“We're Nirvana and we really don't particularly like heavy metal.”
1990-08-17 at the Palladium, Hollywood, California
Stage banter
Kurt Cobain: 158 quotes739 likes
Kurt Cobain Quotes
“I found it hard,
It was hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind.”
Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Song lyrics, Nevermind (1991)
“If I went to jail, at least I wouldn't have to sign autographs.”
As quoted in Details (1992-02).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print
“I don't think MTV would let us play that. (After an audience member requests "Rape Me.")”
1993-11-18 at Sony Music Studios, New York City, New York (MTV Unplugged).
Stage banter
“What's the matter with all you people at the back, did you come here to see Gloria Estefan?”
1993-11-27 at AT&T Bayfront Park Amphitheater, Miami, Florida
Stage banter
“Rap music is the only vital form of music introduced since punk rock.”
As quoted in M.E.A.T (1991-09).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print
“I need you around
To remind me what not to become.”
Blandest.
Song lyrics, Posthumously released (post-1994)
As quoted in Flipside (1992-03).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print
to Michael Azerrad in an interview from 1992 or 1993, in Kurt Cobain: About a Son
Interviews (1989-1994), Video
“The duty of youth is to challenge corruption.”
Variant: The duty of youth is to challenge corruption.
“She'll come back as fire
burn all the liars
leave a blanket of ash on the ground”
Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle.
Song lyrics, In Utero (1993)
As quoted in Guitar World (1992-01).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print
“We're waiting for the dinosaurs to die out. They will die. And then we'll move into their homes.”
1992-02-14 at Kokusai Koryu Centre, Osaka, Japan
Stage banter
“And if you save yourself
You will make him happy.”
Sappy
Song lyrics, B-sides and compilation tracks (1989-1993)
As quoted in The NIRVANA Reader: 1988 – 1992 (Published December 2008).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print
“And the flowers sing in D minor
And the birds fly happily.”
Spank Thru.
Song lyrics, B-sides and compilation tracks (1989-1993)
“Thank you, dear God
For putting me on this Earth
I feel very privileged
In debt for my thirst”
Downer
Song lyrics, Bleach (1989)
“I spent all of my life trying to stay away from sports and here I am in a sporting arena.”
1993-12-30 at the Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
Stage banter
From an interview with Marc Coiteux on Musique Plus, 1991-09-21, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Interviews (1989-1994), Video
“In Aberdeen, I hated my best friends with a passion, because they were idiots.”
As quoted in The Daily Of The University Of Washington (1989-05-05).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print
“It's better to burn out than to fade away.”
Quoted by Cobain in his suicide note, this is from the song My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) by Neil Young, from his album Rust Never Sleeps (1979)
Misattributed
Variant: It's better to burn out than fade away.
“There is plenty of Hühnerfleisch in the Kühlschrank. (There is plenty of chicken in the fridge.)”
1991-08-27 at Bremen, Germany
Stage banter
“Teenage angst has paid off well
Now I'm bored and old.”
Serve the Servants.
Song lyrics, In Utero (1993)
“I need an easy friend
I do, with an ear to lend.”
About a Girl.
Song lyrics, Bleach (1989)
As quoted in Option (1992-01-02).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print
“Hope I die before I turn into Pete Townshend.”
As quoted in BAM (1992-01-10).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print
“Hello, we're major label corporate rock sell outs.”
1991-04-17 at the OK Hotel, Seattle, Washington
Stage banter
“I would like to think there's some purity in us, yeah. Naive - y'know, purposely naive.”
From an interview on MTV with Zeca Camargo, 1993-01-21, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Interviews (1989-1994), Video
“If I may, and if I might
Lay me down, weeping.”
Do Re Mi
Song lyrics, Posthumously released (post-1994)
“When I hear the term Right wing I think of Hitler and Satan and Civil war.”
Kurt Cobain book Journals
Source: Journals (2002), p. 259
“I've been waiting for that! (After an audience member requests "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.)”
1993-11-18 at Sony Music Studios, New York City, New York (MTV Unplugged).
Stage banter
“Sell the kids for food
weather changes moods
spring is here again
reproductive glands”
Song lyrics, Nevermind (1991)
“Congratulations, you have won
It's a year's subscription of bad puns.”
Opinion.
Song lyrics, Posthumously released (post-1994)
As quoted in Melody Maker (1992-07-18).
Interviews (1989-1994), Print
Variant: I would only wear a tie dyed T Shirt if it were dyed with the urine of Phil Collins and the blood of Jerry Garcia. [p. 269]
“One baby to another says
I'm lucky to have met you”
Drain You.
Song lyrics, Nevermind (1991)
