Free 27: Kurt Cobain by Chris Salewicz Page B

muffins.
    This is what Brian Willis wrote: ‘For someone who’s been through so much shit in the past two years, whose name’s being dragged through acrimony once again, who’s about to release a record the whole rock world’s desperate to hear and be faced with astonishing attention and pressure, Kurt Cobain’s a remarkably contented man.’
    In Utero
was released on 14 September 1993. If anything, it was an even greater record than
Nevermind
. The album entered the US album charts at number 1, selling 180,000 copies in the first week – even though the US super chains Wal-Mart and Kmart refused to stock it. This was in response to the song ‘Rape Me’, which was actually an anti-rape, life-affirming song, as much about Kurt’s imagined treatment by the media as sexual brutality. ‘One of the reasons I signed to a major label,’ said Kurt, ‘was so people would be able to buy our records at Kmart. In some towns, that’s the only place kids can buy records.’
    Although Kurt had declared at the beginning of 1993 that he wouldn’t tour to support his new album, his arm appeared to have been twisted. Could the lure of money have played a part in this? Kurt’s income for 1993 was already estimated to be over $2 million, but with touring he could come close to making double that figure.
    On 18 October 1993 a 41-date tour of US arena-size venues – the longest ever Nirvana tour – kicked off at the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix. It was the first time Nirvana had played an arena tour, and they had augmented their sound accordingly. Brought in on guitar was Pat Smear, who in 1976 had started the Germs, releasing ‘Forming/Sexboy’ in 1977, considered the first LA punk record. Mixed race, Pat had great positive energy, and was very funny. Also onstage with the band was cellist Lori Goldston, a classically trained musician from Seattle.
    During the tour there was increasing distance not only between Kurt and the rest of the band, but evidently also between Kurt and the accompanying Courtney. Kurt hated the celebrity world of which she seemed increasingly enamoured. There was also a rift with his management, especially with John Silva, who now referred to Kurt as ‘the junkie’. Two tour buses were used – one for Kurt and Pat Smear – which also meant Courtney, and one for the rest of the group. Kurt was drinking little on this tour. But others noted how isolated he seemed.
    On 21 October, the
In Utero
tour reached Kansas City. Kurt was driven over to meet his hero and fellow junkie William S. Burroughs, who lived in nearby Lawrence. Afterwards, Burroughs said the subject of drugs never came up once. He spent much of their time together extolling to Kurt the virtues of Leadbelly, the blues legend.
    At Inglewood Forum on 30 December 1993, as Krist started singing the Kinks’ ‘You Really Got Me’, Kurt left the stage and returned with a drill, which he drove into his guitar before picking it up and spinning it over his head with the drill still attached. Meanwhile, ‘big hair’ rocker Eddie van Halen turned up drunk backstage, wanting to join them in their set on guitar. ‘No, you can’t,’ said Kurt.
    The next day, New Year’s Eve, Nirvana were shown on an MTV special,
Live and Loud
. Also on the bill were Pearl Jam, the Breeders and Cypress Hill. The show had been pre-recorded on 13 December at Pier 48 in Seattle, a ferry terminal. It was an event riven by tensions, with Kurt seeming out of it – as did many people in the audience and backstage. Meanwhile, in real time on New Year’s Eve, Nirvana were playing the Oakland Coliseum Arena.
    After dates in Vancouver, the
In Utero
tour wound up on 7 and 8 January at Seattle’s Center Arena. This would be the last time Nirvana played in the United States.
    They would soon be on the road again. The
In Utero
tour was heading for Europe, with