Kurt Cobain attempted suicide at least once before his death in April 1994. That is one of the many revelations of the HBO documentary “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck.”
The film was put together using some never-before-revealed home videos and personal audiotapes.
In one scene of the film, Kurt Cobain describes a time in high school when he tried to lie in front of an oncoming train, weighted down by cinder blocks, in an attempt to end his life. The rain sped by on a parallel track. Were it not for that error, the world would have had no “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
The documentary also reveals more about Kurt Cobain’s widow, Courtney Love.
“For over 20 years, the public has come to know Courtney through the media’s (filter),” filmmaker Brett Morgen said. One of the interesting things about ‘Montage of Heck’ is we experience Courtney through Kurt’s eyes. And who we come to meet are two young 20-year-olds who are intoxicated with a toxic love. But I think the film really challenges viewers who come to the movie with predisposed ideas about Courtney.”
Just last month, Frances Bean Cobain told Rolling Stone that she actually doesn’t like Nirvana all that much.
“I don’t really like Nirvana that much [grins]. Sorry, promotional people, Universal. I’m more into Mercury Rev, Oasis, Brian Jonestown Massacre [laughs]. The grunge scene is not what I’m interested in. But ‘Territorial Pissings’ [on Nevermind] is a fucking great song. And ‘Dumb’ [on In Utero] – I cry every time I hear that song. It’s a stripped-down version of Kurt’s perception of himself – of himself on drugs, off drugs, feeling inadequate to be titled the voice of a generation.”
“My dad was exceptionally ambitious. But he had a lot thrown on him, exceeding his ambition. He wanted his band to be successful. But he didn’t want to be the fucking voice of a generation.”
One of the toughest things for Frances Bean Cobain, and an odd thing about a dead musician like Kurt, is that his death immortalizes him. This new documentary takes that even further.
“Even though Kurt died in the most horrific way possible, there is this mythology and romanticism that surrounds him, because he’s 27 forever. The shelf life of an artist or musician isn’t particularly long. Kurt has gotten to icon status because he will never age. He will always be that relevant in that time and always be beautiful.”