Chumbawamba

A partial list of films featuring songs by the band.. Novoselic made an unsuccessful band called Sweet 75, then formed an equally unsuccessful supergroup with ex-members of The Meat Puppets and Sublime by the name of Eyes Adrift, but Grohl went on to form the hugely successful Foo Fighters.
. Kurt's bandmates went on to form new bands.
. After legal battles a Nirvana Box Set, "With The Lights Out" was released in 2004 including previously unreleased material. Some material has been re-issued on other labels in the US.). The release of both had been held up by legal wrangling between Love, who didn't want the album to be released, and the remaining members of the band.

(Original releases dates and labels given. Years after his passing, the musician continues to intrigue and inspire fans, most recently with the release of a new track "You Know You're Right" in the fall of 2002, along with a greatest hits album, called simply, Nirvana. The longtime members are:. A year later, a collection of Cobain's journal excerpts was released. The band membership has varied over the years. Cross published a biography of Cobain titled Heavier Than Heaven in 2001.
. Writer Charles R.

According to Chumbawamba's official FAQ [1] (http://www.chumba.com/_faquestions2.htm):. Many attribute some of Cobain's extraordinary abilities (and his suicide) to his being affected by bipolar disorder, commonly known as manic depression. While there are many speculations, the band generally answers that it's a gibberish word, meaning nothing. Kurt Cobain was cremated, with one third of his ashes scattered in a Buddhist temple in New York, another third in the Wishkah River, Washington State, and the rest in the possession of Courtney Love. Over the years, the band has been asked many times what "Chumbawamba" really means. Kurt didn't buy it and thought he heard Boddah speaking to him through a tape recorder. In 2004 they released an album of 'world music' influenced songs entitled Un, which addressed such current concerns as eBay and Buy Nothing Day. Kurt also wrote another suicide note for his fans and his imaginary friend from childhood, "Boddah". His mother told Kurt that Boddah was drafted to Vietnam along with Kurt's uncle in order to help Kurt's imagination.

Chumbawamba gave the money to the anti-corporate activist groups Indymedia and CorpWatch. Ironically, Kurt made a film entitled Kurt Commits Bloody Suicide at age 15. General Motors paid Chumbawamba $100,000 to use their song "Pass it Along" for a Pontiac Vibe television advertisement in 2002. The conspiracy theories allege that the suicide note was actually a letter he was writing about his intent to leave Nirvana, and the authenticity of the last four lines has been questioned by many handwriting experts. Under MUTT, Chumbawamba released their eleventh official album, Readymades, as well as Sic- Adventures In Anti-capitalism, a paperback book of political and musical writings by friends and acquaintances of the band. In his suicide note, Cobain quoted a lyric from Neil Young's song "My My, Hey Hey": "It's better to burn out than to fade away." Cobain's use of the lyric had a profound impact on Young, who recorded portions of the Sleeps With Angels album in Cobain's memory. In 2002, Chumbawamba formed their own record label, MUTT, for UK releases. Filmmaker Nick Broomfield made a documentary film on this theory entitled Kurt & Courtney.

Chumbawamba parted from EMI in 2001. Grant was hired by Courtney Love following Cobain's disappearance from a hospital in which he was recovering from an apparent suicide attempt, and is now certain Cobain was murdered by Love. It was also during this period that Chumbawamba gained some notoriety when male vocalist Danbert Nobacon poured a jug of water over the UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott at the 1998 Brit Awards. His death triggered several copycat suicides, and the unclear circumstances surrounding it inspired a multitude of conspiracy theories stemming from the investigations of detective Tom Grant. However, the band argued that this move brought with it the opportunity to communicate their message to a far wider audience and make some money, although ironically their biggest chart hit, "Tubthumping", features what are probably the most apolitical of any of their lyrics. Toxicology experts have stated that even though Cobain's tolerance level was extremely high, the amount of heroin injected into his body would have been enough to kill him (225 mg, three times the lethal dosage for an addict, 75 times the lethal dosage for a non-user). Chumbawamba drew criticism from their original following in 1997 when they signed to the major label EMI, particularly as much of their earlier output had explicitly attacked this corporation and they had even been involved with a compilation LP called Fuck EMI in 1989. His body was discovered three days later in his home by an electrician who he had commissioned to install security lighting.

