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128-399: Michael Azerrad is an American author, music journalist, editor, and musician. A graduate of Columbia University , he has written for publications such as Spin , Rolling Stone , and The New York Times . Azerrad's 1993 biography Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana was named by Q as one of the 50 greatest rock books ever written. His 2001 book Our Band Could Be Your Life ,

256-531: A Stella 12-string, cost him $ 31.21 . Cobain strung it with six (or sometimes five) strings, and while the guitar's tuners had to be held together with duct tape, it sounded good enough that the guitar was later used to record the Nevermind tracks "Polly" and "Something in the Way." Despite receiving a $ 287,000 advance upon signing with Geffen Records, Cobain retained a preference for inexpensive gear. He became

384-457: A countercultural punk rock community. Vail's lovers were described by her friend Alice Wheeler as "fashion accessories". Cobain wrote many of his songs about Vail. On his 14th birthday, February 20, 1981, Cobain's uncle offered him the choice of either a bike or a used guitar; Kurt chose the guitar. Soon, he was trying to play Led Zeppelin 's song " Stairway to Heaven ". He also learned how to play " Louie Louie ", Queen 's " Another One Bites

512-431: A Cross ", the latter of which featured Cobain performing solo. Cobain was inspired to record the songs after receiving a copy of Lead Belly's Last Sessions from friend Slim Moon ; after hearing it, he "felt a connection to Leadbelly's almost physical expressions of longing and desire." In 1990, Cobain and his girlfriend, Tobi Vail of the riot grrrl band Bikini Kill , collaborated on a musical project called Bathtub

640-481: A Murderer inspired Cobain to write the song " Scentless Apprentice " from In Utero . The book is a historical horror novel about a perfumer 's apprentice born with no body odor of his own but with a highly developed sense of smell, and who attempts to create the "ultimate perfume" by killing virginal women and taking their scent. Cobain immersed himself in artistic projects throughout his life, as much so as he did in songwriting. The sentiments of his artwork followed

768-528: A band with him by lending him a copy of a home demo recorded by Fecal Matter. After months of asking, Novoselic agreed to join Cobain, forming the beginnings of Nirvana. Religion appeared to remain a significant muse to Cobain during this time as he often used Christian imagery in his work and developed an interest in Jainism and Buddhist philosophy. Cobain became disenchanted after early touring because of

896-428: A bank, included "God is gay", "Jesus is gay", "HOMOSEXUAL SEX RULES", and "Everyone is gay". One of his personal journals states, "I am not gay, although I wish I were, just to piss off homophobes." Cobain advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, including traveling to Oregon to perform at a benefit opposing the 1992 Oregon Ballot Measure 9 , and supported local bands with LGBTQ+ members. He reported having felt "different" from

1024-826: A bridge over the Wishkah River , an experience that inspired the song " Something in the Way ". His future bandmate Krist Novoselic later said, "He hung out there, but you couldn't live on those muddy banks, with the tides coming up and down. That was his own revisionism." In late 1986, Cobain moved into an apartment, paying his rent by working at the Polynesian Resort, a themed resort on the Pacific coast at Ocean Shores, Washington approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Aberdeen. During this period, he traveled frequently to Olympia, Washington , to go to rock concerts. During his visits to Olympia, Cobain formed

1152-592: A collection of profiles on prominent indie rock bands, received similar critical acclaim. Azerrad grew up in the New York City area and received his BA degree from Columbia College in 1983. His father was an art director at NBC, and his mother a senior consultant at Art and Technology, a computer consulting firm in San Francisco. During his college years, he was both a roommate and a bandmate of keyboard virtuoso Marc Capelle (who later went on to become

1280-512: A copy of Burroughs' Naked Lunch , purchased from a London bookstall. Cobain met with Burroughs at his home in Lawrence, Kansas in October 1993. Burroughs expressed no surprise at Cobain's death: "It wasn't an act of will for Kurt to kill himself. As far as I was concerned, he was dead already." In a Guitar World retrospective, Cobain's guitar tone was deemed "one of the most iconic" in

1408-561: A couple of records, and now he turns out to be my absolute favorite of all time in music. I absolutely love it more than any rock'n'roll I ever heard." The album MTV Unplugged in New York was released posthumously in 1994. It has drawn comparisons to R.E.M.'s 1992 release, Automatic for the People . In 1993, Cobain had predicted that the next Nirvana album would be "pretty ethereal, acoustic, like R.E.M.'s last album". "Yeah, he talked

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1536-612: A custom Jaguar/Mustang, and a Hi-Flier for the In Utero recording sessions. To tour behind the album, Cobain placed an order for 10 Mustangs split between Fiesta Red and Sonic Blue. As the Fender Custom Shop was new, the guitars were to be shipped out two at a time over a period of months. By the time of his death, Cobain had received six of the guitars. The remaining four, waiting to be shipped, were instead sold as regular stock at Japanese music stores without informing buyers

1664-418: A daughter named Frances . In March 1994, he overdosed on a combination of champagne and Rohypnol , subsequently undergoing an intervention and detox program. On April 8, 1994, he was found dead in the greenhouse of his Seattle home at the age of 27 , with police concluding that he had died around three days earlier from a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. Cobain was posthumously inducted into

1792-628: A devout Christian and attended church services regularly. He later renounced Christianity, engaging in what was described as "anti-God" rants. Kurt claimed that " Lithium " was about his experience while living with the Reed family. He also stated in a 1992 interview that it was a fictionalized account of a man who "turned to religion as a last resort to keep himself alive" after the death of his girlfriend, "to keep him from suicide". However, spirituality remained an important part of Cobain's personal life and beliefs. Although uninterested in sports, Cobain

1920-480: A fan of Japanese-made Fender guitars ahead of recording Nevermind , due to their slim necks and wide availability in lefthanded orientation. These included several Stratocasters fitted with humbucker pickups in the bridge positions, as well as a 1965 Jaguar with DiMarzio pickups and a 1969 Competition Mustang , the latter of which Cobain cited as his favorite, despite noting, "They're cheap and totally inefficient, and they sound like crap and are very small." For

2048-440: A few months [...] But I knew that I liked Courtney so much right away that it was a really hard struggle to stay away from her for so many months." Everett True , who was an associate of both Cobain and Love, disputes those versions of events in his 2006 book, claiming that he himself introduced the couple on May 17, 1991. Cobain was already aware of Love through her role in the 1987 film Straight to Hell . According to True,

