Kurt Cobain’s Estate Condemns Opera Based On His Last Days

Nirvana had no idea what kind of seismic change they unleashed on the music world when they released their hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in 1991. Their lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter Kurt Cobain widened the thematic conventions of mainstream rock. Cobain’s heirs have harshly condemned an opera based on director Gus Van Sant’s 2005 film Last Days, which is partially based on the late life of the Nirvana bandleader.

The estate also opposed the film itself. The opera adaptation of the movie was first covered by Loudwire earlier this year. It made its stage debut this month at the Linbury Theatre in London, where it was produced by the Royal Opera House of London. According to Consequence of Sound, the estate made a statement that Last Days was written and created without permission.

[The adaptation] brings a modern tale of self-destruction to the opera stage. Last Days has been created and written without permission. This show, just like the movie, is an unauthorized attempt to benefit from the brief meeting set up with Kurt and Gus Van Zant. This one meeting has been exploited for profit for thirty years now and enough is enough.

A “short meeting” between Cobain and Van Sant in the 1990s, according to Cobain’s estate, served as the sole inspiration for the film. and, consequently, the opera. In a subsequent statement, a representative for the Royal Opera House defended the opera. “The Royal Opera’s production of Last Days is adapted from Gus Van Sant’s cult film of the same name, released in 2005. It is a fictionalized account, and was produced with the permission of Gus Van Sant and HBO.”

The opera follows a musician named Blake, who serves as a stand-in for Cobain in the story, throughout his final days. Oliver Leith, a doctorate composer-in-residence at the Royal Opera, wrote the opera. Cobain committed suicide in April 1994 at the age of 27. Before breaking up after his passing, Nirvana put out three significant studio albums. Stay tuned to Thirsty for the latest news and updates.

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