Cobain Mourned By Fans, Industryites In Memorials, Music Stores BY CARRIE BORZILLO and white letters. Within seconds, said Novoselic. dio station said Love showed up at store employees removed the sign. The vigil included comments the Seattle Center after most of SEATTLE -In the days following One caller on KISW said there from Reverend Stephen Twoles, the crowd had gone home. the death of Nirvana front man should not be a public memorial the minister who conducted a pri- Surprisingly, Sub Pop's sixth an- Kurt Cobain, fans of the ground- for someone who killed himself. vate memorial service; Larry niversary party April 9 at the breaking musician flooded radio "He made his child fatherless and Smith, Cobain's uncle by marriage; famed Crocodile Cafe wasn't as stations here with calls, hoping to totally copped out," said the caller. a representative from the Crisis solemn as most expected. find some sense in his suicide, and The public memorial for Cobain Clinic in Seattle; and three Seattle Velocity Girl, Pond, and Sunny flocked to record stores to buy Nir- started with approximately 5,000 DJs, KNDD's Marco Collins, Day Real Estate played to the vana's albums. fans camping out, lighting in- KISW's Damen Stewart, and crowd, which included retailers, At a private memorial service cense, playing hackysack, and KXRX's Scott Vanderpool. journalists, radio professionals, held April 10 at a Seattle church, passing out fliers. It later turned Smith recalls stories of Cobain's and members of various bands some 250 people gathered to into a mass of tears and lit candles youth, including a time when Co- such as Love Battery, the Posies, mourn Cobain. Among those in at- as a taped message was played bain, his grandfather, and Smith Silkworm, Young Fresh Fellows, tendance were Geffen president from Cobain's widow, Courtney were fishing. Smith recalled Co- and the Walkabouts. Ed Rosenblatt, GM Bill Bennett, Love of the punk rock band Hole. Fans leaped into the fountain at the bain screaming; when asked what At the beginning of the party, a national college director Rochelle The choked -up Love read large Seattle Center's Flag Pavilion as was going on, Cobain replied, news crew was camped out front, Fox, director of artist and media portions of the suicide note Cobain Nirvana music played on the P.A., "Just strengthening my vocal interviewing guests about the me- relations Bryn Bridenthal, and left behind. following a public memorial service chords." dia coverage of Cobain's death. A &R executive Mark Kates; Gold Also in a taped message, Nir- April 10 in memory of the band's front Swarms of fans then dived into But inside, talk of Cobain's sui- Mountain Entertainment's John vana bassist Krist Novoselic man, Kurt Cobain. (Billboard photo) the fountain at the Seattle Center cide was at a minimum, perhaps Silva, John Cutcliffe, and Michael thanked people for their concern as Nirvana's music was played out of respect; Poneman said a few Meisel; Capitol president /CEO and urged the crowd to follow let it flow out of your heart. That's over the PA system. words in memory of the artist at Gary Gersh; Atlantic president their dreams. "Catch a groove and where the music will always be," A representative at a Seattle ra- the beginning of the party. Danny Goldberg; R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, and Sub Pop founders Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. COBAIN DEATH SPURS RUSH AT RETAIL Radio responded rapidly to Co- (Continued from page 9) bain's fans. Even Seattle talk sta- tions such as KING -AM and KIRO counts around the country (Billboard, Nirvana originals "Come As You Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic said really a lot around." He added that held open phones to discuss Co- April 2). Are" and "All Apologies," as well as the track was pulled from the album while some "In Utero" outtakes ex- bain, suicide, drugs, and hopeless- a number of covers. Cobain was because it didn't fit the mood: ist, "Those were all considered really ness. RUN ON PRODUCT backed by the Meat Puppets' Chris "Things are kind of loose and screwy minor tracks -in fact, Kurt didn't Rival album rock stations KISW Independent retailers catering to and Curt Kirkwood on their songs up to that point, so we thought we even want them out in the United and KXRX joined forces with mod- the punk -oriented audience noted a "Plateau" and "Lake Of Fire." Also would tighten things up a little bit." States." ern rocker KNDD (the