2176-434: A gay student at school and was bullied by peers who concluded that he was gay. In an interview, he said that he liked being associated with a gay identity because he did not like people, and when they thought he was gay they left him alone. He said, "I started being really proud of the fact that I was gay even though I wasn't." Cobain backed away in an occasion where this friend tried to kiss him, explaining to his friend that he

2304-597: A great composer," and noted that, "I have great respect for him." Cobain was also a fan of protopunk acts like the Stooges , whose 1973 album Raw Power he listed as his favorite of all time in his journals. The 1980s American alternative rock band Pixies were instrumental in helping an adult Cobain develop his own songwriting style. In a 1992 interview with Melody Maker , Cobain said that hearing their 1988 debut album, Surfer Rosa , "convinced him to abandon his more Black Flag-influenced songwriting in favor of

2432-414: A group of other students from King's College, he joined a volunteer militia company called the " Hearts of Oak " and achieved the rank of Lieutenant. They adopted distinctive uniforms, complete with the words "Liberty or Death" on their hatbands, and drilled under the watchful eye of a former British officer in the graveyard of the nearby St. Paul's Chapel . In August 1775, while under fire from HMS Asia ,

2560-528: A job caused arguments that influenced Cobain to write the song " About a Girl ", which appeared on the Nirvana album Bleach . Marander is credited with having taken the cover photo for the album, as well as the front and back cover photos of their Blew single. She did not become aware that Cobain wrote "About a Girl" about her until years after his death. Soon after his separation from Marander, Cobain began dating Tobi Vail , an influential punk zinester of

2688-411: A lot about what direction he was heading in", Cobain's friend, R.E.M.'s lead singer Michael Stipe , told Newsweek in 1994. "I mean, I know what the next Nirvana recording was going to sound like. It was going to be very quiet and acoustic, with lots of stringed instruments. It was going to be an amazing fucking record, and I'm a little bit angry at him for killing himself. He and I were going to record

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2816-434: A major early musical influence on Cobain; his admiration for them led him to drive their van on tour and help them to carry their equipment. He and Novoselic watched hundreds of Melvins rehearsals and "learned almost everything from them", as stated by Cobain. The Melvins' heavy, grungey sound was mimicked by Nirvana on many songs from Bleach ; in an early interview given by Nirvana, Cobain stated that their biggest fear

2944-443: A member of American Music Club .) May 21, 1988 he married Julia Barnett Just. After college, Azerrad played drums in various small bands while pursuing a career in music journalism . Besides writing features for Spin , Musician and Details , and a stint at MTV News from 1987 through 1992, Azerrad wrote several hundred pieces for Rolling Stone from 1987 through 1993, including cover stories on The B-52's and Nirvana , and

3072-651: A recording of " The Junky's Christmas " (which he recorded in his studio in Lawrence, Kansas ). Two months later at a studio in Seattle , Cobain added guitar backing based on "Silent Night" and "To Anacreon in Heaven". The two would meet shortly later in Lawrence, Kansas and produce " The 'Priest' They Called Him ", a spoken word version of "The Junky's Christmas". The Beatles were an early and lasting influence on Cobain; his aunt Mari remembers him singing " Hey Jude " at

3200-518: A relationship with Tracy Marander. Their relationship was close but strained by financial problems and Cobain's absence when touring. Marander supported the couple by working at the cafeteria of the Boeing plant in Auburn, Washington , often stealing food. Cobain spent most of his time sleeping into the late evening, watching television, and concentrating on art projects. Marander's insistence that he get

3328-413: A result, alternative rock became a dominant genre on radio and music television in the U.S. during the first half of the 1990s. Nirvana was considered the "flagship band of Generation X ", and Cobain found himself reluctantly anointed by the media as the generation's "spokesman". He resented this characterization since he believed his artistic message had been misinterpreted by the public. When you're in

3456-547: A river after discovering his infidelity. Upon forming what would be Nirvana, Cobain was playing a Fender Champ amplifier and a righthanded Univox Hi-Flier guitar he flipped over and strung for lefthanded playing. For the recording of Bleach , Cobain needed to borrow a Fender Twin Reverb due to his main amplifier, a solid-state Randall , being repaired at the time, but as the Twin Reverb's speakers were blown, he

3584-592: A satin and lace dress once owned by Frances Farmer, and Cobain donned a Guatemalan purse and wore green pajamas, because he had been "too lazy to put on a tux." Eight people were in attendance at the ceremony, including Grohl, but not Novoselic. Love said she was warned by the Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon that marrying Cobain would "destroy her life"; Love responded: "'Whatever! I love him, and I want to be with him!' ... It wasn't his fault. He wasn't trying to do that." The couple's daughter, Frances Bean Cobain ,

3712-443: A self-inflicted gunshot wound. Azerrad spent many months interviewing the band members and their friends, relatives and associates, and Cobain and the other members of the band shared a wide variety of archival materials with him, many of which are reproduced in the book. In 2000, Q magazine named it one of the 50 greatest rock books ever written. His subsequent book, Our Band Could Be Your Life ( Little, Brown and Company , 2001)

3840-464: A side project known as the Jury. The band featured Cobain on vocals and guitar, Mark Lanegan on vocals, Krist Novoselic on bass, and Mark Pickerel on drums. Over two days of recording sessions, on August 20 and 28, 1989, the band recorded four songs also performed by Lead Belly ; " Where Did You Sleep Last Night? ", an instrumental version of " Grey Goose ", " Ain't It a Shame ", and " They Hung Him on

3968-521: A swimming test before receiving their diploma. The foreign language requirement, however, may be skipped if the student passes a placement exam or demonstrates requisite proficiency. Most students graduate within four years with a Bachelor of Arts degree . Most of the college's facilities are located on Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus, especially in Hamilton Hall , which houses its administrative and admissions offices, as well as

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4096-882: A teenager living in Montesano, Washington , Cobain eventually found escape through the thriving Pacific Northwest punk scene, going to punk rock shows in Seattle. During his second year in high school, Cobain began living with his mother in Aberdeen. Two weeks prior to graduation, he dropped out of Aberdeen High School upon realizing that he did not have enough credits to graduate. His mother gave him an ultimatum: find employment or leave. After one week, Cobain found his clothes and other belongings packed away in boxes. Feeling banished, Cobain stayed with friends, occasionally sneaking back into his mother's basement. Cobain also claimed that, during periods of homelessness, he lived under

