Introduction
A legend of his time, Kurt Cobain is still remembered by millions today, even though he died almost 30 years ago. As the lead vocalist and co-founder of Nirvana, he has enjoyed long-standing fame, and many of his fans around the world want to know more about who he was, starting with his height.
Estimates vary to an extent, but most people think that Kurt Cobain was around 5 foot 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall. However, some people suggest he was as short as 5 foot 6 inches (1.68 meters), while others say as tall as 5 foot 11 inches (1.80 meters). That’s quite a variation, but if the common estimate of 5 foot 9 is correct, he was a little over the average height.
Kurt Cobain was enormously popular in his day and is still very much a figure of interest, so let’s start finding out a bit more about him.
How Tall Was Kurt Cobain?
As you can see above, the estimates for Kurt Cobain’s height are quite varied. Most sources suggest that he was 5 foot 9 inches, which is about 1 inch taller than the average American man. However, a lot of his fans claim that he was much shorter than this – so what’s going on?
The simple answer is that Kurt Cobain may not have had great posture; he is often seen bending forward to sing, and that probably contributed to the idea that he was pretty short. Some reports suggest that he also suffered from spinal curvature and scoliosis, which would have made him look short too.
It’s also worth noting that many celebrities are taller than the average American, and males tend to stand at about 5 foot 10 inches (1.78 meters). That means Kurt Cobain may often have been seen alongside taller celebrities, which would again have made him look shorter.
However, you might occasionally see taller heights of up to 5 foot 11 inches mentioned in connection with Kurt Cobain. These don’t seem to have any solid evidence for them, which suggests that they are probably exaggerated or misrepresented in some way.
In all likelihood, the singer was probably around 5 foot 9, or possibly an inch taller or shorter. With his poor posture, it’s likely that people underestimated his height, but he was certainly not an unusually tall person.
How Old Was Kurt Cobain?
Sadly, Kurt Cobain was only 27 years old when he died. He committed suicide not very long after undergoing a detox program to try to treat his addiction problems, and it is known that he was struggling immensely with the pressures of fame. He was addicted to heroin, and had been diagnosed with depression.
This followed a troubled childhood, which was probably partly due to his parents’ divorce when he was 9 years old. He viewed himself as an outsider, often facing bullying and rejection from other children. He was also homeless for a time.
In spite of his short life, he left an incredible legacy, and will always be remembered. In 2014, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he has been listed by Rolling Stone as being among the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time, and the 100 Greatest Guitarists.
That’s a pretty incredible legacy to leave, so what made Kurt Cobain so famous?
What Was Kurt Cobain Famous For?
Considered his greatest achievement, Kurt Cobain was a co-founder and lead vocalist for Nirvana. He had been gifted a used guitar by an uncle when he was 14, and had a long-standing interest in music, having been a talented singer since he was a toddler. He formed the first iteration of Nirvana with Krist Novoselic, but the pair struggled.
It was after they had hired Dave Grohl as their drummer that they produced their major-label debut, and their lead single, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Their success was swift, and their band became a major influencer for others on the scene.
This caused conflicts within Kurt Cobain, who had considered himself an outsider and a rebel. He suddenly found himself a beloved star of a generation, and struggled to deal with this. He also faced significant criticism for his support of gay rights, and his opposition to sexism and racism.
Was Kurt Cobain Gay?
There’s a lot of dispute over Kurt Cobain’s sexuality, although he described himself at times as bisexual. He was married to Courtney Love and despite having a sometimes tumultuous relationship, he was dedicated to her.
However, he is also quoted as saying that he wished he was gay so he could strike back at and upset homophobes, and he said that if it wasn’t for Courtney, he would have continued to be bisexual.
Was Kurt Cobain Left-Handed?
Yes, the musician was famously left-handed, and often struggled to get a guitar that suited him as a result. Once the band had attained fame, his guitars were specially made by Fender, but in the early days, he was noted for playing on budget models because of the difficulty he had finding left-handed options.
He started Nirvana with a guitar that he had simply flipped over and re-strung so that he could play it left-handed.
How Much Did Kurt Cobain Weigh?
It’s difficult to estimate, as the singer’s weight probably fluctuated according to his health issues and drug use, but he was certainly thin. He had a slim figure, and was probably somewhere around 135 lb (61 kg), which meant he would have been fairly underweight, likely in part as a result of his addictions.
Sadly, Kurt Cobain suffered from various health issues, including chronic bronchitis and depression. Coupled with drug abuse, he was probably quite unwell, and overdosed several times prior to his suicide.
Conclusion
Kurt Cobain is probably one of the most famous musicians in history, and although he attracted widespread criticism, he was also beloved by his fans, and made phenomenal contributions to the world of music. Lauded for his skill as a songwriter, a guitarist, and a singer, his legacy is going to continue for a great many years to come.
