Love & Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain Paperback – March 29, 2005

Speaking as a person who never purchased a Nirvana album or idolized Kurt Cobain, but rather a person who simply recognizes a very small handful of Nirvana songs, I'd like to think I went into this read with a completely open mind, with no hidden agenda to defend or point the finger at either side of the "suicide vs murder" debate. I had watched the "Soaked In Bleach" video for free on Amazon Prime and followed up with this book, which I couldn't put down once I started it. I don't consider the murder possibility to be a "theory" now, considering the book is based on recorded telephone conversations, documents, and interviews with people who knew Cobain. That's not speculation or story telling; that's recorded voices of people lying, deceiving, hating, planning, people filing false police reports, false media reports, rage, jealousy, etc. I think a better description would be that the book presents a very plausible explanation as to why this man is gone, not a "theory" and certainly not a "conspiracy". Love's "practice sheet" of trying to copy Cobain's handwriting, the fact that someone was trying to use Cobain's credit card up until 15 minutes before his body was found (he had been dead for several days), and the questionable four lines added to his suicide note are all very disturbing. Toss in the fact that another recording between private investigator, Tom Grant and the personal attorney for Love/Cobain confirms that they were divorcing, and that Love was trying to find a way to dissolve the prenup between them, and you'll really start to wonder what's going on. Cobain's new will, which removed Love from inheriting anything, was unsigned at the time of his death. The other two band members confirm that Nirvana had already broken up when Cobain died; without the added four lines to the suicide note, one must consider that the note is actually a note to the FANS, as he was departing the music scene and/or Nirvana at that time. Cobain also had two airline tickets, ready to leave Seattle, but obviously never used them, and was not traveling with Love. Love hangs back in Los Angeles the entire time that Cobain is missing, refusing to actively partake in looking for him, tossing out a variety of media spins and false reports about herself to get attention for her new album, but once his body is found, she returns to Washington state within two hours via private jet. Huh? This is just a bit of the information that came from the many phone recordings and documents that are found in this book. Shame on the police department for proclaiming Cobain's death a suicide the same day that he was found, for NEVER developing the crime scene photos, and for refusing to reopen this case when so much bizarre and suspicious evidence/behavior has been uncovered since Kurt's death. Tom Grant and one other person in this book claim to essentially have the slam dunk evidence for the murder case, but they are refusing to release that information until the FBI steps in and takes over. And they should. Please note that the slam dunk is not in the book, but I did not finish this book feeling like I needed any more information to seriously question the police department declaring this a suicide. Yes, it's a different state and 15 years later, but when Michael Jackson died...THAT is the way to conduct an investigation. Leave no stone unturned before ruling it a natural death, accident, suicide, or homicide. By the end of this book, I found myself feeling very angry and disgusted that the police (or anyone else) can just slap their personally perceived label on another human being (i.e., junkie, homeless, bipolar, whore, druggie, prostitute, drug dealer, teenager, black, white, rockstar, troubled, depressed etc.) and then proceed to quickly dismiss the importance of that person's life, whether the label is true or not, by completely disregarding a proper investigation to find out why that person is now DEAD. I don't care if Cobain used heroin. Couldn't care less! His death deserved a proper and complete police department investigation, just as any other human being; NOT because he was famous, but because the police shouldn't have the power to toss anyone's life value out so quickly. Obviously, this is still a very modern day issue, nothing new really, but certainly infuriating, regardless. And that, in my opinion, is exactly what happened in this botched case: this rush-to-judgment by the police department, and their incredulous ability to believe the false statements and deception coming out of the mouth of this man's wife (because it conveniently supported the label they put on Cobain, and it supported their assumptions, assumptions that were, btw, fed to them by HER) and then promptly tossing the whole thing into the closed case files as if Cobain never mattered, is a complete disgrace. When you're done with this book, Nirvana fan or not, you'll be questioning why SOMEONE out there can't get this case reopened. I do not find the material presented to be fabricated or even far reaching, nor is it one person's opinion. It expands greatly on what was brought up in the "Soaked in Bleach" video. Get this book and make your own decision. I was shocked at how much more information is readily available in the book; the "Soaked in Bleach" video is just a scratch on the surface. Indeed, how DOES a junkie shoot up seven times the lethal dose of heroin, remain conscious, put his personal items away neatly, and retain the ability to properly position a shotgun to commit suicide? And don't fall back on tolerance and heavy abuse, it doesn't hold water. If you think that's the case, then please note that Cobain is the only person on the planet to ever pull it off, which would make him a drug-using superman and an interesting scientific study, too. The book also discusses how Kurt wasn't the only person who was trying to get away from his wife that ended up dead. The bass player for Hole suspiciously died shortly after Cobain (when she announced she was quitting the band, before a big tour started), along with another man who passed a polygraph test, twice stating that he was offered $50K to kill Cobain and "make it look like a suicide"; I'll allow the book to present those stories. Coincidences? How about the fact that the same medical examiner did the autopsies regarding the two dead people mentioned here, declaring their causes of death, and him being a good friend of Love's? Curious? I'm not on the fence about this issue any more. The police need to put their egos aside, reopen the case, and give this a real investigation. Until that happens, there will never be closure as to why this man is gone. The sheer number of copy-cat-suicides in young people since Cobain died should be reason enough for them to do it, even if they still don't give a damn about Cobain. The book consults with multiple experts, who have handled high profile cases that you probably recognize, who state that the photographs of the crime scene would tell all, but Seattle still refuses to develop them. Why? The whole thing is incredibly sad.

