Kurt Cobain mural to be unveiled in Manchester on 30th anniversary of his death
It will be created by street artist Akse P19
Last updated 26th Feb 2024
A mural of Kurt Cobain is set to be created in Manchester this spring to mark the 30th anniversary of the Nirvana frontman’s death.
Based on a photograph by Mark Webb, the mural will be created by esteemed street artist Akse P19 on the side of The Bread Shed, a music venue & event space just off Oxford Road in Manchester.
Nirvana played two concerts a short walking distance from the location - at the Manchester Polytechnic Students Union in 1989, and later at Manchester Academy in 1991 during the ‘Nevermind’ tour.
The Kurt Cobain mural is the idea of Manchester-based music and mental health social enterprise, Headstock, who commissioned previous Akse P19 murals in Manchester of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis and The Prodigy’s Keith Flint.
Just like their previous murals, the Kurt Cobain painting is being created to raise awareness of UK mental health support service, Shout 85258
Headstock’s official Kurt Cobain mural crowdfunder, aiming to raise £3,500 to fund the mural, currently has a tally of £1,829. You can donate here.
Headstock write: ‘The purpose of the mural is to raise awareness of mental health text message support service, Shout 85258, and the charity's logo and text support number will feature prominently on the artwork.
‘The mural will be created to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death – which falls on 5th April, 2024.”
Akse P19 said of the Kurt Cobain mural: “I'm thrilled to announce my collaboration with Headstock Festival once again, as we embark on a meaningful project to create a mural honouring Kurt Cobain.
“This initiative aims to support the mental health charity Shout, and we've launched a Crowdfunder to cover various expenses associated with the mural's production, including the artist's fee, painting materials, and licensing fees for the selected reference image.
“Additionally, we'll use the proceeds to cover the production and shipping costs of limited edition prints: we're offering A4 limited edition prints of the mural to those who pledge £50 (with only 50 prints available); for those who pledge £100, you'll receive an exclusive A3 limited edition print (with only 10 prints available).”
Akse P19’s second mural of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis was unveiled in Manchester last September on World Suicide Prevention Day, a year after the iconic original was controversially painted over.
The previous mural, based on a seminal photo of Ian Curtis taken by Philippe Carly, was located on a building on Port Street in the Northern Quarter, Manchester.
It was unveiled in October 2020 to mark World Mental Health Day, however less than two years later in August 2022, fans were outraged when it was painted over with an Amazon advert for Manchester rapper Aitch’s debut album ‘Close to Home.’
Manchester councillors gave the green light for a new mural to be created on the side of the Grade II listed Star & Garter pub near Piccadilly Station.
Kurt Cobain's life in photos:
Kurt’s childhood home in Aberdeen, Washington
His parents Wendy and Donald Cobain bought the house in 1969 when Kurt was two and he lived there until they separated when he was nine.
Kurt with younger sister by three years Kimberly in the mid 1970s
Kurt celebrates a childhood birthday with his family
Kurt and Kimberly stand outside their Aberdeen home
When their parents split in 1976, Kurt went to live with his father and Kim lived with her mother.
Showcasing an early talent for music, Kurt plays piano at his childhood home
Kurt’s attic bedroom pictured in 2013
More than a quarter of a century after Kurt last habited the room, his graffiti – including an Iron Maiden logo – still adorns the walls.
Led Zeppelin graffiti Kurt penned on his bedroom wall
An Aberdeen Junior High School photo of a young Kurt Cobain
A teenage Kurt at his Washington home
Kurt playing guitar in his attic room
His walls are decorated with Black Flag and hardcore punk band Dr. Know gig posters.
May 1986: Kurt was arrested aged 19
He was arrested for trespassing on an abandoned building in Market Street, Aberdeen. He was also arrested a year earlier for spray painting on pick-up trucks.
1991: Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl in London
August 1991: Nirvana perform at Reading Festival
September 1991: A 'Nevermind' launch show at New York’s Tower Records
5th November 1991: Kurt onstage at Nirvana’s sold-out gig at The Astoria Theatre in London
November 1991: Kurt crowdsurfing in Frankfurt, Germany
1991: Kurt at Hilversum Studios, Holland
1991: Kurt at Hilversum Studios, Holland
August 1992: The Kerrang! Magazine cover featured a very sombre Kurt
It included a play on The Smiths lyrics 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now'.
December 1993: A second Kerrang! Magazine cover
16 months later and the tone of the cover is very different with the title: 'Hugs Not Drugs! Kurt Gets Happy!'.
1992: Kurt performing live in a maid’s outfit
1992: Nirvana at the MTV Video Music Awards
August 1992: Nirvana’s legendary Reading Festival performance
9th April 1993: Kurt on-stage with Nirvana at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California
Appearing alongside L7 and The Breeders, the gig was a Bosnian Rape Victim Benefit.
July 1993: Performing at the Roseland Ballroom, New York
1993: Kurt with his wife Courtney Love and one-year-old daughter Frances Bean at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles
Kurt and Courtney married in Hawaii in March 1992 with Kurt infamously wearing his pyjamas to the ceremony!
1993: Kurt at the MTV VMAs ceremony, Los Angeles
1993: At the 10th annual MTV Video Music Awards
Nirvana pose with director Kevin Kerslake after receiving an award for best alternative video for 'In Bloom' at the 10th annual MTV Video Music Awards.
Kurt pretends to pick his nose with daughter Frances Bean
November 1993: Recording Nirvana’s legendary MTV Unplugged session
December 1993: Performing at MTV Live and Loud, Seattle
February 1994: Live at The Palace, Melbourne
25th February 1994: Nirvana live at Palatrussardi indoor arena in Milan Italy
Their last ever gig took place at Terminal 1 in Munich, Germany six days later.
April 1994: Kurt Cobain dies
171 Lake Washington Blvd East Seattle, Washington, the site of Cobain's death.
16th April 1994: The Kerrang! Magazine cover, 11 days after the Nirvana’s legend’s untimely death
The Sonic Youth t-shirt Kurt wore at Nirvana’s final live performance in Munich, March 1994
The garment was auctioned at the Hard Rock Café in London in July 2012.
2011: A small park in Aberdeen was named ‘Kurt Cobain Landing’ in Kurt’s honour
This plaque quoting Something In The Way lyrics overlooks the Wishkah River.