On the Kurt Cobain influence.

Nirvana was my favorite band back when I was 13. I even had a T-shirt.
It was 1998 in Poznań, Poland, and the Polish punk/noise rock wave was alive and well.
The music of Nirvana didn't excite me as much as the back story.
Of course, I knew shit about the -real- back story.
I only read the book "Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana".
It was my first window into the world of not only music, but art.
At 13 I already listened to The Smashing Pumpkins, Monster Magnet, Orange Goblin, Jane's Addiction.
Also Swans, Tar, Cows... many, many cassettes.
Back in 1998 or 1999, a local cassette store was closing and they had this big promotion on tapes.

You could get all those awesome bands' music for 5 PLN (about an euro or dollar).
So, I bought it (nearly) all.
But Nirvana, and especially Kurt, were what excited me the most.

Maybe because there weren't books on The Smashing Pumpkins or Cows available in Poland.
I used to drink beer, smoke cigarettes, later joints, and imagine songs and write my first songs.
The very first song I wrote was "Flower in Asphalt". From this original 1998 tape recording, you can tell I was a wasted idiot fool.



But, at 13, people do lots of stupid things. Writing songs is just one example.
Still, it's better to write songs, than to do heroin.
And Kurt's story was also a warning.
At first, after reading the book, I wanted to become a famous artist.
But as years went by I found comfort in obscurity, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
At least I am happy, and can listen to "Beans" from the comfort of my home studio.
I hope all the kids make good choices, and never forget the artist inside. However silly the idea might sound. Or however talentless you are. Hard work is the key, talent is only 1% of the deal.

So, become artists, and BE drugs - don't DO drugs.
Thank you for your fleeting attention to madman's ramblings at dawn.