Jared Leto's Nirvana 'tribute'

Thu 7th Apr, 2011 in International News

17 years ago Kurt Cobain decided it was better to burn out than fade away, which means that very soon you’ll be in a bar next to a kid who wasn’t even born when Nirvana was around – feeling old?

The anniversary of Cobain’s suicide in 1994 has been marked with several well meaning, yet ultimately depressing tributes.

Artists Kim and Lora Malakoff have unveiled a giant concrete tribute to Cobain near the Young Street Bridge in his hometown Aberdeen, Washington. The sculpture is of the singer’s left-handed Fender Jag-Stang guitar and features lyrics from On a Plain on the steel strap – “One more special message to go and then I’m done and I can go home”.

At least the giant concrete slab is slightly more appealing than the thought of 30 Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto creating a creepy ‘tribute’ video. Leto explains on his blog that: I heard today was the day Kurt passed away 17 years ago. Can’t believe it’s been that long. So grateful for his contribution and inspiration. Not sure I’d be doing this if it weren’t for him. He gave us all permission to create no matter what our skill set and reminded me that dreams are possible. Thanks for that.

This made me recall a short piece of film I shot when I heard they were making a film celebrating his life. I made it to explore the character and explore creative possibilities. I never sent it to the studio or to anyone but thought I’d share it now…_

Leto is joined by a staggeringly awful version of _ Smells Like Teen Spirit_ by Casey Abrams on the latest season of American Idol and the ill-fated $100 Nirvana covers show in the running for the award of ‘Worst Nirvana tribute of 2011’. And if you think these are bad just think how bad things are going to get as we approach the 20th anniversary of Cobain’s death…