More than 15 years after his death, Kurt Cobain is in the middle of a controversy in his hometown of Aberdeen, Wash., in a battle between a local resident and city officials regarding a certain four-letter word displayed in an unofficial neighborhood park honoring the Nirvana frontman.
A polished granite stone was recently added to the park, featuring eight quotes attributed to Cobain. The quote in question says, “Drugs are bad for you. They will f**k you up.” (The marker doesn’t include asterisks.)
Surprise, surprise – there are a few city officials who aren’t fans of the F-bomb. The problem is “the property is considered the ‘right of way’ for both [resident] Tori Kovach, who lives adjacent to the land and had the idea for the park, and the city, which also owns the bridge,” according to The Daily World.
The KC Riverfront Park is located next to the Young Street Bridge, where legend has it Cobain used to hang out as a kid. The tune “Something in the Way,” from Nirvana’s 1991 sophomore album, Nevermind,” features the Wishkah River, which flows under the bridge.
While the park isn’t an official city park, the city has helped with improvements such as leveling the property, as well as installing a picnic table, a couple of benches and a small walking path.
“That is a word that should be done away with,” Aberdeen City Councilman Jerry Mills said, according to The Daily World. “We paint over it every time it’s on graffiti. It’s inappropriate.”
Aberdeen Mayor Bill Simpson said the city’s Parks Board will make the decision regarding the F-Bomb. The paper noted he doesn’t know if asterisks will be added or the word taken out completely.
“Just because Kurt said it doesn’t mean it’s gospel,” Simpson said. “I don’t say the word and I don’t think these people who come to the area should be put into the situation.”
Kovach chose the eight quotes featured on the granite market, which was donated by Grays Harbor Monument.
“I didn’t include that quote because I enjoy and am comfortable with controversy. “It wasn’t for that reason. It was a message from Kurt and a very powerful message,” Kovach said.
Toledo, Wash., resident Hayley Rogers, who brought her 16-year-old son and his friend to the park, said she doesn’t have a problem with the quote.
“The phrase doesn’t bother me,” Rogers said. “It’s straight forward and that’s what kids need to hear. And it’s true. Drugs are bad for you and that’s exactly what it will do to you. That’s what it did to Kurt. It’s not offensive to me. I don’t talk like that. I don’t use that word. But it doesn’t bother me to see that here because that was him.”
Rogers has a good point – whether you approved of the four-letter word or not, nobody can really argue with the fact that “drugs f**k you up.” After struggling with drug problems for years, Cobain was found with a high concentration of heroin and traces of Valium after he ended his life with a 20-gauge shotgun.
But, while this can be seen as a warning to kids, maybe using that quote is just kind of sad. It’s sad that Cobain couldn’t take his own advice and get some help – and the quote puts more of an emphasis on Cobain’s self-destruction rather than honoring his contribution to music. But that self-destruction was certainly a part of Cobain so I can see why Kovach wanted to include it.
Since Kovach created the KC Riverfront Park on a section of property that borders with city land, he’s going to have to fall in line with the city’s decision. But would exchanging a few asterisks for letters really change the quote’s meaning that much?
What do you think?
Click here for The Daily World article.