1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:01,400 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 2 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 2: I feel like in this day and age, if you 3 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 2: have an artist who struggling with mental health issues, regardless 4 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 2: of where they are, you know, on the celebrity status, 5 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 2: I feel if somebody was to say, you know, I 6 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,159 Speaker 2: can't do this enough. I do like to think as 7 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 2: a society, we're we're more willing to say, okay, let's 8 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 2: take a break, let's step back. You know. I know 9 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 2: that Nirvana did cancel you know, shows and whatnot when 10 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 2: if Kurt was having issues. But I like to think 11 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 2: as a society we do better. 12 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to another episode of the Taking a Walk Podcast 13 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: with Buzznight. If you love this podcast, please share it 14 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: with your friends. Also, please check out our companion podcast, 15 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: Music Saved Me, hosted by Lynn Hoffman. February twentieth mark's 16 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: the birthday of Kurt Cobain, talented and troubled frontman for 17 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: the iconic band Nirvana, and today Buzz welcomes Kelly Caitlin, 18 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: author of the new book on Kirt called Forever in Bloom, 19 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: which redefines how we remember Kurt beyond the cliches of 20 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: a torture artist, showcasing him as a deeply empathetic person. 21 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 1: Passionate about social justice and so much more. Here's Buzz 22 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: Night and author Kelly Caitlin on taking a Walk. 23 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,559 Speaker 3: So, Kelly, since this podcast is called taking a Walk 24 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 3: and the subject is Kurt Cobain, where if you had 25 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,559 Speaker 3: an opportunity to take a walk with Kurt Cobain, would 26 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 3: you like to take a walk with him? 27 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 2: So we live in a pretty rural area and there's 28 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 2: a really pretty lake by us, and we were actually 29 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 2: there not too long ago for a Renaissance fair in 30 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: my family and I and I kind of like to 31 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 2: do a lot of, you know, reflecting. When I'm kind 32 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 2: of in the middle of nowhere, I feel like it 33 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 2: just you let all the noise and all the static 34 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: kind of kind of fade out. So I think that 35 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 2: would be a nice place to take a walk with him. 36 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 2: It's a very pretty scenic lake. It's completely away from 37 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 2: everything and everybody, and I think it's a nice pensive 38 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: location to just kind of think and talk and reflect. 39 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 3: I'm a little surprised at your answer. We'll get into 40 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 3: the Aberdeen Bridge in a little bit. I thought you 41 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 3: might have said the bridge, but it's okay, no problem, 42 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 3: there's no writer wrong answer to that. Question, But Kelly, 43 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 3: what drove you to write Kurt Cobain Forever in Bloom 44 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 3: available with the folks at Genius Book Publishing. 45 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 2: There's a couple reasons for it. I never set out 46 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 2: to write a book. This wasn't one of these things 47 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 2: where I always knew I wanted to be an author. 48 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 2: I am a writer. I do content writing for different 49 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 2: websites and I write for some different online publications. But 50 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 2: that was kind of more something that happened after I 51 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 2: started writing the book. I kind of it was like, oh, hey, 52 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 2: I like doing this. I enjoy writing as much as 53 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 2: I do. Maybe i'll, you know, right, as a career. 54 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 2: But basically one I had a family member, Walter, who 55 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 2: died by suicide in twenty seventeen, and he loved Nirvana. 56 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: That wasn't why I chose to write about Kurt Cobain. 57 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: It was one day during the pandemic and I was 58 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 2: out with my son and I came home and our 59 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 2: neighbor across the street, who's probably twenty years younger than me, 60 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 2: was blasting Nirvana and I said to him, I said, oh, 61 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 2: do you guys still listen to this? He was like, yes, 62 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,959 Speaker 2: of course we do. So Later that afternoon, I was 63 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 2: baking cookies with my son and Nirvana was stuck in 64 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,959 Speaker 2: my head, so I asked Alexa to play Nirvana, and 65 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 2: it must have tripped something in my Google algorithm or 66 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 2: all of a sudden, Kurt Cobain is coming up in 67 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 2: my newsfeed, and everything I was reading was very maudlin, 68 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 2: very depressed. It just painted this. I felt almost like 69 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 2: a tortured artist caricature, and thinking about Walter in that moment, 70 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 2: I would never want somebody to remember him solely for 71 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 2: his depression or solely for his last act on this earth. 