Highly Recommend, interesting good read , couldn't put it down & have re-read it several times.Also decorative book for coffee table &guests.

I first saw this book when I worked for Waldbaum's supermarket. I picked it up, turned to a random page, and found that the little bit I did read was too outlandish and I put it back and never once went back to read more of it. The whole idea of Kurt Cobain being murdered was something I wasn't ready to consider, much less believe, in 2004. I started reconsidering a few years later, I read reviews for this and other books on the subject for about 10 years, then finally I decided that maybe I'd better open my mind (and I mean be real wide open) and at least read the supposed evidence that supports the murder theory.I read the book. In fact, I read it a few times. It's still outlandish at times, but I will admit that it held my interest. In fact, I can even admit that this was not an open-and-shut case of suicide, and the Seattle Police Department really should reopen this case. But do I believe that it was murder and not suicide? Not yet, although I'm a lot closer to believing it than I was before I read the book. You see, this book is insinuating that Courtney Love was responsible for three people dying. I don't like her myself, but it's difficult to believe that the woman is actually a cunning murderess. An incurable drug addict and mega bitch, yes; but I don't know if she is capable of murder. Still, the book is worth reading for true Nirvana fans who don't accept the suicide theory. Maybe someday I can open my mind a little wider and accept that this death was really a murder, but that time is not now.

This book is really good ..I think a lot of us who grew up in the 90s & felt a strong connection to Kurt's music don't feel like the case was dealt with very well.. there is a lot of information that just feels wrong(like eerily wrong)- the M.E. that performed ALL of the autopsies, the practice writing..Kristen Pfaff'..the timing of events..I'm not here to point fingers- there are all kinds of different theories. money seems to be the #1 thing that people can use to get away with all kinds of s#!t. It's sad but very true..no one truly knows except the person or people involved. I've always been kinda detective-ish so this book was super hard to put down.One thing though, I have to also say that there is a HUGE STIGMA attached to people who use drugs (opioids are "the enemy"(meanwhile ppl are in severe pain & can't get any help from Drs..while ppl are doing coke like it's the disco days & its 'just for fun'..and hey..alcohol is just fine & dandy! It never hurts anyone, right!) The whole "you can never trust a junkie" mentality is horrible & portrays good people to be "losers","dopefiends" & "junkies", therefore while I do have my own thoughts about this "case", I can also sympathize with anyone who has been treated like crap and made to look like a villain because they don't fit societal norms, are seen as a "junkie"- all the stuff about Courtney's pregnancy & all that- I would be fuming if someone portrayed me to be a bad parent & didn't know me. Just had to say that.If you're looking for a book with a lot of info & some very interesting theories, read it , and you'll have a better understanding of a lot of the facts. It's upsetting- being a teenager in the 90s was both very cool & very difficult at times, but we had some amazing musicians who were so powerful & real. TOO MANY unsolved murders and deaths where the evidence was mishandled , destroyed or covered up making it impossible to find out the truth. I hope everyone is at peace, the media makes things like this so hyped up but we're talking about lives being lost.It seems like the people who want peace on earth the most end up gone too soon. If you're an empath, prepare yourself for some strong emotions!