This in-depth biography of one of the biggest grunge/rock musicians explores the beginning, middle and unfortunate end of Kurt Cobain, the shy kid from Seattle, whose life mirrored the one of his idol Jimi Hendrix, and who brought the music scene to a whole new level.

The book goes into great detail and beyond Cobain's forever changing, "chameleon"-like character to explain what made Kurt Cobain tick.

Many people believe Cobain was just a lousy, drug addict, "sponging off" of those he called friends and believing his musical talent would pull him through life.

Personally I think Cobain had a hidden intelligence which he used to manipulate people, gather 'disciples'who became known as 'generation x' then later 'slackers', and get the publicity which he so desparatley craved.

He achieved this mostly by rebelling against everyone, himself and even his own beliefs, which drew more and more attention to him from his surrounding community then later by the media.

Cobain's idea of fame was clearly mapped out in his head, he knew what he wanted and how to get it but lead the people around him into thinking he was a 'no-hoper' and so willingly talked with 'losers' and befriended the guys who were classed socially as 'uncool'.

"Kurt's career proceeded more conventionally than people think...you don't get to be that famous by accident" - Charles Peterson

Cobain's life is explained in raw detail including opinions and interviews from his 'friends', family, and those who got as close as possible to him, going through his life as a kid, as a teenager, as an adult then as the rock musician he became, who could turn heads by the way he could put a song across to an audience.

I highly reccommend this book to Nirvana/Cobain fans and to those with a fascination in Cobain's extraordinary personality.

Traci Harris-Scully

Read more reviews from book readers in Leeds.

Kurt Cobain is out now in paperback.