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[MUSIC] THE SAVAGE ANIMAL
"If Kurt Had Lived…" |
08.22.12 |
BY MIKEY MIGO
If you’re reading this I don’t have to sell you on Nirvana or Kurt Cobain. You should already know the words to all their songs, you should’ve seen the videos, and you should’ve already experienced the experience. “Greatest of all time” is one of those terms that get thrown around often in music columns and discussions. It’s all subjective, but regardless of preference Nirvana deserves to be in the conversation. The impact of their art transcended an entire generation. It’s not hard to find a personal link to Nirvana. How can you not?
There are many routes the career and times of Kurt Cobain could have gone. I didn’t know him and I’m not a psychic or anything. I’m just a long-time fan who likes to let his mind wander. I’m realistic. I know it’s common to have a good “What if” conversation. I’ve spent plenty of hours talking with friends about what would bands and artists like The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Alice in Chains, Tu Pac, Biggie, and Nirvana would have done with their careers if their lives weren’t cut short. I don’t think most people do this with a negative perspective. It’s just a way to remember, appreciate, and painting one’s own picture.
With Kurt Cobain, it seems like the world was in the palm of his hand. He made art that a lot of good people connected to and then in return a lot of bad people latched onto. From the routes others took and just some other generalizations it’s easy to think of a few potential scenarios. I’m sure others have done this before. I could be wrong and would hope I’m wrong that any of these hypothetical routes would have been true. I respect the dude too much to think he’d be as predictable as these routes. He was only 27 and could have had a whole life ahead of him. At the end of the day, what matters is what we did gain from him existing, not what if...
SUPER CHANGE: “The Next Frontiers!”
Imagine the final night of the peaceful and eco-friendly Woodstock 99 that we closed out with Nirvana. The promoters would have had to really pull some magic, but maybe if the landscape of music was different then things could have worked out. In this random idea, Nirvana closes the show. At this show it is announced that the band is going to change going forward.
From there, the possibilities are endless. What if Nirvana decided to make an electro/techno album? It’d be cool, but nah. A R&B boy band thing? Doubtful. How about RAP-METAL? Ha! But would imagining Kurt’s vocals on a country album REALLY be that hard? I’m not a country fan at all, but I could imagine this one. Hell, what if Kurt wanted Nirvana to try a bluegrass gospel album. All long time bands seem to have that weird “experimental” phase when they go in a weird direction.
WASHED UP: “The Fat Elvis Years”
The would have sucked, but it’s something to think about. Think about all of those old rock bands that still go out and have world tours. You hear the hits, they pull the same antics and one-liners, and it’s the same shit over and over. It’s a well-oiled machine. It’s like Elvis doing those long residencies when he got heavier. It’s like when Jim Morrison ballooned up and got sloppy at the end. There are even those that are living that wear way too much make up and look like old women now. I don’t think the make-up stuff would have been a thing to worry about, but there would have had to have been that “Fat Elvis” period.
ICON STATUS: “When Is Led Zeppelin Going On Tour?!”
Let’s just go with the Led Zeppelin-like situation. Well, sort of comparable. Nirvana would have continued to put out a few more great iconic albums. They’re success would not fade, but mature. Their status would be cemented over and over. Then eventually, they’d just break up. Kurt would go into isolation and find solace in some other creative outlet. They’d break up. Everyone would want reunions. Kurt would go into isolation and find some other outlet. They’d all do their own things and have success.
Then the flip of this is the constant nagging and rumors of “When is Nirvana going to tour again?” and “I heard Nirvana is going to reunite for Coachella next year”. The fans would be pissed and always harass the band members about it. Every interview would bring it up. As much as I personally would love for a Led Zeppelin show close to my home, I have to respect the fact that truly did leave the fans wanting more.
SUDDEN DROP : “Limp Bizkit Anyone?”
I’d hate this one. There are things that blow up huge. They become the big thing and everyone loves it. Then out of nowhere, people almost all collectively decide to move on or to make the last big thing a punch line. Nirvana was a “very big thing” during the early 90s. They unleashed a generation and define what was probably the last great rock era. It would just suck to think that Nirvana would, as the kids say, “fall off”. The thought of people using Nirvana in a punch-line that would be reserved for a Nickelback, a Limp Bizkit, or an Axel Rose would be heartbreaking.
I know people have made the asshole statement of “they’d not be as famous if he didn’t do what he did”. You have to wonder about that. We just don’t know though. If there is no clear drop then there is no clear peak to compare it to.
WORLD TAKE OVER: “Wyld Stallyns!!!”
You probably have to be a super optimist and a HUGE fan of Nirvana to think this route would have been the case. I guess this would be most fans’ “dream scenario”. I think about those futuristic utopia scenes in the movies Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Bogus Journey. The whole idea was that Bill and Ted made music that was so great that it brought peace to the world and a utopic movement. I know it’s just a movie and that the idea of it is as far-fetched as an alien attack. Still, let’s let this fantasy linger.
I have no reason to believe that if Nirvana were able to put out a few more albums then they’d test the limits on The Beatle’s place as “Biggest Band of All Time”. Replace the Beatles with the Nirvana trio. We’ll leave that open fourth spot that seemed to be Pat Smear’s towards the end for Ringo. Dave Grohl proved how great he is as well with his own project, Foo Fighters. Grohl would have stepped up within Nirvana. Krist would have gotten to take his political stances sooner and maybe with bigger force. Kurt would have balanced the line of art and commercialism to a respectable level. He’d be able to be loved by all, but still define himself individually. I could see all three having their own thing going, but still coming together like a super power.
What route do you think would have happened?
What route would you have WANTED to happen?
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