Kurt Cobain Through the Years

Kurt Cobain was many things: A rockstar, an icon, a father—an entire aesthetic. By the time of his untimely death in 1994, Cobain's influence had spread like wildfire. Here, we look back at his time on stage, backstage, and most iconically, his arrival at the 1992 MTV VMAs.

Kurt Cobain's mug shot after being arrested by Aberdeen, Washington police in May 1986. He was taken into custody for spray painting vehicles.

Kurt Cobain formed Nirvana in 1987 with Krist Novoselic and Aaron Burckhard. The group became one of the first and leading musicians of the alternative rock and grunge movement in the '90s.

Group portrait of Nirvana in Seattle, circa 1990 (Kurt Cobain, Chad Channing, and Krist Novoselic, left to right). Channing was the second drummer to join the band, before the group finally settled on Dave Grohl.

Cobain signed with music label DGC Records in 1990. His band found mainstream success with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from their second album Nevermind a year later.

Kurt Cobain recording in Hilversum Studios in the Netherlands in 1991. His early musical influences as a child were The Beatles and 1970s hard rock and metal bands.

Kurt Cobain in concert at the Forum in Los Angeles, California in 1991. The band name "Nirvana" was taken from a Buddhist concept which Cobain described as "freedom from pain, suffering and the external world." He often utilized religious elements and imagery in his work.

Kurt Cobain at a hotel in Tokyo in November 1991. Before Nirvana, Cobain formed a band right after he dropped out of high school called Fecal Matter.

Kurt Cobain performs on stage at the Astoria Theatre in London on November 5, 1991. Before the success of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Cobain was frustrated by the band's small crowds and difficulty sustaining themselves while touring.

A close up shot of Kurt Cobain's signature grunge hairstyle, which inspired many during the early '90s, during a performance in Amsterdam in 1991.

Nirvana is photographed before a performance in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1991.

Kurt Cobain on tour in 1991. The band's first album, Bleach, reportedly only cost $606.17 to make.

Kurt Cobain sings into the mic during the band's performance at Paradiso in Amsterdam on November 25, 1991.

While Nirvana recorded in 1991, the band was photographed during a recording session in Hilversum Studios in the Netherlands.

At its peak, Nirvana was considered to be the flagship band of Generation X, and Cobain found himself hailed as the generation's spokesman.

Kurt Cobain performs at Pukkelpop Festival in Hasselt, Belgium in 1991. He and his band were known for destroying their equipment after a show ended.

Krist Novoselic picks up Kurt Cobain over his head during the performance. Novoselic, the bassist, has formed two other bands since the passing of Cobain and disbanding of Nirvana: Sweet 75 in 1995 and later Eyes Adrift.

Another shot of Cobain at the Pukkelpop Festival in Hasselt, Belgium in 1991. The artist was known for his unique antics on stage, which defined grunge as a genre for years to come.

Kurt Cobain crowd surfing at a performance in 1991.

Kurt Cobain performing in Paris, France in 1992. After several global tour stops and a pair of EPs, Nirvana released their third studio album, In Utero, in 1993, which garnered more critical and commercial acclaim.

Kurt Cobain and his bandmates pose backstage at a concert in Tokyo, Japan in 1992.

Kurt Cobain again performing in Paris, France in 1992. The musical style and sound of Nirvana relied on contrasts between quiet verses and loud, heavy choruses.

Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana emerge from an RV at the 1992 MTV VMA awards.

Kurt Cobain at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. The show was memorable due to a backstage feud between Axl Rose and members of Nirvana, as well as Courtney Love, Cobain's wife.

Kurt Cobain accepting an award at the 1992 MTV VMAs. Nirvana has seven VMA awards in total.

Kurt Cobai, holding his guitar over his head in preparation to smash it after performing with Nirvana at the MTV VMAs in 1992.

Kurt Cobain performs in Belfast in 1992. Among his many notable style elements were printed silk pajama shirts, as seen here.

Kurt Cobain backstage at the U.K.'s Reading Festival in 1992. He kept his blonde hair medium to long in length throughout his career.

Kurt Cobain with Eugene Kelly performing at the U.K.'s Reading Festival in 1992. Cobain was a big fan of Kelly and his band The Vaselines.

Nirvana was one of the main headliners of the U.K.'s Reading Festival in 1992, along with Public Enemy and The Wonderstuff.

Kurt Cobain with fellow Nirvana bandmates Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl in 1992.

Kurt Cobain enjoys a cigarette in his hotel room while on tour with Nirvana in Tokyo, Japan in December, 1992.

Kurt Cobain and his wife, Courtney Love, lounge in their Tokyo hotel room during an interview in 1992. Love had recently given birth to the couple's daughter, Frances Bean, in August of that year.

Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love on a VIP balcony during a Mudhoney concert at the Hollywood Palladium in December 1992. The two first met in 1990 at a nightclub in Portland, Oregon.

Kurt Cobain during the taping of MTV Unplugged at Sony Studios in New York City in 1993.

Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain perform on acoustic guitars in 1993.

The band performed several covers and renditions of other songs during their MTV Unplugged performance. The acoustic set was released as an album the year after Cobain's death.

The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 1996, and sold over 5 million copies in the U.S.

Kurt Cobain backstage after Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance.

The Seattle music scene Nirvana helped establish later became known as grunge.

Kurt Cobain performs on stage in 1993. His oversized baggy sweater was a staple of the grunge look popular in the early '90s.

Drag superstar Ru Paul holding Kurt Cobain's baby Frances Bean Cobain. Cobain was an outspoken and prominent supporter of LGBTQ rights and acceptance.

Kurt Cobain performs at "MTV Live and Loud: Nirvana Performs Live" in December 1993. It would be one of his last major performances before his passing.

Kurt Cobain with fellow Nirvana bandmates Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl in 1993. They have sold over 25 million records in the United States and over 75 million records worldwide.

Kurt Cobain and daughter Frances Bean Cobain at the MTV VMAs in 1993. Frances was about 1 year old in this photo.

Kurt Cobain with wife Courtney Love in 1993 and their daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. Frances will be 27 this year.

The MTV VMAs in 1993 was the first time Kurt Cobain brought his daughter and wife to a major awards show.

It would also be his last VMA's appearance.

Nirvana won for "Best Alternative Video" at the 1993 MTV VMAs for "Bloom."

MTV has ranked Cobain as seventh in the "22 Greatest Voices in Music."

The Seattle-based grunge band, Nirvana, celebrates a win at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1993. Cobain celebrates by lighting up a cigarette on the red carpet.

Rolling Stone ranked Kurt Cobain as the 12th greatest guitarist of all time. He was later ranked the 73rd greatest guitarist and 45th greatest singer of all time by the same publication.

During the final years of his life, Kurt Cobain struggled with heroine addiction and depression. He also struggled with the pressures of fame.

Kurt Cobain was found dead in his Seattle home on April 8, 1994. The police revealed that he had shot himself three days prior and left a suicide note and gun nearby.

Kurt Cobain and his Nirvana bandmates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.