4224-498: A therapist who concluded that he would benefit from a single-family environment. Both sides of the family unsuccessfully attempted to reunite his parents. On June 28, 1979, Cobain's mother granted full custody to his father. Cobain's teenage rebellion quickly became overwhelming for his father who placed him in the care of family and friends. While living with the born-again Christian family of his friend Jesse Reed, Cobain became

4352-507: A trend towards applicants applying to more than seven different institutions – an increasingly "scattershot approach" when compared to applications in the 1990s. Columbia College (including Columbia Engineering ) has an admittance rate that places it among the most selective of American colleges. For the fall term of 2010, there were 26,178 applicants for 2,397 placements in the Class of 2014, for an acceptance rate of 9.16%. By

4480-525: A trial run of the album, a demo tape. It was all set up. He had a plane ticket. He had a car picking him up. And at the last minute he called and said, 'I can't come. ' " Stipe was chosen as the godfather of Cobain's and Courtney Love 's daughter, Frances Bean Cobain . According to Grohl, Cobain believed that music comes first and lyrics second; he focused primarily on the melodies. He complained when fans and rock journalists attempted to decipher his singing and extract meaning from his lyrics, writing: "Why in

4608-537: A tribute to Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. Recollecting touring with his band, Cobain stated, "I used to take a nap in the van and listen to Queen. Over and over again and drain the battery on the van. We'd be stuck with a dead battery because I'd listened to Queen too much". He was introduced to punk rock and hardcore music by his Aberdeen classmate Buzz Osborne , lead singer and guitarist of the Melvins , who taught Cobain about punk by loaning him records and old copies of

4736-494: A variety of denominations as a response to its growing reputation as one of the finest institutions of higher learning in the new nation. Columbia was located at its Park Place campus near New York City Hall for nearly a century, from approximately 1760 to 1857, at which point the college moved to 49th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan . During the college's forty years at this third location, in addition to granting

4864-794: A village near Omagh in County Tyrone in Ulster , the northern province in Ireland. Researchers found that they were shoemakers, originally surnamed Cobane, and were Ulster Scots people who came from the Inishatieve area of Carrickmore. They first settled in Canada, where they lived in Cornwall, Ontario , before moving to Washington . Cobain mistakenly believed that his Irish ancestors came from County Cork . His younger sister, Kimberly,

4992-466: A whole relocated to the new campus in 1897. The academic history of traditions of Columbia College clearly had their beginnings in the classical education of the Enlightenment, and in this mold, the college's famous Core Curriculum was officially recognized and codified in 1919 with John Erskine's first seminar on the great books of the western tradition. Also in 1919, a course, War and Peace,

5120-439: Is Real in which they both sang and played guitar and drums. They recorded their songs on a four-track tape machine that belonged to Vail's father. In Everett True 's 2009 book Nirvana: The Biography , Vail is quoted as saying that Cobain "would play the songs he was writing, I would play the songs I was writing and we'd record them on my dad's four-track. Sometimes I'd sing on the songs he was writing and play drums on them ... He

5248-516: The In Utero tour in late 1993 and early 1994. Cobain even invited his favorite musicians to perform with him: ex- Germs guitarist Pat Smear joined the band in 1993, and the Meat Puppets appeared onstage during Nirvana's 1993 MTV Unplugged appearance to perform three songs from their second album, Meat Puppets II . Nirvana's Unplugged set includes renditions of " The Man Who Sold

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5376-660: The Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine degrees, the faculties of the college were expanded to include the Columbia Law School (founded 1858), the Columbia School of Mines (founded 1864, now known as the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science ). The Columbia School of Mines awarded the first Ph.D. from Columbia in 1875. At this time, Columbia College was now not only

5504-680: The Iggy Pop /Aerosmith-type songwriting that appeared on Nevermind . In a 1993 interview with Rolling Stone , he said that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was his attempt at "trying to rip off the Pixies. I have to admit it. When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band—or at least a Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard". Cobain's appreciation of early alternative rock bands also extended to Sonic Youth and R.E.M. , both of which

5632-652: The Incubate Festival (the Netherlands). In 2006, Azerrad co-produced an award-winning documentary about Kurt Cobain , Kurt Cobain About a Son . He is the editor of See a Little Light , the autobiography of former Hüsker Dü and Sugar leader Bob Mould , published by Little, Brown in June 2011. During 2008/2009 Kingston, UK band Tubelord used Azerrad's name in their single "I Am Azerrad," which includes

5760-593: The Indianapolis Colts , for $ 4.5 million , with an original estimate of $ 600,000 . There are differing accounts of exactly when and how Kurt Cobain first met Courtney Love. In his 1993 authorized biography of Nirvana, Michael Azerrad cites a January 21, 1989, Dharma Bums gig in Portland where Nirvana played as support, while the Charles R. Cross 2001 Cobain biography has Love and Cobain meeting at

5888-509: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , alongside Nirvana bandmates Novoselic and Grohl, in their first year of eligibility in 2014. Rolling Stone included him on its lists of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time , 100 Greatest Guitarists, and 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. He was ranked 7th by MTV in the "22 Greatest Voices in Music", and was placed 20th by Hit Parader on their 2006 list of

6016-572: The Seattle music scene that later became known as grunge . Burckhard was replaced by Chad Channing before the band released their debut album Bleach (1989) on Sub Pop , after which Channing was in turn replaced by Dave Grohl . With this finalized lineup, the band signed with DGC and found commercial success with the single " Smells Like Teen Spirit " from their critically acclaimed second album Nevermind (1991). Cobain wrote many other hit Nirvana songs such as " Come as You Are ", " Lithium ", " In Bloom ", " Heart-Shaped Box ", and " Something in

6144-491: The riot grrrl band Bikini Kill who embraced the DIY ethos. After meeting Vail, Cobain vomited, overwhelmed with anxiety caused by his infatuation with her. This event inspired the lyric "love you so much it makes me sick" in the song " Aneurysm ". While Cobain regarded Vail as his female counterpart, his relationship with her waned; he desired the maternal comfort of a traditional relationship, which Vail regarded as sexist within

6272-608: The "100 Greatest Metal Singers of All Time". Kurt Donald Cobain was born at Grays Harbor Hospital in Aberdeen, Washington , on February 20, 1967, the son of waitress Wendy Elizabeth (née Fradenburg; 1947-2021) and car mechanic Donald Leland Cobain (born 1946). His parents married in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho , on July 31, 1965. Cobain had Dutch, English, French, German, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. The Cobain surname comes from his Irish ancestors, who emigrated in 1875 from Carrickmore ,