72 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 2: And to me, me knowing that a lot of young 73 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: people look up to Kurt Cobain and that a lot 74 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 2: of people idolize him, I just felt that it was 75 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 2: time to rewrite his narrative from a compassionate lens, from 76 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 2: the lens of someone who's experienced losing a family member 77 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,679 Speaker 2: to suicide. And that was basically the impetus for this book. 78 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 2: Kind Of right then and there, I decided I was 79 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 2: going to do it, and then the next two years 80 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: were kind of a blur of writing. 81 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 3: It's wonderful that you took this on. We also produce 82 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 3: another podcast which is called music saved me about the 83 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 3: sort of the power of music and everything. So you're 84 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 3: really fusing the two together with this project. When were 85 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 3: you first impacted by Kurt and Nirvana's music. 86 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 2: Believe it or not. So I'm going to be forty 87 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 2: two this year. I wasn't something I didn't like them. 88 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 2: If I would have heard them on the radio station 89 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,160 Speaker 2: growing up, I just wouldn't have called myself a fan. 90 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 2: And one of my best friends growing up was completely 91 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 2: obsessed with the band, So obviously I had more than 92 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 2: enough opportunities to become exposed. But it wasn't until after 93 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 2: I started reading all these articles and Google about him 94 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 2: and the band and kind of exploring more and learning 95 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 2: about the benefit concerts that they played. It just made 96 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 2: me realize, this is this, you know, powerful band and 97 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 2: this very powerful lead singer who I think this empathetic, 98 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 2: you know, altruistic nature tends to get overlooked. So I mean, really, 99 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 2: just over the past couple of years is when I've 100 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 2: gotten turned on to them, and people assume, all, you 101 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 2: wrote this five hundred page book about him, you must 102 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 2: be a diehard fan, and I'm like, well, now I 103 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 2: think they're great, but going into it. What songs did 104 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 2: they sing? Don'ts like teen Spirit Come as You Are? 105 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 2: I probably knew as much as the you know, casual 106 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 2: listener knew. So this definitely confused my family. When I 107 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 2: decided to write the book. They were like, but do 108 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 2: you know anything about kirkle Band And I said no. 109 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 2: But it was just the way his suicide was romanticized 110 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 2: in the media that I was like, no, I'm I'm 111 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 2: going to write about him, though. 112 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 3: So you sought to talk to an interesting group of people, 113 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 3: and the first person that you were able to capture 114 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 3: before he passed away for the book was Steve at Albini. Yeah, 115 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 3: can you talk about Steve first of all, what his 116 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 3: role was with Nirvana for those that don't know, and 117 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 3: tell me what the conversation was like with Steve. 118 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 2: Sure, absolutely so. Steve Albani did produce nirvanas in Utero, 119 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 2: who was lovely. So I actually spoke with him last 120 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 2: on April fifth, which was neither one of us even 121 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 2: realized that at the time, but that was the thirtieth 122 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 2: anniversary of Kirk Colbein's passing. And what's funny was we 123 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 2: had struggled to connect because he obviously Steve Albani is 124 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 2: going to be extremely busy, so you know, we kind 125 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 2: of kept making all these different appointments to me, and 126 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 2: then something would happen and we had to reschedule. So 127 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 2: we finally wound up connecting on ten am on April fifth, 128 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 2: and I remember that conversation very clearly because about twenty 129 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 2: three minutes in we had an earthquake in New Jersey, 130 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: which we don't really have. So I hear I know, 131 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 2: Steve is talking and he's telling stories, but I'm kind 132 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 2: of starting to have a panic attack at this point 133 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 2: because you know, my walls are rattling. I've never been 134 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 2: in an earthquake. And I hear him laughing and he's 135 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 2: kind of waiting for me to laugh because he's telling 136 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 2: a joke. And I go, Steve, I am so sorry. 137 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 2: I'm not trying to ignore you. I said, I think 138 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 2: we're in the middle of an earthquake. And he's like, 139 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 2: everybody okay. I'm like, no, we're fine. He's like, do 140 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 2: you want to go? Do you want to reschedule? And 141 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: I said no, no, no, everything's okay, Like there was 142 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 2: no damage in the house, nothing actually fell off the walls. 