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Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain Audiobook
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(4.00) - 8,537 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
When Kurt Cobain died by his own hand in April 1994, it was an act of will that typified his short, angry, inspired life. Veteran music journalist Charles R. Cross fuses his intimate knowledge of the Seattle music scene with his deep compassion for his subject in this extraordinary story of artistic brilliance and the pain that extinguished it.
Based on more than four hundred interviews, four years of research, and exclusive access to Cobain’s unpublished diaries, lyrics, and family photos, Heavier than Heaven traces Cobain’s life from his early days in a double-wide trailer outside of Aberdeen, Washington, to his rise to fame, success, and the adulation of a generation.
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"This book was amazing. As someone who grew up loving Nirvana's music and knowing the Kurt Cobain was a troubled guy, this was a real eye-opening glimpse into his life and mind. It was also a serious look at the effects of drug addiction--how drugs take and take and take from you until nothing is left. While it's a serious and at times sad book, I really came away with a new appreciation for the lasting impact Kurt Cobain has had on rock music and pop culture."
— Steve (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Heavier than Heaven sets a high, new standard.”
— Rolling Stone -
“One of the most moving and revealing books ever written about a rock star.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“The biography that the most important rocker of his generation has always deserved: exhaustively researched, full of insight into the ‘real’ Cobain as opposed to the manipulated media image, and written in a clear and compelling…voice.”
— Chicago Sun-Times -
“A much needed and clearer picture of this unlikely, unwilling rock god.”
— Biography -
“Heavier than Heaven will likely stand forever as the definitive Kurt Cobain biography.”
— Daily World -
“[An] all-access pass to Cobain’s heart and mind…gives the fullest account yet of what it was like to be, or love, Kurt Cobain…It’s the deepest book about pop’s darkest falling star.”
— Amazon.com’s Best of 2001
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A Millions.com Pick of 10 Essential Music Biographies
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An Amazon Best Books of the Year
Heavier Than Heaven Listener Reviews
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More_from_the_mainstream, 3/13/2023
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Joshua Boyer, 9/19/2019
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" It’s the best book out there about kurt but I was slightly disappointed with the way jury’s final moments were depicted by the writers assumptions of what took place moments before the suicide other than that it’s very interesting a must read for any nirvana fan "
— terry playle, 12/21/2017 -
" One of the best musical biographies. "
— Ethan, 2/12/2014 -
" Just part of my collection of bokos about dead or drugged out rock stars (or both!) It's a pretty good book and an interesting story about a man that was so much more messed up than I ever thought and that's saying something! "
— Erin, 2/10/2014 -
" Overall it was a good book - Cobain was an interesting, deeply troubled, and empathetic individual and I enjoyed reading about his life. However, I had two problems with it. 1) Much of the story was mainly told through Courtney Love's perspective, which makes the story-telling narrow. But what I really didn't like was 2) the author chose to go into details of Cobain's suicide. Details were all the little things he did before he pulled the trigger, like when he smoked his last cigarette, TV show he watched, last shot of heroin he took, and more. These are speculations at best, making this "biography" instantly lose its credibility. I was hoping that the author would leave that part out but disappointed to found out otherwise. There are other biographies written on him by other people that I'm hoping would be better. "
— Sayuri, 1/30/2014 -
" Well researched, well written. Took me on a painful trip back to my youth in more ways than one. It's not a surprise that he took his own life; the surprise is that he lasted as long as he did. "
— Jason, 1/14/2014 -
" This book will inspire, sicken, disturb, touch and change the lives of any true Kurt Cobain fan. You're with him to the very end. Tragic and hauntingly told. "
— Bethany, 1/6/2014 -
