Kurt Cobain Day was celebrated in Aberdeen, Wash., on Thursday, on what would have been the late Nirvana frontman's 47th birthday.
A news report out of Seattle, two hours north of the singer's boyhood home, underscored the mixed feelings that surround the commemoration of the iconic singer. The report opened by referring to Cobain as a "well-known heroin addict who shot himself nearly 20 years ago," and then moved on to highlight an awkward concrete statue of the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" singer, complete with single tear running down the cheek, which was unveiled at the town's Museum of History.
According to the King 5 report, some folks would prefer to hide the town's connection to the "controversial rock star" who "never spoke too kindly of the place" and eventually killed himself in 1994. But not Mayor Bill Simpson, who thinks honoring Cobain could boost tourism in Aberdeen, and perhaps make the town on the muddy banks of the Wishkah the next Graceland.
A mural honoring Nirvana is planned for downtown, but for now, artist Randi Hubbard's statue will have to do the trick. At least the 600-pound piece has finally been moved out of the muffler shop where it was banished by the city council.