143 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 2: My fun somehow slept through the entire thing, so Steve 144 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 2: and I continued, and I'm so great full that I did, 145 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 2: because just over a month later he passed away. So, 146 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 2: you know, I think when I spoke to Steve, I 147 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 2: probably asked him a lot of the same questions that 148 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 2: people ask him about in utero. I did come at 149 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 2: it from a bit of a novice lens, not knowing 150 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 2: anything about recording, so I think I was able to 151 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 2: maybe ask some good questions. But the one thing I'm 152 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 2: really really grateful for is that since my book focuses 153 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 2: on Kurt's social activism, if you will, I was able 154 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 2: to speak to Steve about that a little bit and 155 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 2: just kind of how, you know, Kurt basically being a pioneer, 156 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 2: and how the whole band was very comfortable in their skin, 157 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: kind of at a time where maybe that might be 158 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 2: socially frowned on. So I did feel lucky that that 159 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 2: Steve and I got to talk about that. He was 160 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 2: a very very very nice person. He was a wonderful man, 161 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 2: and not haveing any industry connections coming into this, you know, 162 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 2: kind of being a mom from the middle of nowhere. 163 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 2: I found it a little challenging to get people to 164 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 2: want to speak to me and do interviews, because you know, 165 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 2: the first thing is is this going to be in 166 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 2: Rolling Stone? And so a lot of people kind of 167 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 2: tend to be more concerned about things like that. Everybody 168 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 2: in my book is fantastic. Steve was one of these 169 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:26,839 Speaker 2: people who reached out to him. There was no trying 170 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 2: to convince him to do it. I sent him an email. 171 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 2: The next day he wrote back, I'd be happy to 172 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 2: be part of your project. You know. I was anxious 173 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 2: talking to him because I had read that he was 174 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 2: the crankiest man in rock, so I wanted to be 175 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 2: over prepared. I thought he was just lovely. There was 176 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 2: never anything cranky all of our you know, email correspondents. 177 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 2: He was just a very kind person who you could 178 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 2: tell I had time for others. After he passed, and 179 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 2: I I had known about this then, because I would 180 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 2: have asked him about it. I was speaking with Todd Traynor, 181 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 2: who's the drummer for his ban Schilac, and I said, 182 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 2: I want to do something in Steve's honor. He didn't 183 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 2: have to be part of this book, but he chose to, 184 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:17,439 Speaker 2: you know, be in it. And since I'm donating half 185 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: my profits to charity. I said, I want to do 186 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 2: something in Steve's name. Do you think there's something that 187 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 2: he would support and he said that. About thirty years ago, 188 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 2: Steve and his wife started getting letters from the post 189 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 2: Office just addressed to Santa. People never thought anybody would 190 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 2: read them, and they were basically letters from parents who 191 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 2: were saying, you know, Dear Santa, this Christmas, I don't 192 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 2: want to have to choose which one of my children 193 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 2: gets new shoes. Dear Santa, this Christmas, I want to 194 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 2: be able to afford coats for all of my kids. 195 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 2: And Steve and his wife selflessly took it upon themselves 196 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 2: to start fulfilling these wishes, and thirty years the letter later, 197 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 2: they have this letters to Santa Charity. I think this 198 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 2: past year they helped sixteen different families. They basically make 199 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 2: Christmas happen for them. 200 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: All. 201 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 2: The older kids get laptops, if I'm correct, the younger 202 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 2: kids get tablets, and every family gets ten thousand dollars, 203 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 2: no strings attached. And Steve Albini was part of that 204 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 2: champion that what incredible human being. I have nothing but 205 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 2: praise for him. 206 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 3: Great story. Now that's one of the charities I know 207 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 3: that you highlight for your proceeds from the book. We'll 208 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 3: talk about the others certainly that we want to shine 209 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 3: a light on. Another person that you spoke with is 210 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 3: being a guest on the podcast and specifically even talking 211 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 3: about Nirvana and the MTV Unplugged sessions. What was it 212 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 3: like talking to the former manager of Nirvana, Danny Goldberg. 