Kurt Cobain, musician. His cousin, Beverly Cobain, a "registered nurse (…) [with] experience as a mental health professional" and author of a book, When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide for Depressed Teens, stated in an interview: "Kurt was diagnosed at a young age with Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD], then later with bipolar disorder; (…) As Kurt undoubtedly knew, bipolar illness can be very difficult to manage, and the correct diagnosis is crucial. Unfortunately for Kurt, compliance with the appropriate treatment is also a critical factor."
According to a family member, grunge rocker Kurt Cobain was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as an adult.1 Cobain made several attempts at committing suicide, which his cousin describes as a cry for help.
Some people believe that Kurt was manic depressive because he wrote his famous song Lithium - the most important drug in treating this disorder. However, Lithium was an early Cobain song, written some years before Nirvana were major stars or Kurt's most serious problems developed. There is no evidence that Kurt ever took lithium and it is unlikely that he had already received a bipolar diagnosis at the time.
In an interview with Chris Morris of Musician, Kurt said the song was about: "breaking up with girlfriends and having bad relationships, feeling that death void that the person in the song is feeling - very lonely, sick."
Strong evidence connecting Kurt Cobain and manic depression comes from an interview with Kurt's cousin, Bev Cobain. This interview contains the following question and answer:
Q: Did Kurt have other mental health problems besides general depression?
A: Kurt was diagnosed at a young age with Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD], then later with bipolar disorder [also known as manic-depression]. Bipolar illness has the same characteristics as major clinical depression, but with mood swings, which present as rage, euphoria, high energy, irritability, distractibility, overconfidence, and other symptoms. As Kurt undoubtedly knew, bipolar illness can be very difficult to manage, and the correct diagnosis is crucial. Unfortunately for Kurt, compliance with the appropriate treatment is also a critical factor.
Kurt was depressed for much of his life - as a child he would seek sanctuary in his bedroom closet.
Kurt's periods of withdrawal and lethargy have been extensively chronicled elsewhere. His depression is not disputed and so I won't rehash a lot of details here.
Since his youth Kurt spoke constantly of suicide and an early death. "I hate myself and want to die" was Kurt's personal mantra - he repeated it constantly in conversation and in his journals, hurled it at journalists during interviews, and even intended using it as an album title.
However depression is only one half of the story of Kurt Cobain and manic depression.
The other half of the story of Kurt Cobain and manic depression is, of course, mania. Mania can be expressed in many different ways, for example the rage, euphoria, high energy, irritability, distractibility, and overconfidence listed by Bev Cobain, and illustrated in hundreds of incidents documented in the Cross biography Heavier than Heaven.
Kurt's music and lyrics display incredible emotional complexity - a far richer canvas of moods than simple depression or nihilism. According to bipolar expert Dr Kay Redfield Jamison in From Napoleon to Kurt Cobain: Cultural Legends: "As music is a language communicating moods, the emotional intensity of bipolar disorder apparently can add depth to musical expression."
What other clues, aside from the oft noted link betwen creative genius and bipolar disorder, indicate a connection between Kurt Cobain and manic depression? Where can we see mania as well as depression?
- Kurt abused alcohol as well as drugs. Studies show that bipolar people are much more likely than simply depressed people or the population in general to be alcoholic. Further, alcoholics are more likely than members of the general population to be bipolar.
- High energy: Many people frequently complained of Kurt's laziness but this oscillated with periods where he was highly productive, either in the studio or song writing at home, and his frenetic energy on-stage is legendary.
- Rage: Kurt frequently wrote highly emotional, angry letters to or about people he felt had wronged him. He would invariably demolish stage sets and hotel rooms - sometimes done in high spirits and sometimes in a fury. Either way it shows the impulsivity and lack of inhibition characteristic of bipolar people
- Writing: Since early childhood Kurt wrote and drew prolifically. His pressured writing and inordinate production of written declarations, poetry and artwork are highly typical of mania.
A definite picture of Kurt Cobain and manic depression emerges from the above.
Finally, there are the mood swings and erratic behavior such as Kurt's much publicized escapes from rehab, his eccentric behavior with his numerous pets, and bizarre preoccupations with things like flipper babies. This is not intended as an attack on Kurt - just an attemppt to list the many ways we can connect Kurt Cobain and manic depression.
I'm so happy. Cause today I found my friends.
They're in my head. I'm so ugly. But that's ok.
'Cause so are you. We've broke our mirrors.
Sunday morning. Is everyday for all I care.
And I'm not scared. Light my candles. In a daze cause I've found god.
I'm so lonely. And that's ok.
I shaved my head. And I'm not sad. And just maybe.
I'm to blame for all I've heard. And I'm not sure.
I'm so excited. I can't wait to meet you there.
And I don't care. I'm so horny. But that's ok. My will is good.
(Chorus) I like it. I'm not gonna crack.
I miss you. I'm not gonna crack. I love you.
I'm not gonna crack. I kill you. I'm not gonna crack. (x2)
I'm so happy. Cause today I found my friends.
They're in my head. I'm so ugly. But that's ok.
'Cause so are you. We've broke our mirrors.
Sunday morning. Is everyday for all I care.
And I'm not scared. Light my candlrs.
In a daze cause I've found god.
Byebyebyebyebyebyebyebyebyebyebyebye...x
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