" This book was so good. It reads like a novel but it is actually a biogrophy of Kurt Cobain's life and death. Die-hard Nirvana fans will be happy because the book talks a lot about the band and the music they created. However, there is a true psychological element behind this book and anyone interested in the development of addictions and depressions would be apt to enjoy reading this. "
— Jenny, 1/4/2014 -
" THE BEST on Kurt! Must read! "
— Austin, 12/29/2013 -
" The sanitized, aggrandized and authorized version of the legend of Kurt Cobain. I'm still waiting for the right book. "
— Abby, 12/28/2013 -
" The best book on Kurt Cobain i have ever read. "
— Charles, 12/8/2013 -
" Best biography i've ever read "
— Carissa, 11/30/2013 -
" Portrait of a troubled artist. A must read for serious fans. "
— Adriane, 11/10/2013 -
" Good book. Learned a lot. Only negative was that Courtney was shown in a very positive light. There are negative Courtney books out there. I suspect the truth is somewhere in between. "
— Jean, 10/20/2013 -
" I found this book very distasteful, especially with the creative liberties the author took in describing his last moments before committing suicide. "
— Jenn, 10/19/2013 -
" lost not forgotten, life called him while he continually sought "
— Dragan, 10/9/2013 -
" Menguak perjalanan hidup sang dewa grunge dari Seattle yang teramat kontroversial. Buku ini recommended untuk para rockstars! Belum afdol dibilang ngerti musik rock, apalagi grunge, kalau belum tau seluk beluk Kurt Cobain dari buku ini! "
— Respati, 9/22/2013 -
" It brought tears to my eyes - as deep as a Shakespeare tragedy, as intense as a Dostoevsky's novel, as real and crude as anything i have ever read in my whole life. Excruciating Reading. "
— Solor, 8/14/2013 -
" Made me fall in love with Kurt Cobain. An amazing biography of him, from start to finish. "
— Cait, 8/10/2013 -
" I'm not even as big of a fan of Nirvana as I was back when I read it, and yet even now I can recall the moments in the book as if I just read it. Cross wrote it in a way that sticks with you with simple, striking images. Great read for any Kurt/nirvana/fallen rock star fans. "
— J.C., 4/26/2013 -
" I have always adored Nirvana and Kurt Cobain and now, even more so. This book made realize just how screwed up Kurt Cobain's life really was. He was a true artist but just couldn't handle being famous. "
— Kelly, 12/13/2012 -
" Greatly written and researched book! Charles R. Cross is a great author, he also wrote Jimi Hendrix: Room Full of Mirror. Cross is from Seattle, so he's really good at covering the Seattle music scene. Excellent read! "
— Chelsea, 12/8/2012 -
" beautifully empathetic, forgiving and respectful "
— Ems, 9/6/2012 -
" I miss Kurt Cobain. I am so lucky to have seen him in concert! "
— Kerri, 6/27/2012 -
" Very well written book about Kurt Cobain, his life, music and family with Courtney Love & Frances Bean. "
— Stephanie, 8/12/2011 -
" nothing can compare with his diaries "
— Curta, 7/31/2011 -
" I read this when I was in sixth grade and loved it. Then years later I found out a lot of it wasn't true (Courtney making up shit as usual) and my liking for it went down. Its a nice read though. Just take it with a grain of salt. "
— Heather, 7/11/2011 -
" This is an excellent book. Honest, insightful, and moving. Will haunt you long after the last page is finished. Well worth a read. "
— Susan, 6/15/2011 -
" The best biography of the icon of the forgotten generation. A little bit sychophantic in places, but a great read non the less. "
— Gordon, 4/19/2011 -
" Good book. Learned a lot. Only negative was that Courtney was shown in a very positive light. There are negative Courtney books out there. I suspect the truth is somewhere in between. "
— Jean, 4/11/2011 -
" I read this when I was in sixth grade and loved it. Then years later I found out a lot of it wasn't true (Courtney making up shit as usual) and my liking for it went down. Its a nice read though. Just take it with a grain of salt. "
— Heather, 4/9/2011 -
" For a book that was monitored by Courtney Love....Nice "
— Reznorcobain, 3/22/2011
About Charles R. Cross
Charles R. Cross, author of the bestseller Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain and three previous books, was editor of The Rocket, a Northwest music and entertainment magazine, from 1986–2000. He lives near Seattle, where he writes for numerous newspapers and magazines.
About Lloyd James
Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been a working professional actor in theater, film, television, and voice-overs for more than thirty years. He has narrated over one thousand audiobooks and won numerous Earphones Awards and nominations for the Audie Award and the Voice Arts Award. He holds a BFA degree in acting from Santa Fe University, New Mexico.