213 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 2: Danny Goldberg is also lovely. He was another one of 214 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 2: the people who I reached out and the next day, yep, 215 00:11:55,880 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 2: let's set up a time to talk. Obviously incredibly talented, 216 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 2: incredibly smart, almost where it's intimidating to talk to him, 217 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 2: so well spoken, so kind, just you know, took the 218 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 2: time to listen to me, explain why I was doing this, 219 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 2: how I wanted to all, how I wanted to honor Walter, 220 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 2: and just you know, patiently listen to me while I 221 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,680 Speaker 2: asked him questions that I tried to find, questions that 222 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 2: maybe weren't already asked a thousand times. Because since the 223 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 2: book isn't about the band, it's about Kurt Cobain, you know, 224 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 2: the human being. I wanted to speak with him about 225 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 2: different sides of Kurt, things like why didn't he quit music, 226 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 2: because I know that's something that people kind of kick 227 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:46,199 Speaker 2: around on different online forums, and you know, Danny had 228 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 2: explained to me that he loved music. It's not that 229 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 2: simple to just walk away from something, you know, when 230 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 2: you love it. We talked a little bit about you know, 231 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,319 Speaker 2: Kurt's drug use and his stomach issues and could this 232 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 2: have been a product of you know, maybe being uninsured 233 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 2: in America self medicating. Danny didn't feel that was the issue. 234 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 2: He felt, you know, Kurt had these you know, substance 235 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 2: abuse issues before joining the band. So it was just 236 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 2: a nice insightful conversation really about Kurt's impact. You know, 237 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 2: Danny was saying how he likes when he sees people 238 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 2: walking around New York with the Nirvana t shirts on, 239 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 2: and it's nice to see that the band is still 240 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 2: making an impact. So that was just it was a 241 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 2: nice conversation, definitely intimidating. 242 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 3: He's a legend in the business, and he's a good man. 243 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 3: He really is. 244 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:42,319 Speaker 2: He really is. Definitely just like I said, didn't didn't 245 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 2: have to tate to speak to me about it. To 246 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 2: help me honor a loved one who passed by suicide. 247 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 2: Really an incredible person. 248 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 3: When you think of mental illness and you think of 249 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 3: the music business, and you reflect on you know, Kurt's 250 00:13:55,920 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 3: ultimate passing, how far do you think the music business 251 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 3: has come on how it views mental health. 252 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 2: I think it's tough because I think as a society 253 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 2: and the music business, I think we've come a long way. 254 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 2: There seems to be a lot more understanding for people. 255 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 2: I feel like in this day and age, if you 256 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 2: have an artist who's struggling with mental health issues, regardless 257 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 2: of where they are, you know, on the celebrity status, 258 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 2: I feel if somebody was to say, you know, I 259 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 2: can't do this enough. I do like to think as 260 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: a society, we're we're more willing to say, okay, let's 261 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 2: take a break, let's step back. You know. I know 262 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 2: that Nirvana did cancel you know, shows and whatnot when 263 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 2: if Kurt was having issues. But I like to think 264 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 2: as a society we do better. I think one of 265 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 2: the issues the music industry might face is social media, 266 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 2: so you can have you know, mental health if you're 267 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 2: struggling with your mental health and you need to get 268 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 2: access to resources. But everything is at your fingertips now, 269 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 2: and if you make one misstep. You know, we saw 270 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 2: this with Kurt We saw how the media was constantly 271 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 2: after him and insinuating things. I think today, with social media, 272 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 2: there's so much online bullying and I can see that 273 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 2: regardless of how you know, accommodating the music industry might be, 274 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 2: that's going to eat at somebody's you know, that's going 275 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 2: to eat at their soul. In my opinion, you have 276 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 2: these artists that have, you know, millions of followers across 277 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 2: a variety of platforms, and you just can't stop people 278 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 2: from coming out and being online bullies. If they don't 279 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 2: like your weight, they don't like your hair, they don't 280 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 2: like how you dress, they don't like your last song. 281 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 2: And I think unless these artists are able to completely 282 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 2: shut themselves out from that and have maybe very dedicated 283 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 2: PR teams who are going to you know, manage their 284 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 2: socials for them, but really, with social media everywhere, how 285 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 2: do you turn yourself off to that? So I think 286 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 2: we're in a more accepting day and age. We might have, 287 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 2: you know, people who under stand needing a break for 288 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 2: mental health, but also just this constant access to criticism 289 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 2: on the internet, which is almost kind of like a 290 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 2: double edged sword. For these artists, which I think is 291 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 2: really a shame. 292 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 3: I love the story of how you took being a writer, 293 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 3: merged it with some activism when it came to the 294 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 3: Aberdeen Bridge. Tell everybody about the bridge, what it is 295 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 3: for those that don't know, and what you and others 296 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 3: were able to do about the bridge. 