BBC announce tribute to Kurt Cobain 30 years after his death with new show

George Lewis
·2 min read
3
kurt cobain of nirvana performing on mtv unplugged, 1993
BBC announce new Kurt Cobain documentaryFrank Micelotta Archive - Getty Images
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Note: The following article contains discussion of themes including suicide.

The BBC has announced a new documentary in tribute to Kurt Cobain to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his death.

The frontman of grunge band Nirvana died by suicide at the age of 27 on April 5, 1994, with his legacy enduring in the ensuing years.

To celebrate the musician’s achievements, the BBC has unveiled Moments That Shook Music: Kurt Cobain, a new hour-long documentary from Touchdown Films which will use rare archival footage to tell a “visceral” account of the days surrounding Cobain’s death.

kurt cobain of nirvana performing on mtv unplugged, 1993
Frank Micelotta Archive - Getty Images

Related: BBC denies reports Casualty is ending

“One of musical history’s most shocking stories will be told as never before, as footage captured by local fans in Seattle and raw material from news crews reporting at the time are woven together, immersing the viewers in the events that unfolded, as they happened,” reads the logline.

“Kurt Cobain’s life and death has turned into myth and legend since his passing,” said Jonathan Rothery, Head of BBC Popular Music TV, of the project. “This documentary tries to demystify that moment in time by telling the story direct from the scene, via fly on the wall footage filmed by those that were there.”

“We are incredibly proud to be working with the BBC on this film, who share in our vision of using only archive to take viewers back to 1994; to immerse themselves in this seismic story,” added director John Osborne.

Related: Suits to air on BBC for very first time

“Kurt Cobain was the voice of a generation, but a reluctant one, and his death left a huge void. The only way to get a true sense of what happened is to witness it first hand, and that’s exactly what this film does. It never lets you look away.”

Additionally, the BBC will also air When Nirvana Came To Britain on BBC Two to commemorate the event, whilst BBC Radio and BBC Sounds will contain a plethora of programmes to capture the enduring appeal of Cobain’s work.

Moments That Shook Music: Kurt Cobain will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on April 6.

You Might Also Like