Growing Up: Kurt Cobain
Nirvana fans the world over have a very good reason to visit Ireland this summer as the first public exhibition of some of Kurt Cobain’s personal items will go on display at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Co Kildare. That’s about an hour’s drive west from the airport, for you Beasts making the trip.
drawn by you know who
This July, for the first time, a collection of personal items belonging to the late lead singer and guitarist of Nirvana, who killed himself in 1994, will be unveiled to the world. And to make the occasion extra special, his mother, sisters and daughter will all be on hand.
So that makes sense, right? You think Nirvana, you instantly think: the Kildare Museum of Style Icons. And what else might they possibly have in there? Do Michael Flatley’s headbands have their own wing?
Apparently there is an Irish connection – the Clan Cobain have Irish roots – and when museum owner William Doyle, met the Cobain family at an event in LA last summer, he saw his opportunity and took it. Thinking that a proper fan and an Irish gentleman would be a trustworthy curator, the family decided to make Kurt’s left behind bits and pieces into an exhibit and to stage the display as far away from Seattle as one can get*
His daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, said she is thrilled to participate and support her family as they honour Kurt. “I
we all recognize this sweater – will they sell them in the gift shop?
have always been the most intimately informed of who my father was by my grandmother and aunts. I am so ecstatic that their view of who Kurt was gets to be celebrated with Nirvana fans the world over”. Okay that sounds a bit stilted but nothing about this is something we would all expect.
William Doyle says : “These items have never previously been seen by the public and it’s an incredible honour to be a part of this amazing exhibition. We expect this exhibition of Kurt’s life to be one of our greatest exhibitions.”
No kidding, William.
Growing Up: Kurt Cobain at the Museum of Style Icons, Newbridge, through September 30th.
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*it would actually be Madagascar
A former ABC National, Dallas and Atlanta radio personality, Martina O'Boyle is now making movies and covering culture in London, Dublin, and as far in Europe as the cheapie flights will take her, for Pop Culture Beast.