Krist Novoselic reflects on touching Kurt Cobain’s cold, dead body

Duff McKagan wrote an excellent piece for Seattle Weekly’s Reverb blog about what it was like to perform at this week’s Nevermind tribute concert. Duff’s words are worth reading on their own merit, but what makes the post especially interesting is a comment left by Krist Novoselic.
Novoselic talks about EMP’s Nevermind celebration and about  his fallen bandmat Kurt Cobain. It is one of the most blunt and honest reactions to Kurt Cobain’s death that I have seen from anyone in the Nirvana camp.
Below is an excerpt from Novoselic’s comment. You can read the whole thing here.
I used to be so cynical. But more than anything, Kurt’s death changed that. I still can’t make sense about what happened and I was truly shocked by his suicide. I went to the funeral home to say goodbye and it was hard to see him like that. They fixed him ok, but you could see his head was busted up. They folded a kerchief over his eyes and forehead. I held his hand and it was so cold. I left feeling really bad. I drove home alone and out of habit I tuned on the CD player. The Pixes tune sang “Break my body, hold my bones, hold my bones.” I gasped as if my heart stopped so I turned it off. I got home and thought I was going crazy. Even after like 20 times at the sink, I couldn’t wash that cold off my hands. I called Dave and he said I wasn’t going crazy and that it was shock I was experiencing. That realization made me feel a little better. I crawled to bed dazed.
I just don’t give a fuck after that. Maybe I shouldn’t put it like that. So some bands want to play – for free- Nirvana tunes in this cool venue and that’s somehow wrong? Can’t people get together for an evening to help somebody dealing with Cancer? What would Kurt say? I can’t image that he would skip the benefit. Kurt cared, he loved Susie. And Susie did a lot for him and Nirvana.

About Travis Hay

Travis Hay is a music journalist who has spent the past 20 years documenting and enjoying Seattle's music scene. He's written for various outlets including MSN Music, the Seattle-Post Intelligencer, Seattle Weekly, Pearl Jam's Ten Club, Crosscut.com and others.

View all posts by Travis Hay →