As the frontman of the rock band Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, who grew up in Aberdeen, epitomized the angst-ridden spirit of early 1990s music and culture.
His life — marked by artistic brilliance, struggles with addiction, and a tragic end — continues to leave a profound legacy that resonates across generations.
In this new edition of Kurt Cobain: “Oh Well, Whatever, Nevermind,” award-winning author and cofounder of the Kurt Cobain Memorial Foundation, Jeff Burlingame — a native of the Harbor, draws on his experiences with Kurt Cobain and his family and friends to introduce readers to the icon who ignited a musical and cultural revolution, according to an Amazon review.
Dive into the whirlwind of grunge, rebellion and unforgettable melodies that defined Cobain’s journey from small-town America to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — and beyond.
“Offers insights about growing up in Aberdeen and how Cobain became a musician and a celebrity. A Cobain biography that teens can enjoy,” The Associated Press wrote in a review.
Other reviews stated, “An unusually intimate account of the rock legend. … This detailed title stands out … because of its insider’s appreciation for the musician and his legacy.” — Booklist, and, “Interesting and even funny new details or angles on events you may not have heard before. … A well-written and well-researched publication.” — NirvanaFanClub.com.
Author Burlingame is an Aberdeen High School graduate, and former reporter at The Daily World.
Burlingame said about his start as an author, “A little more than a decade ago, the favorable reviews of the book I wrote about a childhood friend who went on to forever change the face of rock and roll music catapulted me into a career field I had longed to join since I was a young child stealing Stephen King novels from a sweaty trailer park Laundromat in Aberdeen.
“I have been on TV shows and in documentaries. I owned a music public relations firm, the clients of which went on to win Grammys. I founded a nonprofit that received international attention. And my work has been an answer to a Jeopardy. question. Twice. I won the NAACP’s top award in 2012 and was nominated for it another time, finishing in the Top 5 but ultimately losing to Condoleezza Rice.
“I won a national award from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2013. I have written more than 30 books.”
Burlingame was also on the editorial team at The Daily World for several years.
He was born and raised very poor on the Harbor, an Aberdeen High graduate, and moved away for college. He eventually came back and worked as the entertainment editor at The Daily World from 1997-2006, the year his first book was published. That book was a young adult biography of Kurt Cobain. That sold well and launched his career as an author. He has now written something like 35 books, for teens and for adults.
While in Aberdeen, He co-founded the Kurt Cobain Memorial Foundation, which installed the Come As You Are sign in 2005. Three years ago, he received a sidewalk star in front of the Aberdeen library. He called it, “One of my career highlights, for sure.”
Today Burlingame lives in Browns Point in Tacoma.
Burlingame also recently released another book, Olympic Peninsula, with Olympic National Park.
A prolific writer, he also is coming off of publishing the critically praised book George Varnell: The Life and Times of a Pioneering Sportsman this past year.
Daniel James Brown, the bestselling author of The Boys in the Boat, said, “Much of what I was able to learn about the 1936 University of Washington crew team came to me through the detailed and vibrant reportage of two outstanding sports writers — Royal Brougham and George Varnell. What many readers of The Boys in the Boat may not realize is that both men lived extraordinarily interesting lives. In this well-researched and compelling biography, Jeff Burlingame does a marvelous job of unveiling the rich and intriguing tapestry of George Varnell’s life.”
Charles R. Cross, the New York Times bestselling author of Heavier Than Heaven about Kurt Cobain, who passed away this summer, previously said about Burlingame’s book about Varnell, “George Varnell lived the kind of century-filling life that almost sounds like it’s made up: star athlete, Olympian, coach, sports writer, editor, and Seattle journalism legend. Jeff Burlingame does an excellent job of putting that life into the historical context of the times. With detailed research and skilled writing, Burlingame has crafted a compelling book I couldn’t put down.”
The Seabrook author series
The annual Beachside Author Series returns to Seabrook this winter, and features Burlingame on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the East Main Meeting Hall.
