Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana
Encyclopedia
Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana is a 1993 book
by Michael Azerrad
, covering the career of Nirvana
from its inception. For the book, Azerrad met with the members of the band and conducted extensive interviews about the band and its members' histories.
The book was completed in June 1993, and was originally released the following October. As such, the book's content does not include content relating to the touring for In Utero
and the band's final weeks. Following the death of Kurt Cobain
, Azerrad wrote a new final chapter for the book's second printing, which was released in the summer of 1994.
While the band actively participated in its development, the book is not an authorized biography
. However, the book is widely considered the "definitive" Nirvana biography, particularly thanks to Cobain's active participation. At the same time, some critics, including Cobain biographer Charles R. Cross
, take issue with the book, claiming that Azerrad wrote the book as a fan and not as an objective
observer, which put him in a position to accept myth and hyperbole
as fact. Some critics even claim that some of the material in the book may not be the whole truth, but white lies to downplay and hide the excessive use of drugs by Cobain and wife, Courtney Love
so they would not lose custody of their daughter, Frances Bean, again.
Azerrad eventually worked with filmmaker AJ Schnack
to use the twenty-five hours of interviews that Azerrad conducted with Cobain as the basis for a documentary
on Cobain's life. Titled Kurt Cobain About a Son, the movie debuted at festivals in 2006.
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
by Michael Azerrad
Michael Azerrad
Michael Azerrad is an American author, journalist and musician. He grew up in the New York City area and received his BA degree from Columbia College in 1983...
, covering the career of Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
from its inception. For the book, Azerrad met with the members of the band and conducted extensive interviews about the band and its members' histories.
The book was completed in June 1993, and was originally released the following October. As such, the book's content does not include content relating to the touring for In Utero
In Utero
In Utero is the third and final studio album by the American grunge band Nirvana, released on September 13, 1993, on DGC Records. Nirvana intended the record to diverge significantly from the polished production of its previous album, Nevermind...
and the band's final weeks. Following the death of Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
, Azerrad wrote a new final chapter for the book's second printing, which was released in the summer of 1994.
While the band actively participated in its development, the book is not an authorized biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
. However, the book is widely considered the "definitive" Nirvana biography, particularly thanks to Cobain's active participation. At the same time, some critics, including Cobain biographer Charles R. Cross
Charles R. Cross
Charles R. Cross is a journalist and author of seven books based in Seattle. He was the Editor of The Rocket Magazine in Seattle for fifteen years during the height of the Seattle music mania. He is also the founder of Backstreets Magazine, a periodical for fans of Bruce Springsteen, and editor of...
, take issue with the book, claiming that Azerrad wrote the book as a fan and not as an objective
Objectivity (philosophy)
Objectivity is a central philosophical concept which has been variously defined by sources. A proposition is generally considered to be objectively true when its truth conditions are met and are "mind-independent"—that is, not met by the judgment of a conscious entity or subject.- Objectivism...
observer, which put him in a position to accept myth and hyperbole
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally....
as fact. Some critics even claim that some of the material in the book may not be the whole truth, but white lies to downplay and hide the excessive use of drugs by Cobain and wife, Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
so they would not lose custody of their daughter, Frances Bean, again.
Azerrad eventually worked with filmmaker AJ Schnack
AJ Schnack
AJ Schnack is an independent filmmaker. He directed Kurt Cobain: About a Son, which premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival...
to use the twenty-five hours of interviews that Azerrad conducted with Cobain as the basis for a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
on Cobain's life. Titled Kurt Cobain About a Son, the movie debuted at festivals in 2006.