Kurt Cobain

Lead singer and guitarist of the Seattle-based rock band Nirvana. Cobain's raw voice and heavy use of guitar feedback exemplified the popular “grunge”rock sound of the early 90s. The guitarist began playing in bands in Olympia, Washington after dropping out of high school in 1985. Nirvana signed with the indie label Sub Pop Records, and releasing Bleach (1989) and Nevermind (1991), which went gold. Instant fame did not sit well with Cobain, and rumors of his heroin use added to the media pressure. After the release of In Utero (1993), Cobain checked into drug-rehab briefly (1994). He committed suicide on April 5, 1994. Cobain was married to actress/musician Courtney Love, with whom he had one child, Frances Bean (b. 1992).