Heavier than Heaven

A Biography of Kurt Cobain

By: Charles R. Cross

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Length: 14 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

When Kurt Cobain died by his own hand in April 1994, it was an act of will that typified his short, angry, inspired life. Veteran music journalist Charles R. Cross fuses his intimate knowledge of the Seattle music scene with his deep compassion for his subject in this extraordinary story of artistic brilliance and the pain that extinguished it.

Based on more than 400 interviews, four years of research, and exclusive access to Cobain's unpublished diaries, lyrics, and family photos, Heavier than Heaven traces Cobain's life from his early days in a double-wide trailer outside of Aberdeen, Washington, to his rise to fame, success, and the adulation of a generation.

©2001 Charles R. Cross (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Definitive...Cross untangles the soul of a man." ( USA Today)
" Heavier than Heaven sets a high, new standard." ( Rolling Stone)
"One of the most moving and revealing books ever written about a rock star." ( Los Angeles Times)

5 stars

A hauntingly beautiful insight into the life and death of a man, so complicated, that we still don't fully grasp who he was. A must read for any Cobain fan.

Very detailed and very good

I really enjoy biographies and this one was very good. The details were what stood out. This seemed to be well researched and was very well written.

Wow captivating book!

What did you love best about Heavier than Heaven?

I loved the authors approach. It seemed even more accurate than an autobiography. I loved,loved,loved it.

What other book might you compare Heavier than Heaven to and why?

Nothing compares!

Which character – as performed by Lloyd James – was your favorite?

Kurt Cobain

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both

Any additional comments?

I grew up with Nirvana so I was captivated from the beginning to the end.

Wow, Just Wow

What a remarkable memoir for a stunning artist. I learned more about Kurt than I ever thought I could. It's not just about his musical journey, but about his heart and soul that followed it. Simply beautiful!

Such a sad story

my teen idol was just a messed up junkie a sad tale of the downward spiral of someone that had so much to give😟

Revealing, but difficult at times

As a child of the 90s and owner of all Nirvana’s albums, Im glad I did this book. Some of the reviews were negative and I hesitated on this one. I do think there may be some spin, but it’s a dark tale and needs some light. Cross did an excellent job and I highly recommend listening.

Detailed biography with excellent narration

Extremely detailed biography from birth to unfortunate death and the narrator is very good for this material.

Wrecked

This was a very illuminating biography of one of my favorite musicians of all time. I was 14 when he died, and I was always curious to understand the full scope of who he was. Recounting his last days and his untimely death, I could not help but feel completely heartbroken not only for him but for his family and friends. I am a goddamn mess, as I think about how his father must’ve felt. How his wife felt, and of the idea of his only child growing up without him. Overall, this was just a very well researched biography, that told his story as it was; not as we wanted it to be.

All Nirvana fans will love this book

I greatly enjoyed this book. It is well researched and clearly presented. It paints a very clear picture of a man who was talented, but flawed, and gives all of the dirty details of his life with as much ferver as the great times and achievements of Kurt Cobain's life. I can only say I am sorry that he did not seek treatment for his depression. Too many people are not able to survive its ugly head.

Mixed feelings

I knew he was an addict; I didn't realize how early his pain started. I found myself angry at Kurt through a lot of the book. A lot of his lifetime stomach pain might have been alleviated with a change of diet, and yet he chose instead to medicate through heroin and other drugs.

I think that his stubbornness, his acting out, made me not like him as a person throughout the entire book. I don't think I could have been in a room with him for long.

That doesn't mean the book wasn't good, I just felt very frustrated that he was unable to overcome his problems. He clearly was an exceptional artist and mind.

It was particularly fascinating knowing what was going on behind the scenes during his rise to fame, since I was listening to their music at the time.

It illustrates clearly the idea that you can be on top of the world as a celebrity and be completely miserable. Money, fame, any of that won't solve your problems - it's said often, and yet this book gives you a play by play.

I wouldn't have changed lives with Kurt Cobain for a second.

In addition, I know this was a book about Cobain, but I kept wondering what the other bandmates were going through at this time. Perhaps they refused to talk with the author, but over and over I kept wanting to have a cup of coffee with the bandmates and hear their stories.