KurtCobainArticles1

Songs That Influenced Kurt Cobain

This month's Q magazine features a story on "The Nevermind Era," which is defined by a scientifically precise timeline, beginning 10/29/1990 ("Dave Grohl settles in") and ending 08/30/1992 ("The Reading Festival," Nirvana's final UK concert).   The article on this Anglo-centric 672 days of influence has behind the scenes anecdotes documenting the highs and the lows; it also has this list of songs "that inspired Kurt Cobain," which the mag's staff put together based on Cobain quotes and their editorial expertise.
Here it is, according to Stereogum.com article, with a recap of their reasoning for inclusion.

01. "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
Q included this because "the alternative rock heroes were instrumental in getting Nirvana signed by Geffen."

02. "Debaser" - Pixies
As Cobain said, he "was basically trying to rip off the Pixies."

03. "More Than A Feeling" - Boston   They're thinking that "Smells Like Teen Spirit"'s opening bore a "strong resemblance" to this cut.

04. "Seasons In The Sun" - Terry Jacks   The first record Kurt ever bought.

05. "My Sharona" - The Knack   In Kurt's band bio, he wrote that Nirvana sounded like "Black Sabbath playing The Knack."

06. "Rise Above" - Black Flag   Q traces Kurt's lyrical sense to this punk staple.

07. "Sweet Emotion" - Aerosmith   Kurt and Krist put out a band ad listing Led Zep and Aerosmith as key influences.

08. "Chord Organ Blues" - Daniel Johnston   We all know how much Kurt loved his Daniel tee.

09. "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" - Leadbelly   Covered during Nirvana's MTV Unplugged appearance.

10. "I Saw Her Standing There" - The Beatles   From Meet The Beatles!, which made it into Kurt's posthumously published Top 50 albums list.

11. "Lizzy" - Melvins   Kurt auditioned for a slot with the Melvins, but had a bout of the nerves and "fogot all the songs."

12. "Lake Of Fire" - Meat Puppets   Included 'cause the band joined Nirvana for three songs at the Unplugged performance.

13. "The Revenge Of Anus Presley" - Butthole Surfers   Q says that the Surfers' "outrageous lyrics appealed to Cobain's often puerile sense of humour."

14. "Search And Destroy - Iggy And The Stooges   Said Kurt: "Iggy Pop was my total idol."

15. "Back In Black" - AC/DC   First riff 14-year-old Kurt ever learned!

16. "Black Sabbath" - Black Sabbath   Noted as a key influence on Bleach. Also noted for having inventing heavy metal.

17. "Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival   Teeneaged Kurt and Krist once had a CCR tribute band called Sellout. Awwww.

18. "Anarchy In The UK" - Sex Pistols   Included for the thought that "A denial!" was a Gen X update of "Get pissed! Destroy!"

19. "Son Of A Gun" - The Vaselines   Nirvana covered three Vaselines songs in its day.

20. "My My Hey Hey (Into The Black)" - Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Kurt's "suicide" note quoted Young: "It's better to burn out than to fade away."   Find more comments at Stereogum.com.