Three men, one garage, five years of brilliant music, and a career cut tragically short. I’m talking of course about Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. Nirvana produced one of the most prolific and successful short runs in music history. From “About A Girl” released on the infamous SubPop label in 1989, to “You Know You’re Right,” the last full song recorded by Kurt before his tragic death in 1994, Nirvana put together some absolutely epic tracks. And Kurt? He did it with an absolutely glorious beard.
Kurt Cobain was born on February 20, 1967 in Aberdeen, WA. He had a rather difficult life growing up. He was a child of divorce, his father was verbally abusive, and as a teen he would spend much of his time pulling away from his family and getting into drug use. His only solace was his music.
Kurt as a teen would meet his lifelong companion Krist Noveselic hanging out at the practice space of the Seattle band “The Melvins” and not long after this the two men would start playing together. Nirvana would form soon later. The men would go through several drummers before eventually settling on Chad Channing prior to their first album, Bleach, being released and recorded in 1989. However, they were never totally satisfied. Chad Channing would be let go, and replaced with punk drummer Dave Grohl prior to them signing with the Geffen label and releasing their first commercially successful album, Nevermind, in 1991.
Cobain, Noveselic, and Grohl formed the most powerful trio in rock music for three years. Nevermind would be followed by an album of equal or greater prowess in 1993’s In Utero. Nirvana was on top of the world. But tragedy would soon strike.
Kurt Cobain, who had had drug issues since his teen years, unfortunately would succumb to those issues. He would take enough heroin to overdose, take his own life at his home, and then was found dead, on April 5, 1994. He had everything he ever wanted. But soon, just like the song he covered by David Bowie on Nirvana’s Unplugged album, he became the man who sold the world. His problems would cloud his judgment, and it would overwhelm him. Kurt Cobain left this world too soon.
Following Kurt’s death, Noveselic and Grohl would split up, not to play together again for another 17 years. But something interesting did happen, independently of one another – both men would grow incredible beards. Grohl would grow his when he started the Foo Fighters, and it became a signature part of his look. Krist Noveselic grew his off and on during Nirvana’s time in the limelight, but has since made it a regular part of his look. Both men were usually seen clean shaven during Kurt’s life, but when Kurt died it sparked something in them.
All three men have had truly recognizable beards, but at different times. When Kurt was alive his beard was usually thin and blonde, but it was almost always there and became a classic part of the grunge style. The thin unkempt beard that Kurt wore was just as symbolic as the faded, holed-up jeans, and the oversized flannel shirts. If someone had a beard like Kurt’s you unmistakably knew what look they were going for.
Kurt Cobain and the men of Nirvana each had their challenges in life. Kurt Cobain in particular faced some nearly impossible difficulties. But the three men had one of the most remarkable three year runs in music history. Kurt’s fashion sense and style would catapult the world into the grunge era. And Kurt did it nearly the whole time with a glorious beard.
The Glorious Beard Podcast 
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