Kurt Cobain

The definitive Generation X icon and foremost purveyor of Seattle grunge rock, Kurt Cobain struggled with personal demons, including substance abuse and mental illness, for his entire life. Alongside bandmates Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl, Cobain scored as the frontman and main songwriter for the 1990s defining rock act, Nirvana, who conquered the world with 1991's iconic album Nevermind and their 1993 follow-up In Utero. On the strength of such powerfully dark songs as "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Lithium," "Come as You Are," and "All Apologies," Nirvana revolutionized the music industry and earned near-universal commercial and critical success. His tumultuous marriage to rocker Courtney Love, which produced daughter Frances Bean, increased his profile as the couple was viewed by fans and critics as a kind of grunge version of John and Yoko. Struggling with the pressures of fame, his fear of selling out, and his escalating drug use, Cobain was not afforded the opportunity to fully enjoy his success, and after a suicide attempt and several failed rehab attempts, he committed suicide with a self-inflicted shotgun blast, with his body being discovered at his Seattle home on April 8, 1994. The posthumous release of the MTV Unplugged in New York album, considered by many to be the band's creative high point and an indicator of just how impressively rich Cobain's talent was, proved a huge success and won the band a Grammy. Despite his young death at 27, Cobain's memory endured. Although his early death marked a glorious but brief run for his band, Kurt Cobain left behind a legacy that not only helped define a generation but literally changed the world.