6400-541: The Beatles! . Cobain was also a fan of 1970s hard rock and heavy metal bands, including Led Zeppelin , AC/DC , Black Sabbath , Aerosmith , Queen , and Kiss . Nirvana occasionally played cover songs by these bands, including Led Zeppelin's " Heartbreaker ", " Moby Dick " and " Immigrant Song ", Black Sabbath's " Hand of Doom ", and Kiss' " Do You Love Me? " and wrote the Incesticide song "Aero Zeppelin" as

6528-699: The Detroit-based magazine Creem . Punk rock proved to be a profound influence on a teenaged Cobain's attitude and artistic style. His first punk rock album was Sandinista! by the Clash , but he became a bigger fan of fellow 1970s British punk band the Sex Pistols , describing them as "one million times more important than the Clash" in his journals. He quickly discovered contemporary American hardcore bands like Black Flag , Bad Brains , Millions of Dead Cops and Flipper . The Melvins themselves were

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6656-689: The Dust ", and the Cars ' " My Best Friend's Girl ", before he began working on his own songs. Cobain played left-handed, despite being forced to write right-handed. In early 1985, Cobain formed Fecal Matter after he had dropped out of Aberdeen High School . One of "several joke bands" that arose from the circle of friends associated with the Melvins , it initially featured Cobain singing and playing guitar, Melvins drummer Dale Crover playing bass, and Greg Hokanson playing drums. They spent several months rehearsing original material and covers, including songs by

6784-623: The Hearts of Oak (the "Corsicans") participated in a successful raid to seize cannon from the Battery , becoming an artillery unit thereafter. Ironically, in 1776 Captain Hamilton would engage in the Battle of Harlem Heights , which took place on and around the site that would later become home to his alma mater more than a century later, only to be entombed after his dueling death some years later at

6912-594: The Macaroons, whose debut album Let's Go Coconuts was released by JDub Records in spring 2010. Columbia College of Columbia University Columbia College is distinctive for its comprehensive Core Curriculum and is among the most selective of American colleges, with an admission rate of 3.85% in 2024. Columbia College was founded as King's College in 1754 in the Province of New York by royal charter from King George II of Great Britain . Owing in part to

7040-553: The Morningside Heights main campus or within 10 blocks of the 116th Street entrance. First-year students are housed on the main quad in John Jay , Carman , Wallach , Hartley and Furnald Halls . The two main dining facilities are John Jay Dining Hall and Ferris Booth Commons; all freshmen are required to have a full meal plan. Other school dining facilities available on the Morningside Heights campus are located in

7168-520: The Ramones , Led Zeppelin , and Jimi Hendrix . During high school, Cobain rarely found anyone with whom he could play music. While hanging out at the Melvins' practice space, he met Krist Novoselic , a fellow devotee of punk rock. Novoselic's mother owned a hair salon, and the pair occasionally practiced in the upstairs room of the salon. A few years later, Cobain tried to convince Novoselic to form

7296-731: The Trinity Church site to one along Park Place, near the city commons and today's New York City Hall . In 1767, Samuel Bard established a medical college at the school, now known as the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons , which was the first medical school to grant the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree in America. Due to the American Revolutionary War , instruction

7424-431: The Way ". Although he was hailed as the voice of his generation following Nirvana's sudden success, he was uncomfortable with this role. During his final years, Cobain struggled with a heroin addiction, stomach pain, and chronic depression. He also struggled with the personal and professional pressures of fame, and was often in the spotlight for his tumultuous marriage to fellow musician Courtney Love , with whom he had

7552-654: The World ", by David Bowie , and the American folk song, " Where Did You Sleep Last Night ", as adapted by Lead Belly . Cobain introduced the latter by calling Lead Belly his favorite performer, and in a 1993 interview revealed he had been introduced to him from reading the American author William S. Burroughs , saying: "I remember [Burroughs] saying in an interview, 'These new rock'n'roll kids should just throw away their guitars and listen to something with real soul, like Leadbelly.' I'd never heard about Leadbelly before so I bought

7680-474: The age of two. "My aunts would give me Beatles records", Cobain told Jon Savage in 1993, "so for the most part [I listened to] the Beatles [as a child], and if I was lucky, I'd be able to buy a single." Cobain expressed a particular fondness for John Lennon , whom he called his "idol" in his posthumously released journals , and he said that he wrote the song "About a Girl", from Nirvana's 1989 debut album Bleach , after spending three hours listening to Meet

7808-536: The album, Cobain used a rackmount system featuring a Mesa/Boogie Studio preamp, a Crown power amp, and Marshall cabinets. He also used a Vox AC30 and a Fender Bassman . Producer Butch Vig preferred to avoid pedals, but allowed Cobain to use his Boss DS-1, which Cobain considered a key part of his sound, as well as an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff fuzz pedal and a Small Clone chorus, which can be heard on songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Come As You Are," and "Aneurysm." Cobain used his '69 Mustang, '65 Jaguar,

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7936-624: The band record their 1991 major-label debut, Nevermind . With Nevermind ' s lead single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", Nirvana quickly entered the mainstream, popularizing a subgenre of alternative rock called " grunge ". Since their debut, Nirvana has sold over 28 million albums in the United States alone and over 75 million worldwide. The success of Nevermind provided numerous Seattle bands, such as Alice in Chains , Pearl Jam , and Soundgarden , access to wider audiences. As

8064-516: The band's inability to draw substantial crowds and the difficulty in supporting themselves financially. During their first few years playing together, Novoselic and Cobain were hosts to a succession of drummers. Eventually, the band settled on Chad Channing with whom Nirvana recorded the album Bleach , released on Sub Pop Records in 1989. Cobain, however, became dissatisfied with Channing's style and subsequently fired him. He and Novoselic eventually hired Dave Grohl to replace Channing. Grohl helped

8192-721: The board count among them PBS president Lawrence K. Grossman , Thomson Reuters CEO Tom Glocer , hedge fund manager Mark E. Kingdon , Bain Capital co-managing partner Jonathan Lavine , Univision CFO Frank Lopez-Balboa, airline investor Frank Lorenzo , real estate developer Philip L. Milstein , H.I.G. Capital founder Sami Mnaymneh, KKR executive Alex Navab , C-SPAN co-founder Robert Rosencrans , Tishman Speyer CEO Rob Speyer , healthcare entrepreneur Daniel E. Straus . Many eminent individuals have attended or taught at Columbia College or King's College, its predecessor. Among those College alumni categorized as "remarkable" by