297 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 2: Sure, so the Aberdeen Bridge, some people might hear it 298 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 2: called the young Street Bridge, Kurtz Bridge usually so Kirk 299 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 2: is kirk obing a synonymous with the bridge because the 300 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 2: I don't want to say rumor, but as the story goes, 301 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,359 Speaker 2: he wrote the song Something in the Way from Nevermind 302 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 2: about his time being on house beneath the bridge, and 303 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 2: there's been a lot of speculation about that over the years. 304 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 2: Did he didn't he sleep there? You know, You've got 305 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 2: him on some accounts saying that he did, and then 306 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 2: we know in other accounts and see he kind of 307 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 2: walks that back a little bit. You know, there's a 308 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 2: lot of the speculation with the tide and how much 309 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 2: foliage there was there, you know, in the eighties, what 310 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 2: he's been able to sleep there. And the big thing 311 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 2: I focus on in my book is I don't think 312 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 2: it matters if he did or didn't sleep there. I 313 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 2: think the bridge in terms of Kurt represents the fact 314 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 2: that he was unhoused, So I think we really need 315 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 2: to kind of look at the big picture with that. 316 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 2: But people from all over the world come to that bridge. 317 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 2: I was told a story by one of Kurt's friends. 318 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 2: So there's a misconception that his ashes are scattered in 319 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 2: the Wishka River there he was actually I mean, his 320 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 2: ashes were scattered at a variety of different places, but 321 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 2: one of them is McLean Creek, which I think is 322 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 2: an olympia. But people still associate him with that bridge. 323 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 2: So there was a young woman from I believe it 324 00:17:56,280 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 2: was Spain who flew out to Aberdeen. Her brother had 325 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 2: passed away in a car accident and his final wishes 326 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 2: were to be scattered in the Wishka River, where Kirk 327 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 2: Cobain was. So she flies out from Spain and she 328 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,640 Speaker 2: goes there and she meets with one of Kurt's friends 329 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 2: and he says to her, he says, you know, he's 330 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 2: not actually scattered here, and she said to him, she said, well, 331 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 2: this was my brother's final wish, so I'm going to 332 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:24,640 Speaker 2: scatter him here anyway. And you think to yourself. That's 333 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:28,959 Speaker 2: somebody who flew around the world for this final gesture 334 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 2: for their family member. And that's the impact of Kirk Cobain. 335 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,199 Speaker 2: And that's how important that bridge is to people. So 336 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 2: right now, the bridge, I don't even think they've made 337 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 2: a decision yet. But the bridge was facing demolition, and 338 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:44,479 Speaker 2: it's not because of what it stands for. It's because 339 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 2: it's not structurally down. So they're trying to figure out 340 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 2: what to do with it. Exactly. I think cars of 341 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 2: a certain weight can still drive across it. So they 342 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 2: have all these incredible engineers out in Aberdeen trying to 343 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 2: figure out what to do. And one of the things 344 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 2: on the tape was build another bridge next to it 345 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 2: and keep that one, maybe as a walking path still, 346 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 2: so I think they're kind of leaning towards that, but 347 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 2: again I'm not not really sure. I haven't followed it 348 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,880 Speaker 2: too closely in a while. But about I'm gonna say 349 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 2: about I think it was last April some historians from 350 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 2: town reached out to me and they said, would you 351 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 2: help us and trying to preserve the bridge, and I 352 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:23,919 Speaker 2: said yeah, I said, just you know, tell me what 353 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 2: to do. They thought maybe trying to get it made 354 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 2: an historic landmark, might help. I did try to get 355 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,199 Speaker 2: that done. I had spoken with the powers that be 356 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 2: in Washington State. Basically I was kind of told it 357 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 2: was an exercise and futility and it probably wasn't going 358 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 2: to happen. I really don't think it would need to 359 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 2: happen anyway. I do think they'll find a way of 360 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 2: preserving it. So we started a petition. I think we 361 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 2: got about three thousand signatures maybe, and then Matthew Well's 362 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 2: formerly of the Daily World and Aberdeen reached out, you know, 363 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 2: did a nice little interview with me. With me, I 364 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 2: got to say see my name for the first time 365 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 2: in print as a Kurt Cobain book author. So that 366 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 2: was cool. But it was nice to know that what 367 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 2: we were trying to do mattered and it was catching on. 368 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 2: I wound up connecting with the Grays Harbor Conservation District 369 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,439 Speaker 2: because they're the ones who are responsible for preserving and 370 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:23,440 Speaker 2: maintained Kurt's Memorial Park, which is right next to the bridge, 371 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 2: and we talked and we kind of have this plan 372 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 2: in place where if the bridge does come down, they 373 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 2: want to reach out to the town to see if 374 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 2: they can maybe get a piece of the abutment with 375 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 2: the graffiti on it, to maybe move to his park 376 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 2: somehow to still have a little piece of it there. 