Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain

Charles R. Cross

Mar 2012 · Sold by Hachette Books

About this eBook

The New York Times bestseller and the definitive portrait of Kurt Cobain--as relevant as ever, as we remember the impact of Cobain on our culture twenty-five years after his death--now with a new preface and an additional final chapter from acclaimed author Charles R. Cross.

It has been twenty-five years since Kurt Cobain died by his own hand in April 1994; it was an act of will that typified his short, angry, inspired life. Veteran music journalist Charles R. Cross fuses his intimate knowledge of the Seattle music scene with his deep compassion for his subject in this extraordinary story of artistic brilliance and the pain that extinguished it. Based on more than four hundred interviews; four years of research; exclusive access to Cobain's unpublished diaries, lyrics, and family photos; and a wealth of documentation, Heavier Than Heaven traces Cobain's life from his early days in a double-wide trailer outside of Aberdeen, Washington, to his rise to fame, success, and the adulation of a generation. Charles Cross has written a new preface for this edition, giving readers context for the time in which the book was written, six years after Kurt's death, and reminding everyone how fresh that cultural experience was when the interviews for the book were done. The new final chapter will update the story since, regarding investigations into Cobain's death, Nirvana's induction into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and how their place in rock history has only risen over the decades.

Ratings and reviews

Cross wrote a new preface claiming Courtney had no input or control of this book. Of course, his portrayals of her are always positive, while those of Kurt are always very negative. His claim that Kurt's death was thoroughly investigated when it was declared a suicide within 54 minutes, and a jab about conspiracy theories are all disgusting. Cross is just another vulture who's gotten rich exploiting Kurt's death. See Soaked in Bleach and find out the FACTS about what happened to Kurt.

This is nothing but more propagandist bs put out by Courtney. ... if you're a fan of her and her delusion/media manipulation then go for it, if you're a nirvana/Kurt fan then try 2 find a book that's not so clearly biased and full of "facts" that have readily available evidence to the contrary.

This book is the most insightful, detailed & uncensored biography of Kurt Cobain. After reading it, I truly understand & appreciate his music in a way that is so intimate with raw emotion that I feel I've crossed a line that's too personal & confidential. I thought at first that I wouldn't be able to listen to Kurt's music again without feeling like I'm invading his inner most thoughts & fears, but after reading it, I feel a strange type of honor & insight. I appreciate his music now more than ever. RIP KDC

About the author

Charles R. Cross was editor of The Rocket, the Northwest's highly regarded music and entertainment magazine and the first publication to do a cover story on Nirvana. He is also the author of Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix; Led Zeppelin: Heaven and Hell; Backstreets: Springsteen, the Man and his Music; Nevermind: The Classic Album; and Here We Are Now: The Lasting Impact of Kurt Cobain. His writing has appeared in Rolling Stone, Esquire, and Spy, among many other publications. He lives in Seattle.