born Feb. 20, 1967, Aberdeen, Wash., U.S.
died April 5, 1994, Seattle, Wash.
U.S. rock musician.
He formed the rock trio Nirvana in Aberdeen in 1986. The band, whose style derived from punk rock , combined the fury of that genre with anguished lyrics, a style that, together with their torn jeans and flannel shirts, became known as grunge rock. Their first album, Bleach (1989), was followed by Nevermind (1991), featuring the hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit"; it was the first punk-oriented album to achieve popularity with a mainstream audience. Cobain was elevated to prominence, but with the album In Utero (1993) he railed against his fame. Known for his self-destructive behaviour and heroin use, he shot and killed himself in his home.