Moving away from their original anarcho-punk roots and evolving a pop sensibility, releases such as Slap (1990), the sample-heavy Shhh! (1992) (originally intended to be released as Jesus H Christ!, this album had to be withdrawn and re-recorded because of copyright problems) and Anarchy! (1994) lyrically remained as politically uncompromising as ever, continuing to address issues such as homophobia (see song "Homophobia", the music video of which features The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence), the Criminal Justice Act and the rise of fascism in the UK following the election of a British National Party candidate in south-east London in 1993. Dylan Carlson was rumored to be the inspiration for the song "In Bloom". By the late 1980s and early 1990s, Chumbawamba (now signed to the larger but still independent One Little Indian record label) had begun to absorb influences from techno music and dance culture. Cobain used a shotgun his best friend Dylan Carlson bought for him. Their first LP, Pictures Of Starving Children Sell Records (1986) was a scathing and articulate critique of the then current Live Aid concert organised by Bob Geldof, which they argued was primarily a cosmetic spectacle designed to draw attention away from the real political causes of world hunger. This use developed into an addiction, which he battled until he committed suicide on April 5, 1994 at the age of 27. By the mid-1980s Chumbawamba had progressed to releasing their material using vinyl format on their own Agit-Prop record label, which had evolved from an earlier project, Sky and Trees Records. Because of stomach problems he blamed on the stresses of performing, he self-medicated by use of heroin.

Stalwarts of the cassette culture scene, Chumbawamba were at the forefront of the 1980s anarcho-punk movement, frequently playing benefit gigs in squats and small halls for causes such as animal rights, the anti-war movement, and community groups. Throughout most of his adolescent life, Cobain had battled depression and pain due to a chronic stomach condition. Inspired musically by The Fall and the anarchist politics of Crass, Chumbawamba's activities in their early years were based around a communal house in Armley, Leeds. The set also featured cover versions of the aforementioned Vaselines as well as legendary bluesman Leadbelly. Originally called The Mirror Boys, Chumbawamba were formed in 1982 from two other bands based in Yorkshire in the North of England, The Passion Killers and Chimp Eats Banana. Both The Raincoats and The Vaselines records were reissued by Nirvana's record company Geffen Records and Curt and Kris Kirkwood from the Meat Puppets appeared with Nirvana on Nirvana's MTV Unplugged special, playing on three Meat Puppets covers. Chumbawamba are a band from the UK who use their music to promote anarchist ideas. Making references to obscure performers like The Vaselines, Daniel Johnston, The Meat Puppets, Young Marble Giants and The Raincoats as well as sharing a split single with American rockers The Jesus Lizard, proved beneficial to both parties in that the bands found a larger audience and Cobain cemented his indie rock credibility.

Footnote* - Boff Whaley (Pomona Books, 2003) (Boff's autobiographical account of the band's history) ISBN 1904590004. He would often make reference to his favourite bands in interviews, more often than not placing a greater importance on the bands that influenced him than on his own music. Revengers Tragedy (2002) - "Revengers Tragedy: Soundtrack". Cobain was also a devoted champion of alternative rock acts. Joe Somebody (2001) - "Tubthumping". Her namesake is Frances McKee of The Vaselines, of whom Cobain was a big fan. Stigmata (1999) - "Mary Mary (Stigmatic Mix)". The unusual middle name was given to her because Cobain thought she looked like a bean on the first sonogram he saw of her.

Mystery Alaska (1999) - "Amnesia". Later that year the two had a daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, born on 18 August. Soft Fruit (1998) - "Tubthumping". On Monday 24 February 1992 at a ceremony on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, Cobain married Courtney Love, lead singer of the band Hole. The James Gang (1998) - "Outsider". He also felt persecuted by people, especially the media, comparing himself to Frances Farmer, and harbored no small amount of resentment for people who claimed to be fans of the band but believed in nothing that Nirvana stood for or what it came from. Varsity Blues (1998) - "Tubthumping". Cobain struggled to reconcile the success of his band with his underground roots.