377 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:40,479 Speaker 2: But I really do need to find out what's going 378 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 2: on with the bridge, because I have nests in a while. 379 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 2: But as far as I know, I don't think any 380 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 2: advancements with anything have been made. But it felt nice 381 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 2: to be able to do something to help to remind 382 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 2: people like, Hey, this bridge matters, and as long as 383 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 2: the engineers can find a way too safely still keep 384 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 2: it or preserve it, let's try to be part of that. 385 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 2: Let's try to keep this bridge that people literally fly from, 386 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 2: you know, the far corners of the earth to visit. 387 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 2: I think that's really special and I think we need 388 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 2: to keep that. I've never been to the bridge myself, though, 389 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 2: gotta go. 390 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 3: I haven't been either. We all got to go? 391 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 2: Do I want to go? Yeah? 392 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 3: I gotta go. So in closing, can you give some 393 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 3: props to the charities that are important to you that 394 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:29,680 Speaker 3: will get some money from the sales of the book? 395 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 2: Absolutely? 396 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: So. 397 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,159 Speaker 2: Before I became a waiter, I used to be a 398 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:38,640 Speaker 2: special ad teacher and I worked with disadvantaged children. So 399 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,679 Speaker 2: one organization that I'm sending money to is called Jenny's 400 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:45,360 Speaker 2: House and there are Children's Advocacy Center and basically they 401 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,360 Speaker 2: provide free support to children who are survivors of abuse. 402 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 2: Another organization is in Colbein's hometown. It's called Camp Victory 403 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 2: and they also work with children. They provide free summer 404 00:21:56,280 --> 00:22:00,200 Speaker 2: camp to children who are survivors of sexual assault. I'm 405 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,120 Speaker 2: also going to be giving some money to the Aberdeen 406 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 2: Food Bank to try to help them out. And then 407 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 2: I'm looking for something that does something for veterans who 408 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 2: died by suicide to assist their families afterwards. I think 409 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 2: I'm going to be giving some of the funds to 410 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:22,120 Speaker 2: an organization called TAPS because after Walter, my family member. 411 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:24,360 Speaker 2: He was a veteran marine, so after he died, they 412 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 2: stepped in to help my family, so I would like 413 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:31,120 Speaker 2: to pay it forward with them. There's also Steve Albini's chapter. 414 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 2: Another one I'm giving some funds too is called Tomorrow's 415 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 2: Children's Fund and they provide support to families who have 416 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 2: children battling childhood cancer. And then there's another one out 417 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 2: in the Aberdeen area that's a local wildlife refuge. So 418 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,639 Speaker 2: I'm just trying to spread it out. I know it's 419 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:52,479 Speaker 2: a book, it's not going to make a million dollars, 420 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 2: so I'm trying to find other ways of helping. I 421 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 2: am hosting virtual online writing workshops for charity so I 422 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 2: can use that money to sense different organizations. And then 423 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 2: we actually had to move the date, but on March 424 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 2: twenty third, now we're going to be having a book 425 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 2: launch party at a record factory in New Jersey. They're 426 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,880 Speaker 2: going to sell tickets, we have a really neat cover 427 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 2: band playing Nirvana, and we're giving one hundred percent of 428 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 2: the profits that day to Jenny's House, who will be 429 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 2: there to help out with volunteers. 430 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 3: So Kelly, bravo for your work and your advocacy, but 431 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:30,360 Speaker 3: also bravo for the book Forever in Bloom Kurt Cobain, 432 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:34,960 Speaker 3: available from the folks at Genius Book Publishing and I'm 433 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 3: sure wherever else you can get books Amazon and of course, 434 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 3: and congrats on it, and thanks for thank you shining 435 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 3: a different light on the amazing career of someone we 436 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 3: lost way too young. 437 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. 438 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a 439 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 1: Walk Podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends 440 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 1: and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking 441 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 1: a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 442 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: and wherever you get your podcasts.