End) for a run on Nirvana product the weekend covered were David Bowie's "The Another track, "Verse Chorus While many of Nirvana's scattered special public memorial service for of April 9-10. Man Who Sold The World," Leadbel- Verse," appeared, unlisted, on Aris- singles and assorted recordings were Cobain's fans April 10 at the Flag "It's all kids," Ron Jackson, co- ly's "Where Did You Sleep Last ta's "No Alternative." released on "Incesticide," some mate- Pavilion in the Seattle Center, the owner of Benway Bop in Las Vegas, Night," and "Jesus Don't Want Me There also may be unreleased ma- rial remains uncollected. small amusement park and shop- says of the buyers. "The posters and For A Sunbeam," by Cobain favorite terial and several alternate takes The Sub Pop track "Spank Thru," ping center where the Space Nee- collectibles are selling better than the the Vaselines. When Nirvana per- from the "Nevermind" sessions, as heard on the out-of -print "Sub Pop dle is located. records ... It's like people are saying, formed Dec. 30 at the Great Western well as earlier sessions with producer 200" album, is unavailable, as are 'Hey, maybe this stuff won't be Forum in Los Angeles, he dedicated Butch Vig. In a September 1993 inter- such DGC -era recordings as "Even SEARCH FOR COLLECTIBLES around. It's almost like an infant leg- the latter track to deceased actor Riv- view with Billboard, Novoselic said In His Youth" and "Curmudgeon." The most sought -after Nirvana end kind of thing ... Now he's Sid Vi- er Phoenix. that "some songs never made it" on The group also recorded a variety of title in the city was "Bleach," the cious." The band also was featured per- "Nevermind." single sides and album tracks for band's first album, released by Gay Cronley, manager of Magnolia forming electric on MTV's "Live And such indie labels as Touch And Go, Sub Pop in 1988. The day after Co- Thunderpussy Records in Columbus, Loud," which was taped Dec. 13 and NO ALBUM PLANNED Communion, C /Z, Kill Rock Stars, bain's death, a teen -age customer Ohio, says, "They've bought every- broadcast on New Year's Eve. Also, A source at Geffen says another and Tim Kerr Records. asked a clerk at the Seattle Cello- thing, T- shirts and posters, too ... Nirvana has been the subject of sev- Nirvana album is "something that we Two live tracks recorded at the phane Square store if "Bleach" Everybody's trying to cash in, make eral Westwood One live concert spe- haven't even considered ... To throw Paramount Theater in Seattle on Hal- was a collector's item yet. sure they get everything, because cials. another collection together right now loween 1991 surfaced on the "Come Hugh Jones, marketing director they think it's going to be worth According to Steve Albini, who re- would be inappropriate." As You Are" commercial CD -5, but at the three -store Cellophane something." corded the "In Utero" sessions, there So far, there have been no U.S. the rest of the concert is still unis- Square chain, said, "All three At Tower Records' Sunset Strip are six to eight uncompleted songs commercial singles from "In Utero." sued. stores sold about a few hundred store in Hollywood, Calif., clerk Hel- that were not included on the album. DGC had considered a single, with B- The discovery of Cobain's body CDs, singles, and vinyl by the en Howard reports that only the new One song, "Marigold," written by sides drawn from the "Unplugged" came four days before the April 12 morning [of April 91-even the album remains in stock, but the store Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, ap- session, but those plans are in limbo. release of the debut DGC album by $100 interview CD of Nirvana." has sold out of all the band's other re- peared on the import version of the "We initially didn't plan on doing Hole, the band fronted by the late "It's a pathetic scene," said cordings. "Heart- Shaped Box" single. Another anything with [the 'Unplugged' ma- musician's wife, Courtney Love. In a Chris Simmons, a buyer at the One-stops also report that heavy track, the eerily titled "I Hate Myself terial], and ultimately that's going to chilling irony, the album is titled Tower Records on Mercer Street in traffic began Friday. Says Sam Gins- And Want To Die," featured on the be up to management and the band," "Live Through This." Seattle. "Everything is going out burg, GM of Abbey Road Distributors advance cassette of "In Utero," was the source says. the door. If people were really in L.A.: "It's a sad state