Customer Reviews

Never Fade Away: The Kurt Cobain Story

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

this is by far the WORST kurt cobain book i have ever read. the entire thing reads like a tabloid, and anyone who didnt pick up on that fact obviously knows absolutely nothing about nirvana. dave thompson never met kurt cobain, so he didnt have any firsthand experience with the band. he portrays kurt as a total hero, and courtney love as a horrible talent-draining heroin addict. ive also noticed that the only people who seem to have enjoyed this book are the ones who have watched kurt and courtney, believed hank harrison, and proclaimed themselves nirvana experts. if you want a read nirvana book, get come as you are by michael azzerad.

NEVER FADE AWAY may not be a really great book but it was interesting to read. I've always been a big fan of Nirvana and I try to get hold of everything I could get about them to add to my collection. If you've read COME AS YOU ARE by Michael Azzerad, and you're not really a die-hard Nirvana fan, I suggest you skip reading NEVER FADE AWAY. I know of some people who got ticked off with it. However, if you're a big fan and you're willing to try anything, this book is somehow okay to read. But don't expect to be so immersed in in it that you'll have a hard time putting it down. Considering that it was a paperback (and me being a BIG FAN), it took me two long weeks to read the book...

This is one of the worst books on Kurt Cobain's life and death that I have read to date. The entire tone of the book is that of some naughty little boys sharing in a conspiracy that they know they are not supposed to be involved in. The book focuses almost entirely on the death of Kurt Cobain, as if that were the most important part of his life. It almost even seems to take a giddy delight in the fact the man killed himself. It provides no insightful information about the man or any unique research, and everything that it does manage to provide is entirely one-sided. I doubt very much that the man who wrote this book had ever even met Kurt Cobain when he decided to write a biography of his life. The book presents information almost entirely from the public face that Kurt put forward. It attempts to shroud the man in mystery and put him up on some kind of pedestal. It even states at one point that "really, idols should not be demystified" (pg. 5). Obviously this book was trying very hard to uphold that credo. If you want a good, factual representation of Nirvana, I would suggest first and foremost "Come As You Are" by Michael Azerrad. That is a truly excellent book by a reporter for Rolling Stone. This is a man who actually SPENT TIME with the band. It gives you the entire story of Nirvana, as well as making Kurt Cobain a real person, and shedding real light on his intriguing personality. I would also suggest "Who Killed Kurt Cobain? The Mysterious Death of an Icon" by Ian Halperin and Max Wallace. This has an excellent history of Cobain's life, and sheds some fascinating facts on the dubiousness of his death. The two books I've listed above are both extremely relevant and are all taken from fairly objective viewpoints. "Never Fade Away," on the other hand, is a sugar coated book of Kurt's life, intended to make good sales and nothing more. The way it revels in the dark life the singer makes me think more of some kind of tabloid magazine than any real biography. My advice, if it isn't already apparent, is, don't bother.

Never Fade Away gives a lot of interesting informaton on the life of Kurt Cobain. The first half of the book really focuses on Kurt's early life, even before he joined a band and began making albums. It is interesting to discover what Cobain did as a child (such as becoming a really good wrestler) and to find out how the divorce of his parents effected his life so much. This book also shares the second half of Kurt's life with the readers, and the struggles he had to overcome to become a successful rock star. We learn of Nirvana's problems with choosing a good label, and get to read about interesting stories, such as the time Nirvana almost refused to play at the MTV Video Awards unless they could play "Rape Me". Although it was a little short, I suggest that any fan of Nirvana should read this book.

This book was good in some parts about how his childhood was a factor in Kurt's suicide. The photo of his body being carried out to the examiner's van was pretty disturbing and sad. Overall, a very mediocre book. R.I.P Kurt!

I read this book years ago when it first came out and it has many flaws. There are numerous inaccurate facts such as dates and times and locations. I believe it even said that Aberdeen is a suburb of Seattle, which is totally not true. My parents grew up in Aberdeen and it is a few hours away from Seattle. Aberdeen is in western WA on the coast, while Seattle is up near Puget Sound. I would suggest a different book if you want to read about Kurt Cobain. A good one is the "Come As You Are" book or the new one called "Heavier Than Heaven" by Charles Cross, which I hope to have in my hands soon.

This book really sheds alot of light on the many problems Kurt Cobain had throughout his life I reccommend it to anyone who is trying to find out more about him

Isnt it amazing, that in this day and age, there are still organizations like the Seattle Police Department, that believe just because someone is an addict, that it doesnt really matter how they died?

Kurt was a beautiful and caring artist--even if he was an addict. The people responsible for his MURDER need to be brought to justice.

Any book which doesnt relay the horrible inconsistencies surrounding the so-called police investigation of Kurt's death, is either very shoddy; or in league with the murderers.

Read the site cobaincase.com, if you want to know the details.

And this reviewer has NEVER found conspiracy theories seductive in and of themselves.

ok this is one of the better books on kurt cobain but it only lets you know the kurt cobain everyone knew. Though it lets you know how painful it was for kurt everyday it gives you info that is based on other peoples opinons.The book talks alot about courtney and alot on how it affected her. It also talked about the many things that contributed to kurts demons of self doubt.Not to mention it mentions all the previse names and drummers for the pre-nirvana band. This is definatley a good book to own for anyone who doesnt know alot about kurt cobain. The best thing about this book is it softens the affects of kurt cobains untimely demise. For the more knowledgeable fans i suggest books such as "Come As You Are"

If you are looking for a general glimpse into the like of Kurt Cobain, this is an okay book; however, there are better Cobain biographies.