8320-695: The board currently include ZhenFund CEO Anna Fang , JP Morgan Chase global head of research Joyce Chang, Virtu Financial CEO Doug Cifu, Academy Award -winning producer Dede Gardner , former NYC Commissioner for Consumer and Worker Protection Peter Hatch , USRowing Chairman and president Nobuhisa Ishizuka, HEICO co-president Eric Mendelson, Sixth Street Partners co-founder Vijay Mohan, Warner Bros. General Counsel John Rogovin, Morgan Stanley 's global head of technology Robert Rooney, HNA Group CEO Tan Xiangdong , former FTC Commissioner Mozelle W. Thompson , Happy Family CEO Shazi Visram , and hedge fund manager William von Mueffling . Former members of

8448-400: The body—there was something about anatomy. He really liked that. You look at his art—there are these people, and they're all weird, like mutants. And dolls—creepy dolls." Cobain contributed backing guitar for a spoken word recording of beat poet William S. Burroughs ' entitled The "Priest" They Called Him . Cobain regarded Burroughs as a hero. During Nirvana's European tour Cobain kept

8576-651: The book in "Words and Music: Our 60 Favorite Music Books." Azerrad wrote liner notes for various albums and DVDs by artists including: Paul McCartney , Miles Davis , Gang of Four , Violent Femmes , Screaming Trees , Guided by Voices , Meat Puppets , the Jesus Lizard , the B-52's , the live comedy series Invite Them Up and the 1991 cult TV series Fishing with John . He has spoken at various music festivals and conventions, including SXSW (USA), CMJ (USA), Insound (Australia), by:Larm (Norway), Orloff 5 (Brazil), and

8704-436: The central administration of the university. The complexity of managing the institution had been further increased when Barnard College for Women became affiliated with Columbia in 1889 followed by Teachers College of Columbia University in 1891. Also by this time, graduate faculties issuing the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in philosophy, political science, and the natural sciences had also developed. Thus, in 1896,

8832-529: The chart-topping alt-rock band Vampire Weekend . Among its graduates and attendees, Columbia College can count at least 16 Nobel Prize winners, 8 Emmy Award winners, 8 Tony Award winners, over 20 Academy Award winners, and 40 Pulitzer Prize winners. 40°48′28″N 73°57′46″W  /  40.8079°N 73.9628°W  / 40.8079; -73.9628 Kurt Cobain Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – c. April 5, 1994)

8960-629: The directors of the Core Curriculum. Butler Library , Columbia University's main library, is home to more than 2 million volumes of the university's humanities collection. The facility recently underwent an extensive four-year renovation, including the creation of a new wing, named Philip L. Milstein Family College Library in honor of its donor. Included is a specialized collection of approximately 100,000 volumes containing subject matter in history, literature, philosophy, and

9088-406: The divorce had a profound effect on his life, and his mother noted that his personality changed dramatically; Cobain became defiant and withdrawn. In a 1993 interview, he said he felt "ashamed" of his parents as a child and had desperately wanted to have a "typical family ... I wanted that security, so I resented my parents for quite a few years because of that." His parents found new partners after

9216-409: The divorce. Although his father had promised not to remarry, he married Jenny Westeby, to Kurt's dismay. Cobain, his father, Westeby, and her two children, Mindy and James, moved into a new household. Cobain liked Westeby at first, as she gave him the maternal attention he desired. In January 1979, Westeby gave birth to a boy, Chad Cobain. This new family, which Cobain insisted was not his real one,

9344-405: The fall term of 2024, applications had more than doubled, with 60,248 applicants for 2,319 placements in the Class of 2028, for an acceptance rate of 3.85%. Columbia College has long been known for its rigorous Core Curriculum , a series of mandatory classes and distribution requirements that form the heart of Columbia College students' academic experience. Students are also required to pass

9472-706: The first Chief Justice of the United States ; Robert Livingston , one of the Committee of Five who drafted the Declaration of Independence ; and Gouverneur Morris , one of the Committee of Detail who finished the last draft of the United States Constitution . Hamilton's first experience with the military came while a student during the summer of 1775, after the outbreak of fighting at Boston . Along with Nicholas Fish , Robert Troup , and

9600-537: The first concert he attended was Sammy Hagar and Quarterflash , held at the Seattle Center Coliseum in 1983. Cobain, however, claimed that the first live show he attended was the Melvins, when they played a free concert outside the Thriftway supermarket where Osborne worked. Cobain wrote in his journals of this experience, as well as in interviews, singling out the impact it had on him. As

9728-480: The focus of the newly rearranged Columbia University , Low was also responsible for the monumental relocation of the university to its current location atop a hill in Morningside Heights in uptown Manhattan . A tract for the campus was purchased, which extended from 114th St. to 120th St. between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue . Charles McKim of McKim, Mead, and White was selected to design

9856-537: The gay community in The Advocate , stating, "I'm definitely gay in spirit and I probably could be bisexual" and "if I wouldn't have found Courtney, I probably would have carried on with a bisexual life-style", but also that he was "more sexually attracted to women". He described himself as being "feminine" in childhood, and often wore dresses and other stereotypically feminine clothing. Some of his song lyrics, as well as phrases he would use to vandalize vehicles and

9984-573: The greatest. They've dealt with their success like saints, and they keep delivering great music". After attaining mainstream success, Cobain became a devoted champion of lesser known indie bands, covering songs by the Vaselines , Meat Puppets , Wipers and Fang onstage and/or in the studio, wearing Daniel Johnston T-shirts during photo shoots, having the K Records logo tattooed on his forearm, and enlisting bands like Butthole Surfers , Shonen Knife , Chokebore and Half Japanese along for

10112-479: The guitars had been made for Cobain. For Nirvana's Unplugged performance, Cobain played a righthanded 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic guitar modified for lefthanded playing. The guitar became the most expensive ever sold when it fetched over $ 6 million at auction in 2020. Cobain's 1969 Competition Mustang, which he also played in the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video, sold at a 2022 auction to Jim Irsay , owner of

10240-449: The hell do journalists insist on coming up with a second-rate Freudian evaluation of my lyrics, when 90 percent of the time they've transcribed them incorrectly?" Though Cobain insisted on the subjectivity and unimportance of his lyrics, he labored and procrastinated in writing them, often changing the content and order of lyrics during performances. Cobain would describe his own lyrics as "a big pile of contradictions. They're split down

