Kurt & Dave #1
Made with the encouragement of my 12 year old son who thinks the idea is hilarious.
Long story short, I'm a Nirvana fan who admittedly likes the Foo Fighters. Like many a Gen-Xer though, I've always been been struck but the huge stylistic differences between the two bands despite Dave Grohl's presence in each. I think it's no secret that Nirvana was Kurt Cobain's band. Novoselic--the older brother of one of Cobain's school friends who could play bass was, at 6' 10", a partner who naturally commanded respect.
Grohl, however—100 pounds soaking wet (if you shaved his hair)—was the youngest of the trio. He was also the newcomer--the fifth or so drummer the band tried out (just like their name). He could do the job and his headbanging was tight but he still must have felt like Ringo on Ed Sullivan--conscious of his great fortune and happy to be there.
Anyway, a while back after listening to the Unplugged Album for the 50th time or so, I found myself doing impressions of Cobain's mind-numbingly depressed asides: mock bitching about having to solo on Pennyroyal Tea, musing about his endless cups of tea, or ripping David Geffen for not buying him Leadbelly's guitar. God help me--I am fully aware that Cobain died less five months later-- I started running with the idea of Kurt being like that all the time--just bossing everyone around in absolute monotone and withering sarcasm.
Not the real person, mind you. Just a caricature.
So THEN I came up with the equally reprehensible idea of Cobain picking on Grohl in particular--in essence treating Nirvana’s drummer like a glorified Facebook intern--ordering the kid around, artfully belittling him, and shitting all over his musical aspirations. Grohl, of course, takes it because, hey, you don't quit the Beatles while the hits keep rolling in...and who knows, maybe one day Kurt has writer's block and "I'll Stick Around" makes it on the band's Fourth LP....
Please, Dave Grohl/Foo Fighters Fans...take this and future offerings with a grain of salt. I have the utmost respect for your boy's musical virtuosity and anyone who was in Nirvana is rock royalty...just like Ringo's still a Beatle. This was just a flight of fancy that got a little carried away.
Enjoy...I hope
Portable Frailty (aka Rich Carriero)
3/23/2026
