read, “Welcome to Aberdeen – Come As You Are” in his honor
  • ·        Was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and was prescribed Ritalin
  • ·        Grew up a huge fan of the Beatles, particularly John Lennon; also loved Abba (http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/aug/24/grunge-myths-nirvana-kurt-cobain)
  • ·        Bought his first guitar on his 14^th birthday http://music.yahoo.com/kurt-cobain/biography/
  • ·        Was arrested once for spray painting buildings
  • ·        Met Krist Novoselic while in high school; the two eventually started Nirvana together in 1988
  • ·        While Nirvana didn’t start the grunge movement, their album “Nevermind” helped popularize the genre with a mainstream audience
  • ·        Toured with Sonic Youth in 1990; playfully allowed Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon to put lipstick on him in “1991: The Year Punk Broke” http://blog.vh1.com/2011-04-05/remembering-kurt-cobain/
  • ·        Began to use heroin in the early ‘90s; temporarily lost custody of Frances after Courtney Love allegedly admitted to using heroin while pregnant in “Vanity Fair”
  • ·        Married Courtney Love on February 24, 1992; together, they had daughter Frances Bean Cobain
  • ·        Was a social activist, vocally opposing sexism, homophobia and racism
  • ·        Committed suicide in his home on April 5, 1994
  • ·        Nirvana has sold 25 million albums in the US
  • ·        Was named “Rolling Stone” magazine’s 12^th Greatest Guitarist and #45 on their “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” list

Conversation Starters:

• ·         “Smells Like Teen Spirit” or “Come As You Are”?
  • ·        Two years from now will be the 20^th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death. What is the best way to celebrate his legacy?
  • ·        British journalist Everett True said Kurt Cobain loved Nirvana. What band would people be most surprised to discover you liked?

Nirvana RIAA Album Sales:

• ·         “Nevermind” Diamond 10,000,000 copies
  • ·        “MTV Unplugged in New York” Multi-Platinum 5,000,000 copies
  • ·        “In Utero” Multi-Platinum 5,000,000 copies
  • ·        “Bleach” Platinum 1,000,000 copies
  • ·        “From the Muddy Banks of Wishkah” Platinum 1,000,000 copies
  • ·        “With the Lights Out” Platinum 1,000,000 copies
  • ·        “Incesticide” Platinum 1,000,000 copies
  • ·        “Nirvana” Platinum 1,000,000 copies

Nirvana RIAA Single Sales:

• ·         “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Platinum 1,000,000 copies

Billboard Hits:

• ·         1/1992 “Smells Like Teen Spirit” #6
  • ·        5/1992 “Come As You Are” #32
  • ·        11/2002 “You Know You’re Right” #45
  • ·        8/1992 “Lithium” #64

Links:

• ·         Nirvana Band Page: http://www.nirvana.com/
  • ·        Nirvana Fan Club: http://www.nirvanaclub.com/
  • ·        Nirvana Youtube Channel: http://bit.ly/wigW3Q

Vote for your favorite Nirvana song at Loudwire