Air Bud 2 (1998) - "Tubthumping". After 4 years of playing in the band, Nirvana exploded into the mainstream, seemingly changing the music industry overnight. In God's Hands (1997) - "Tubthumping". Before dropping out of high school Cobain met fellow punk rock devotee Krist Novoselic, with whom he would later form what would become Nirvana. Senseless (1997) - "Tubthumping". Other literary works which provide illumination on Cobain's philosophy also include Perfume, by Patrick Suskind, and the SCUM Manifesto, by Valerie Solanas. Dirty Work (1997) - "Tubthumping", "Amnesia". Cobain also later recorded with Burroughs a spoken word/guitar improvisation piece called The Priest They Called Him, whose words were originally one of Burroughs' short stories out of The Exterminator.

Home Alone 3 (1997) - "Tubthumping". Burroughs, whose cut-up technique Cobain later utilised to write lyrics for some of Nirvana's songs. "On eBay", single, MUTT, 2004. In his youth, Cobain spent a lot of time reading in the local library, discovering such literary figures as William S. Un, MUTT, 2004. The video was cut from the show in syndication and never aired again. English Rebel Songs 1381-1984, MUTT, 2003. At the end of the show when actors and guests thank the crowd and close the show, Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic french kissed as the credits rolled.

"Salt Fare North Sea", single, MUTT, 2003. Riding on the success of the recently released video to "Teen Spirit" Nirvana appeared on Saturday Night Live in February 1992. "Home With Me", single, MUTT, 2003. If I wouldn't have found Courtney, I probably would have carried on with a bisexual lifestyle." In his journals he wrote that he was heterosexual, but wished he was gay just "to piss off homophobes". Revengers Tragedy, MUTT, 2003. In a February, 1992, interview with gay magazine The Advocate, Cobain admitted that he thought he was gay while in high school and stated, "I could be bisexual.. Shhhlap!, double cd of Shhh and Slap!, MUTT, 2003. It has been rumored that Cobain was gay or bisexual; however, Cobain himself said numerous times that he was heterosexual.

"Jacob's Ladder (Not In My Name)", Limited Edition anti-war single, MUTT, 2003. (Although he once claimed in an interview with The Advocate that he was arrested for spray-painting a pro-gay slogan on a bank, Aberdeen police records show the phrase he was arrested for in 1985 was actually "Ain't got no how watchamacallit."). Readymades, MUTT, 2002. He was an outspoken supporter of gay students at his school, sometimes suffering physically at the hands of homophobic students for his beliefs. WYSIWYG, Universal, 2000. At school Cobain didn't take much interest in academics or sports, mostly focusing on his art courses. The ABCs of Anarchism, Seeland Records, 1999 (Collaboration with Negativland). He had a small "K" inside a shield tattooed on his forearm, the insignia of Olympia, Washington, label K Records, largely chosen for the coincidental ellipsis of his name.

"Amnesia", single, EMI, 1997. As a teenager with a chaotic home life growing up in small town Washington, Cobain took part in the thriving Pacific Northwest alternative culture, going to punk rock shows in Seattle and forming a lifelong friendship with fellow Montesano musicians The Melvins, whose music heavily influenced Nirvana's sound. "Tubthumping", single, EMI, 1997. He moved to the Seattle area in 1985. Tubthumper, EMI, 1997. Cobain was born in Grays Harbor Community Hospital, Aberdeen, Washington, USA and spent his early years in Hoquiam, Washington and Montesano, Washington, after his parents, Wendy and Donald, divorced. Portraits of Anarchists (Book and CD collaboration with photographer Casey Orr), AK Press/One Little Indian 1996. Among other well known Cobain songs are "Lithium", "In Bloom", "Come As You Are", "Heart Shaped Box", "All Apologies", and the highly controversial "Rape Me".

Swingin' with Raymond, One Little Indian, 1995. His best known song is "Smells Like Teen Spirit", which was often referred to by the media as an anthem for Generation X. Showbusiness, One Little Indian, 1995 (A live album). Cobain was highly influential, popularizing what came to be known as grunge music - a style that evolved in part as a reaction against the perceived superficiality of 1980s stadium rock and over-the-top metal bands (Hair Metal) with preened images and elaborate stage shows. "Homophobia", single, One Little Indian, 1994. Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994) was the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana, which also included bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl. Anarchy, One Little Indian, 1994.

Live In Armley, independently produced live album, 1993. "Timebomb", single, One Little Indian, 1993. "Enough is Enough", single, One Little Indian, 1993. First Two, re-releases of Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records and Never Mind the Ballots, Agit Prop, 1990.

"Behave", single, Agit Prop, 1992. Shhh, Agit Prop, 1992. "I Never Gave Up", Agit Prop, 1990. Bootleg copies are in circulation however).

Jesus H Christ (unreleased due to legal issues (see above). "Whoopee, We're All Gonna Die", EP, Rugger Bugger records, 1991 (3 members of Chumbawamba recording under the name 'Passion Killers'). Slap!, Agit Prop, 1990. Sportchestra: 101 Songs About Sport, Agit Prop (Chumbawamba collaborations with various other musicians recording under the name 'Sportchestra').

English Rebel Songs, Agit Prop, 1988; re-recorded 1998. "Smash Clause 28!Fight the Alton Bill!", single, Agit Prop, 1988. "Let It Be" single, no label stated apart from Anti-copyright, 1987, (Released under the name 'Scab Aid' following the Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster). Never Mind the Ballots, Agit Prop, 1987.

"Destroy Fascism!", Loony Tunes, 1986 (Collaboration with Dutch band The Ex under the name 'Antidote'). Know Your Enemy, Doomsday Tapes, 1986 (Cassette only release, live material recorded at the Bull and Gate, London). Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records, Agit Prop, 1986. "We Are The World", single, Agit Prop, 1986 (Joint release with US band A State of Mind).

"Revolution", single, Agit Prop, 1985. The Unfairy Tale, Sky and Trees, 1985 (Danbert Nobacon solo release). The Unfairy Tale/The War Inside Our Heads, Sky and Trees, 1984 (Cassette only release, Danbert Nobacon solo material, much was re-recorded for release on vinyl the following year). To Thine Own Self Be True, Sky and Trees, 1984 (Cassette only release).

"Common Ground", Sky and Trees, 1984 (A benefit 'cassette single' for striking miners). History Luddite, Homebrew Tapes, 1984 (Cassette only release, live at Luton Library, May 1985). Another Year of the Same Old Shit, Sky and Trees, 1984 (Cassette only release). Let Us Show Them Our Hearts, Sky and Trees, 1984 (Cassette only release, joint with The Passion Killers).

It Could Be So Much More, Acid Rain Products, 1984 (Cassette only release, joint with Flux Of Pink Indians, recorded live at the Conway Hall, London). Raising Heck with Chumbawamba, Peaceville records, 1983 (Cassette only release, live material plus songs by Simon Lanzon). Be Happy Despite It All, Sky and Trees, 1983 (Cassette only release, joint with The Passion Killers, featuring hand coloured cover). "I'm Thick" - track on "Back on the Streets" compilation EP Secret, 1982 (Chumbawamba recording as 'Skin Disease', a mock skinhead/Oi! band).

"Three Years Later" - track on Bullshit Detector Volume 2 compilation LP, Crass Records, 1982 (Nb, Chumbawamba guitarist Boff Whaley (Boffo) also has a solo track, "Garageland" on this LP). Jude Abbot (1996-) - vocals and trumpet. Neil Ferguson - bass. Mave Dillon (left 1995).

Dunst Bruce - vocals. Harry Hamer - drums. Boff Whalley - vocals and guitar. Danbert Nobacon - vocals and keyboard.

Lou Watts - vocals and keyboard. Alice Nutter - vocals and percussion.