of affairs, but pulled from the album, but later ap- Regarding the possibility of a Nir- Assistance in preparing this story fans, they would've had this stuff that's the way it is ... The magnitude peared on Geffen's "The Beavis And vana album of uncompiled material, was provided by Carrie Borzillo in already." here is big, and, with our sales offices Butt -head Experience." the source says, "We collected a lot of Seattle and Deborah Russell in "Bleach" sold out at the Mercer in Santa Ana [Calif.], Philadelphia, At- Prior to the release of "In Utero," that for Incesticide,' so there's not Los Angeles. Street Tower and the Tower in Se- lanta, and Milwaukee, I'm sure it's attle's U- District April 8. very large [as well]." A few hours after the King DEALERS URGE HOME VIDEO RETAILERS TO PUSH SALES OF VIDEO GAMES County Medical Examiner con- FORTHCOMING RELEASES? (Continued from page 4) firmed Cobain's suicide April 8, With the breakthrough album "Ne- the only Nirvana titles left at Park vermind" and single "Smells Like on an exclusive basis and Rogers Samanas, president of Video In Mo- concerned about the Sega Channel, Ave Records on Queen Ann Street Teen Spirit," Nirvana kicked open the agreed to carry only Nintendo product. tion in Aurora, Ill. "It was supposed due to launch this spring. Dealers are were two "Heart Shaped Box" im- mainstream door for a number of That agreement, which van der Lee to be about retailing video games - worried about cannibalization of rent- port CD singles. other acts, including Pearl Jam, termed a success for both parties, has but it was about retailing Sega video als and sales when 50 games per "Lots of people have been com- Soundgarden, and Alice In Chains, all since ended, he said, and Rogers now games," added Cathy Massaro of month become available for about ing in, asking about what hap- of which topped The Billboard 200 in also carries Sega. He said he hasn't Your Video in Medina, N.Y. $15 a month over cable lines. pened," says Tanya Bufton, a Nirvana's wake. seen any cannibalization of Nintendo Karpel said all game manufacturers Glen countered that the channel ac- salesperson at the store. "But no Although there is much specula- product because of that addition. had been invited, and that with the tually would help drive sales. "[Indi- one is surprised, just sad." tion about what potential Nirvana re- "Since we're `over there' [in Cana- success of the conference he expected vidual] games will be on for only 30 The Wherehouse Entertainment leases might be in the offing, it is da]," he said, "I think it offered Nin- that more would actually come to fu- days, and only about once a year," he store on 45th Street in Seattle sold clear that one musical collaboration tendo a chance to do something in ture affairs; the conference may be- said, "and then it will be gone. So the 20 Nirvana CDs by the end of the will never reach fruition: In a state- terms of a test without upsetting the come an annual event, he added, with gamer who enjoys that game will day April 8, according to a sales- ment, Michael Stipe of R.E.M. said whole apple cart." a focus on sharing information about have to go out and buy that title." person there. that he and Cobain "had a musical The absence of any Nintendo rep- the video gaming industry. Glen also said Sega will be conduct- At Tower Books on Mercer, em- project in the works but nothing was resentatives at the convention gave "What we're hoping is that people ing extensive research on 1,400 sub- ployees and customers were out- recorded." the meet a decidedly Sega -centric fo- will leave here and tell other compa- scribers, tracking rental and pur- raged when a representative from The most likely candidate for re- cus, with that company's executives nies about how well it was attended," chase activity. He promised to share the Seattle Times posted a display lease is the band's Nov. 18 perfor- helming four of the nine seminars - he said. "And that will make it a lot those results with VSDA members. next to the newspapers which mance on "MTV's Unplugged," and making a point of thanking re- easier to go after companies that read, "Nirvana Singer Dead. Kurt which ran repeatedly over the April 9 tailers for their support. don't know us." For additional conference coverage, Cobain's Suicide" in large black weekend. Included in the set were "It was sort of lopsided," said Al Dealers also seemed particularly see page 77.

102 BILLBOARD APRIL 23, 1994 www.americanradiohistory.com