10368-463: The highest since the early 1970s. In the 1980s and 1990s, the college experienced a drastic increase in gifts and endowment growth, propelling it from the periphery to the forefront of a university historically dominated by its graduate & professional schools. During the leadership of university presidents Michael Sovern and George Erik Rupp , many of Columbia College's facilities were extensively expanded and renovated. The number of residence halls

10496-404: The history of the electric guitar, while noting that rather than relying on expensive or vintage items, Cobain used "an eccentric cache of budget models, low-end imports and pawn shop prizes." Cobain stated in a 1992 interview, "Junk is always best," but denied this was a punk statement and claimed it was a necessity, as he had trouble finding high quality lefthanded guitars. Cobain's first guitar

10624-401: The image was inappropriate for a school hallway. He then drew an image of then-President Ronald Reagan that was seen as "unflattering". Through art and electronics classes, Cobain met Roger "Buzz" Osborne , singer and guitarist of the Melvins , who became his friend and introduced him to punk rock and hardcore music. As attested to by several of Cobain's classmates and family members,

10752-609: The influence of the Church of England , a site was chosen for the new college within the churchyard of Trinity Church on Broadway opposite Wall Street in New York City. The college remained at this site for less than a decade. The college chose Samuel Johnson to be its first president. He was also the college's first (and for a time only) professor. During this period, classes and examinations, both oral and written, were conducted entirely in Latin . By 1760, Columbia had relocated from

10880-402: The late 1960s. The scores were, however, similar to other Ivy schools except Harvard , Yale , and Princeton —a position not acceptable to Columbia's ambitious administration. After two committees reported in 1980 and 1981 that the all-male college's competitiveness with other Ivy League universities was decreasing, women were admitted in 1983. The median SAT score of the class of 1991 was

11008-519: The line "I kill today, I'll kill you Azerrad," prompting Azerrad to write a humorous essay about the experience for Spin magazine . Azerrad was a member of now-defunct indie band the King of France, whose self-titled debut album was released in 2004. In 2005, he became an original member of Reprise Records recording artists the LeeVees . In summer 2009, he became a founding member of children's music band

11136-1962: The list. Major publishers included were Alfred Knopf , Arthur Sulzberger , and Bennett Cerf . Rabbi Stephen Wise is also considered prominent. Columbia College graduates recognized in the arts include pianist Emanuel Ax , actor James Cagney , musician Art Garfunkel , composers Richard Rodgers and John Corigliano , lyricists Oscar Hammerstein II and Lorenz Hart , playwrights Samuel Spewack , Tony Kushner and Terrence McNally , writers Jack Kerouac , Allen Ginsberg , Herman Wouk , John Berryman , Thomas Merton , Clement Clarke Moore , Ben Coes , and Clifton Fadiman , screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz , filmmaker Joseph Mankiewicz , sculptor Isamu Noguchi , and violinist Gil Shaham . Architects James Renwick Jr. , Robert A.M. Stern , engineer William Barclay Parsons , baseball player Lou Gehrig , football player Sid Luckman , and business leader John Kluge were also Columbia College students. Additionally, highly visible former Columbia College students in recent years include former President Barack Obama , former United States Attorney General William Barr , and former Attorneys General Michael Mukasey and Eric Holder , New York Governor David Paterson , New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg , former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti , Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke , New York Congressman Jerry Nadler , Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves , political advisor and commentator George Stephanopoulos , actors Maggie Gyllenhaal , Jake Gyllenhaal , Anna Paquin , Casey Affleck , Amanda Peet , Matthew Fox , Timothée Chalamet , George Segal , Julia Stiles , Cinta Laura , and Kate McKinnon , radio personality Max Kellerman , directors Jim Jarmusch , Brian De Palma and Bill Condon , television showrunners Jenji Kohan and Beau Willimon , writer Paul Auster , historian Eric Foner , and

11264-520: The media, comparing himself to Frances Farmer whom he named a song after. He began to harbor resentment against people who claimed to be fans of the band yet refused to acknowledge, or misinterpreted, the band's social and political views. A vocal opponent of sexism, racism, sexual assault, and homophobia, he was publicly proud that Nirvana had played at a gay rights benefit concert that was held to oppose Oregon's 1992 Ballot Measure 9 , which would have directed Oregon schools to teach that homosexuality

11392-467: The members of Nirvana befriended and looked up to for advice. It was under recommendation from Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon that Nirvana signed to DGC in 1990, and both bands did a two-week tour of Europe in the summer of 1991, as documented in the 1992 documentary, 1991: The Year Punk Broke . In 1993, Cobain said of R.E.M.: "If I could write just a couple of songs as good as what they've written... I don't know how that band does what they do. God, they're

11520-399: The middle between very sincere opinions that I have and sarcastic opinions and feelings that I have and sarcastic and hopeful, humorous rebuttals toward cliché bohemian ideals that have been exhausted for years." Cobain originally wanted Nevermind to be divided into two sides: a "Boy" side, for the songs written about the experiences of his early life and childhood, and a "Girl" side, for

11648-468: The name of the original undergraduate college founded as King's College, but it also encompassed all of the other colleges and schools of the institution. (Though technically known as the "School of Arts", the undergraduate division was often called "The College proper " to avoid confusion.) After Seth Low became president of Columbia College in 1890, he advocated the division of the individual schools and colleges into their own semi-autonomous entities under

11776-572: The new campus, which was to be patterned after the buildings of the Italian Renaissance . While most American universities at this point had followed more medieval and Gothic styles of architecture, the neoclassical style of the new Columbia University campus was meant to reflect the institution's roots in the Enlightenment and the spirit of intellectual discovery of the period. Columbia College and Columbia University as

11904-474: The original home of King's College in Trinity Church yard. With the successful Treaty of Paris in 1783, the domestic situation was stable enough for the college to resume classes in 1784. With the new nation's independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain , the name of the institution was changed from King's College to Columbia College, the name by which the institution continues to be known today. The college

12032-627: The pair were formally introduced at an L7 and Butthole Surfers concert in Los Angeles in May 1991. In the weeks that followed, after learning from Grohl that Cobain shared mutual interests with her, Love began pursuing Cobain. In late 1991, the two were often together and bonded through drug use. On February 24, 1992, a few days after the conclusion of Nirvana's " Pacific Rim " tour, Cobain and Love were married on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. Love wore

12160-481: The person in the song is feeling. Very lonely, sick." While Cobain regarded In Utero as "for the most part very impersonal", its lyrics deal with his parents' divorce, his newfound fame and the public image and perception of himself and Courtney Love on "Serve the Servants", with his enamored relationship with Love conveyed through lyrical themes of pregnancy and the female anatomy on " Heart-Shaped Box ." Cobain

