Cobain May Be Honored With Bridge Dedication in His Hometown
Jeanwah
Posts: 6,363
Kurt Cobain May Be Honored With Bridge Dedication in His Hometown
http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/14/kurt-cobain-bridge
Nirvana's 'Nevermind' is approaching its 20th birthday this fall, bringing about more and more tributes to the band and Kurt Cobain. Now, Cobain's hometown of Aberdeen, Wa., is mulling whether to honor the late singer by naming a famous bridge after him, the AP reports.
The Young Street Bridge, located above the Wishkah River just a few blocks from the home Cobain shared with his mother, might become the Kurt Cobain Bridge if the city's residents approve it. A nearby park could also be renamed Cobain Landing.
The bridge has become something of a shrine to Cobain fans, with graffiti and memorabilia being left on the mud-ridden banks underneath it. Some people claim that the grunge icon slept there in his teens after he dropped out of high school, though it's unclear if that's true. Cobain also allegedly wrote the 'Nevermind' track 'Something in the Way' about the time he spent there in his youth.
Members of the local community are expected to share their opinions on the matter at a July 27 City Council meeting. Although the Council seems in favor of the honor, radio station KXRO says "up until now, the City of Aberdeen has been slow to memorialize Cobain due to his suicide, drug use and negative comments about his hometown."
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I wonder if Kurt would even want this, since he had nothing good to say about his hometown.
I do think it's a good gesture though, regardless of the negative opinions about his personal habits.
The man was an icon. What do you guys think?
http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/14/kurt-cobain-bridge
Nirvana's 'Nevermind' is approaching its 20th birthday this fall, bringing about more and more tributes to the band and Kurt Cobain. Now, Cobain's hometown of Aberdeen, Wa., is mulling whether to honor the late singer by naming a famous bridge after him, the AP reports.
The Young Street Bridge, located above the Wishkah River just a few blocks from the home Cobain shared with his mother, might become the Kurt Cobain Bridge if the city's residents approve it. A nearby park could also be renamed Cobain Landing.
The bridge has become something of a shrine to Cobain fans, with graffiti and memorabilia being left on the mud-ridden banks underneath it. Some people claim that the grunge icon slept there in his teens after he dropped out of high school, though it's unclear if that's true. Cobain also allegedly wrote the 'Nevermind' track 'Something in the Way' about the time he spent there in his youth.
Members of the local community are expected to share their opinions on the matter at a July 27 City Council meeting. Although the Council seems in favor of the honor, radio station KXRO says "up until now, the City of Aberdeen has been slow to memorialize Cobain due to his suicide, drug use and negative comments about his hometown."
**********************
I wonder if Kurt would even want this, since he had nothing good to say about his hometown.
I do think it's a good gesture though, regardless of the negative opinions about his personal habits.
The man was an icon. What do you guys think?
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st. louis is just now getting around to recognizing chuck berry with his own life sized statue to be formally dedicated on 7/29. chuck is very proud of it, and it has been a long time coming. perhaps if kurt lived to be 80 and they dedicated the bridge at that age he may have been more receptive to the idea.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
lots of bad off folks out there, i can understand why he didn't like it. you either log or work at the paper mill.
i am thrilled that i got my guitar from the music store that has kurt's star out front on the sidewalk...fuck yes awesome.
as you enter Aberdeen, "come as you are" is the town's motto on the city sign. i've talked to people that grew up with Kurt and Krist. funny stories. great stories.
the pacific northwest is badass. like everywhere, some towns are nicer than others. mostly it rains and has beautiful forests that get mowed down. it would have ruled the world to grow up out there during the music craze that came out of there.
sure call it the kurt bridge or whatever, they already have a huge picture/sign of him there.
(fyi... Aberdeen is about 2 hours (SW) from Seattle)
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
I'm guessing the answer is the latter, and and even if not, I just don't like the idea. Don't understand how this honors him.
Anyone have any links to any interviews he did talking about his youth?
Good point, I'd like to think that Kurt would have softened up a bit from being his cynical 27 year old self, had he lived longer.
I'm wondering why a bridge, and not a statue or something else! You have to wonder if the town is thinking tourist dollars...
I was wondering this too. I'll look around.
According to Christopher Sandford, in his book Kurt Cobain, page 56:
"Kurt hated Aberdeen, mainly because it wasn't 'artistic' enough for someone of his sensibilities."
http://books.google.com/books?id=FMQFza ... en&f=false
This book did not get great reviews so I'm not sure how accurate this is but it seems I'd heard something similar elsewhere.
I wonder if Kurt would feel differently today. Cobain lived in Aberdeen from birth (1967) to around 1986. Things have changed quite a bit in the northwest in the last 25 years.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Nirvana singer's hometown says no to Kurt Cobain bridge
Aberdeen, Washington council votes against renaming a bridge after its most famous son, the late Nirvana singer
Sean Michaels
guardian.co.uk, Friday 29 July 2011
Kurt Cobain's hometown has decided against renaming a bridge in honour of him. Aberdeen, Washington council turned down a proposal that would have seen North Aberdeen Bridge take Cobain's name, choosing instead to rename a small area of land after the late Nirvana singer.
"Leave the [bridge] as it is and let old history live with new history," said representative Doug Paling. Council officials voted almost unanimously against a resolution to honour the city's most famous son. Despite a recommendation by the local parks board, councillors argued that renaming the bridge would glorify Cobain's drug use and suicide. "Is this the legacy we want to leave to our children?" asked pastor Don Eden, according to KXRO Radio.
North Aberdeen Bridge, which crosses the Wishkah river, is known locally as Young Street Bridge. Among Nirvana fans, it's famous for its appearance in the song Something in the Way; Cobain reportedly slept under it for a time. Although the council refused the Cobain proposal, they also rejected an amendment that would have seen the bridge formally renamed after local pioneer Alexander Young. "We don't need to strip another part of our history away," said Aberdeen Museum director Dan Sears.
The council did approve renaming a small strip of land that borders the Wishkah river, as a place for grunge pilgrims to pay their respects. An electric guitar statue already stands in a nearby park, with a memorial plaque.
At least they're dedicating some land in his name...
i haven't been able to find it on here yet, but i did find a concrete guitar at the bridge
http://www.kplu.org/post/kurt-cobain-sc ... n-aberdeen
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce