Charles R. Cross, celebrated biographer of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, dies at 67

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As a seasoned movie critic with a penchant for biographical films and a deep appreciation for the lives of musical legends, I find myself deeply saddened by the passing of Charles R. Cross. Having spent my formative years immersed in the world of music journalism, much like Cross did at the University of Washington, it’s hard not to feel a personal connection to his work and life.

On Friday, Charles R. Cross, a respected author and music commentator from Seattle, known for writing comprehensive biographies about Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix, passed away at the age of 67.

The family issued a statement confirming that he passed away peacefully due to natural causes while asleep.

Known primarily for his work “Heavier Than Heaven,” Cross’s 2001 biography detailing the life and career of Cobain, who significantly impacted rock history as Nirvana’s lead vocalist. Tragically, Cobain took his own life in April 1994, just months after the release of their third studio album, “In Utero.” This book, based on over 400 interviews, received an accolade from ASCAP and was praised by former Los Angeles Times pop music critic Robert Hilburn as “one of the most poignant and insightful books ever penned about a rock star.”

In addition to other works penned by Cross, there were “Room Full of Mirrors” published in 2005, focusing on Hendrix, and “Kicking & Dreaming,” a collaboration from 2012 with Ann and Nancy Wilson, the duo known for their long-standing rock band Heart.

Beyond his authored works, Cross also penned articles on music for various magazines such as Rolling Stone, Spin, Esquire, Entertainment Weekly, Playboy, Q, Mojo, Guitar World, the Seattle Times and the Los Angeles Times. In 2021, he conversed with Courtney Love, widow of Cobain, for a Times article commemorating the 30th anniversary of Nirvana’s hit album “Nevermind”.

In the late 1970s, Cross commenced his music journalism journey while writing for the student newspaper at the University of Washington, as reported by Seattle Times; following his graduation in 1980, he established Backstreets – a highly respected Bruce Springsteen fan magazine that remained active until 2023.

In 1986, Cross assumed the editor role for The Rocket, a weekly newspaper based in Seattle, at a time when the city’s music scene was gaining national recognition; he continued to edit the paper throughout the grunge movement of the late ’80s and early ’90s, an era that saw Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana become household names on MTV and alternative rock stations, until 2000.

According to Cross’ representative, he was working on his memoir at the time of his passing. The movie adaptation of his Heart book is being handled by Carrie Brownstein from Sleater-Kinney.

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2024-08-12 18:01