12288-516: The piano and singing, writing a song about a trip to a park. He listened to artists including Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and, from a young age, would sing songs including Arlo Guthrie 's "Motorcycle Song", the Beatles ' " Hey Jude ", Terry Jacks ' " Seasons in the Sun ", and the theme song to the Monkees television show . When Cobain was nine years old, his parents divorced. He later said

12416-623: The proposed expansion plan. A fence at the site was torn down, and police arrested one student, whose release became one of the demands of the protest. After five days, the functions of the university were brought to a halt, and early on the morning of April 30 the students were forcibly removed by the New York City Police Department . As a result of the student protests, the university president Grayson L. Kirk retired, classified research projects on campus were abruptly ended, long-standing ROTC programs were expelled, and

12544-407: The proposed expansion plans were canceled. The university experienced financial difficulties throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, and admissions standards in the college slightly relaxed to hasten the diversification of the student body following the 1968 protests. Paralleling a national trend after 1970, Columbia classes in the 1970s and 1980s, earned lower SAT scores than did Columbia students in

12672-460: The public eye, you have no choice but to be raped over and over again – they'll take every ounce of blood out of you until you're exhausted. ... I'm looking forward to the future. It will only be another year and then everyone will forget about it. —Kurt Cobain on the overwhelming media attention after Nevermind , 1992 Cobain struggled to reconcile the massive success of Nirvana with his underground roots and vision. He also felt persecuted by

12800-458: The public. The college's board of visitors is an independent and self-governing advisory body composed of college alumni and parents. The board advocates for the interest of the college among the Columbia community, New York city and beyond. It also provides advice to the dean in identifying and addressing both immediate challenges and short-and long-term opportunities for the college. Members of

12928-628: The recently remodeled student center, Alfred Lerner Hall , Faculty House, and Uris Hall. In 2011, after the resignation of Michele Moody-Adams , James Valentini replaced her as Dean of Columbia College. The students of Columbia College elect the Columbia College Student Council (CCSC) to serve as their primary representative, advocate, and liaison to the Columbia University community, including its administration, faculty, alumni and students, as well as to

13056-455: The same Satyricon nightclub venue in Portland but a different Nirvana show, January 12, 1990, when both still led ardent underground rock bands. Love made advances soon after they met, but Cobain was evasive. Early in their interactions, Cobain broke off dates and ignored Love's advances because he was unsure if he wanted a relationship. Cobain noted, "I was determined to be a bachelor for

13184-428: The same subjects of his lyrics, often expressed through a dark and macabre sense of humor. Noted were his fascination with physiology , his own rare medical conditions, and the human anatomy. According to Novoselic, "Kurt said that he never liked literal things. He liked cryptic things. He would cut out pictures of meat from grocery-store fliers, then paste these orchids on them ... And all this stuff on [ In Utero ] about

13312-682: The social sciences specifically intended to complement the Columbia College curriculum. The collection of the Columbia University Libraries consists of more than 9.2 million volumes held in 25 specialized libraries as well as a digital library, however Columbia College students do not have unlimited access to all specialized libraries. Students at Columbia College are guaranteed campus housing for four years. Residence halls, which also house undergraduate students of Columbia's engineering school , are either located on

13440-517: The songs written about his dysfunctional relationship with Vail. Charles R. Cross wrote, "In the four months following their break-up, Kurt would write a half dozen of his most memorable songs, all of them about Tobi Vail." Though Cobain wrote "Lithium" before meeting Vail, he wrote the lyrics to reference her. Cobain said in an interview with Musician that he wrote about "some of my very personal experiences, like breaking up with girlfriends and having bad relationships, feeling that death void that

13568-480: The trustees of Columbia College, under the guidance of Seth Low, approved a new name for the university as a whole, Columbia University in the City of New York . At this point, the name Columbia College returned to being used solely to refer to the original undergraduate college, founded as King's College in 1754 and renamed Columbia College in 1784. In addition to reclaiming the identity of Columbia College and making it

13696-1301: The university during its 250th anniversary celebrations in 2004 were Founding Fathers of the United States Alexander Hamilton , John Jay , and Gouverneur Morris (author of Preamble to the U.S. Constitution , "We, The People"). Other political figures in this group include statesman and educator Nicholas Murray Butler , New York Governor DeWitt Clinton , U.S. Secretary of State Hamilton Fish , South African anti- apartheid leader Pixley ka Isaka Seme , Chinese diplomat Wellington Koo , many New York City mayors, including Seth Low and John Purroy Mitchel , as well as spymaster William Joseph Donovan . Academics listed include philosophers Mortimer Adler and Irwin Edman , historians Jacques Barzun and Alfred Thayer Mahan , economist Arthur Burns , paleontologist Niles Eldredge , drama scholar Brander Matthews , art historian Meyer Schapiro and literary critic Lionel Trilling . Public intellectuals and journalists, including broadcaster Roone Arledge , social critic Randolph Bourne , environmentalist Barry Commoner , and writers like Henry Demarest Lloyd and Norman Podhoretz are also prominent on

13824-413: The university's campus into Morningside Park and to protest the university's sponsorship of classified military research. University officials wished to build new gymnasium facilities in the park, which, while located directly adjacent to the university, is separated by a steep cliff. Plans to create separate entrances for students and local residents was the primary objection of the student protesters to

13952-522: Was "abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse". Cobain was a vocal supporter of the pro-choice movement, and Nirvana was involved in L7 's Rock for Choice campaign. He received death threats from a small number of anti-abortion activists for participating in the pro-choice campaign, with one activist threatening to shoot Cobain as soon as he stepped on a stage. In 1989, members of Nirvana and fellow American alternative rock band Screaming Trees formed

14080-510: Was a collection of profiles of thirteen prominent indie rock bands of the 1980s and early 1990s, including Sonic Youth , Black Flag , Minutemen and The Replacements . In 2006 The Guardian rated the book as one of the 50 best music books ever written. In 2009, Paste magazine named it one of the 12 best music books of the decade; the Los Angeles Times listed it as one of "46 Essential Rock Reads" and in 2011 Pitchfork listed

14208-458: Was a used electric guitar from Sears that he received on his 14th birthday. He took guitar lessons long enough to learn AC/DC 's " Back in Black " and began playing with local kids. Cobain found the guitar smashed after leaving it in a locker, but he was able to purchase new equipment, including a Peavey amp, by recovering and selling his stepfather's gun collection, which his mother had dumped in

14336-478: Was addicted to drugs at birth. The Los Angeles County Department of Children's Services visited the Cobains days after Love gave birth and later took them to court, stating that their drug usage made them unfit parents. In October 1992, when asked, "Well, are you gay?" by Monk Magazine , Cobain replied, "If I wasn't attracted to Courtney, I'd be a bisexual." In another interview, he described identifying with

14464-503: Was affected enough to write " Polly " from Nevermind after reading a newspaper story of an incident in 1987, when a 14-year-old girl was kidnapped after attending a punk rock show, then raped and tortured with a blowtorch . She escaped after gaining the trust of her captor Gerald Friend through flirting with him. After seeing Nirvana perform, Bob Dylan cited "Polly" as the best of Nirvana's songs, and said of Cobain, "the kid has heart". Patrick Süskind 's novel Perfume: The Story of

14592-514: Was an American musician. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and a founding member of the grunge band Nirvana . Through his angsty songwriting and anti-establishment persona, his compositions widened the thematic conventions of mainstream rock music. He was heralded as a spokesman of Generation X , and is widely recognized as one of the most influential rock musicians. Cobain formed Nirvana with Krist Novoselic and Aaron Burckhard in 1987, establishing themselves as part of

14720-400: Was born August 18, 1992. A sonogram was included in the artwork for Nirvana's single, " Lithium ." In a 1992 Vanity Fair article , Love admitted to a drug binge with Cobain in the early weeks of her pregnancy. At the time, she claimed that Vanity Fair had misquoted her. Love later admitted to using heroin before knowing she was pregnant. The couple were asked by the press if Frances

14848-541: Was born on April 24, 1970. Cobain's family had a musical background. His maternal uncle, Chuck Fradenburg, played in a band called the Beachcombers; his aunt, Mari Earle, played guitar and performed in bands throughout Grays Harbor County ; and his great-uncle, Delbert, had a career as an Irish tenor, making an appearance in the 1930 film King of Jazz . Kurt was described as a happy and excitable child, who also exhibited sensitivity and care. His talent as an artist

14976-523: Was briefly chartered as a state institution, lasting only until 1787, when due to a lack of public financial support the school was permitted to incorporate under a private board of trustees . This 1787 charter remains in effect. The renamed and reorganized college, located in the new national capital under the Constitution and free from its association with the Church of England, received students from

15104-425: Was enrolled in a junior high school wrestling team at the insistence of his father. He was a skilled wrestler but despised the experience. Because of the ridicule he endured from his teammates and coach, he allowed himself to be pinned in an attempt to sadden his father. Later, his father enlisted him in a Little League Baseball team, where Cobain would intentionally strike out to avoid playing. Cobain befriended

15232-475: Was eventually named contributing editor. He has since written major features for The New Yorker , Mojo , Italian GQ and the New York Times , as well as cover stories for Spin and Revolver . In 1993, Doubleday Books published Azerrad's definitive, best-selling biography of Nirvana, Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana , which appeared six months before bandleader Kurt Cobain died of

15360-520: Was evident from an early age, as he would draw his favorite characters from films and cartoons, such as the Creature from the Black Lagoon and Donald Duck , in his bedroom. He was encouraged by his grandmother, Iris Cobain, a professional artist. Cobain developed an interest in music at a young age. According to his aunt Mari, he began singing at the age of two. At age four, he started playing

15488-484: Was forced to pair it with an external cabinet featuring two 12" speakers. He used a Boss DS-1 for distortion, while playing Hi-Flier guitars, which cost him $ 100 each. Nirvana embarked on their first American tour in 1989, at the start of which Cobain played an Epiphone ET270; however, he destroyed the guitar onstage during a show, a subsequent habit that forced label Sub Pop to have to call local pawn shops looking for replacement guitars. Cobain's first acoustic guitar,

15616-522: Was in stark contrast to the attention Cobain was used to receiving as an only boy, and he became resentful of his stepmother. Cobain's mother dated a man who was abusive; Cobain witnessed the domestic violence inflicted upon her, with one incident resulting in her being hospitalized with a broken arm. Wendy refused to press charges, remaining committed to the relationship. Cobain behaved insolently toward adults during this period and began bullying another boy at school. His father and Westeby took him to

15744-472: Was increased to accommodate all Columbia College students for all four years of the undergraduate education. Hamilton Hall , the primary academic building of Columbia College has undergone extensive renovations, and the college's athletic facilities, located at Baker Field Athletics Complex on Manhattan 's far northern tip at 218th Street , were renovated and expanded. Like other elite schools, Columbia has been attracting ever higher numbers of applicants, with

15872-415: Was not gay, though they remained friends. According to Cobain, he used to spray paint "God Is Gay" on pickup trucks in the Aberdeen area. Police records show that Cobain was arrested for spray painting the phrase "ain't got no how watchamacallit" on vehicles. Cobain often drew during classes. When given a caricature assignment for an art course, Cobain drew Michael Jackson but was told by the teacher that

16000-434: Was really into the fact that I was creative and into music. I don't think he'd ever played music with a girl before. He was super-inspiring and fun to play with." The musician Slim Moon described their sound as "like the minimal quiet pop songs that Olympia is known for. Both of them sang; it was really good." In 1992, Cobain contacted William S. Burroughs about a possible collaboration. Burroughs responded by sending him

16128-549: Was required of all Columbia College students in addition to the Great Books Honors Seminar. During the 1960s, Columbia College, like many others across the United States, experienced unrest and turmoil due to the ongoing civil rights movement and opposition to the Vietnam War . On April 23, 1968, more than 1,000 students forcefully occupied five campus buildings in protest to the proposed expansion of

16256-535: Was suspended from 1776 until 1784, but by the beginning of the war, the college had already educated some of the nation's foremost political leaders, such as Alexander Hamilton , who served as military aide to General George Washington , initiated and authored most of The Federalist Papers , and served as the first Secretary of the Treasury ; John Jay , author of several of the Federalist Papers and

16384-433: Was to be perceived as a "Melvins rip-off". After their commercial success, the members of Nirvana would constantly talk about the Melvins' importance to them in the press. Cobain was an admirer of Jimi Hendrix , and said in reference to the growing media attention on the Seattle scene at the time, "I mean, we had Jimi Hendrix. Heck. What more do we want?". In a 1993 interview Cobain called Hendrix "a great musician and

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