Love and Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain
Encyclopedia
Love and Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain, published by Simon & Schuster
, is a collaborative investigative journalism
book written by Ian Halperin
and Max Wallace
purporting to show that rock star Kurt Cobain
, believed to have committed suicide
, was in fact murdered, possibly at the behest of his wife Courtney Love
. It is a follow-up to the authors' 1998 bestseller
on the same subject, Who Killed Kurt Cobain?. The book is based on 30 hours of revealing audiotaped conversations, exclusively obtained by the authors, between Courtney Love's private investigator, Tom Grant, and her entertainment attorney, who both dispute the official finding of suicide and believe Cobain was in fact murdered. The lawyer says on the tapes that she believes the so-called suicide note was "forged or traced." The authors also interview Cobain's grandfather, who believes Kurt was the victim of foul play and Courtney's father, who also believes he was murdered. In the book, a prominent forensic pathologist examines the known autopsy evidence and claims that the official suicide scenario was "impossible." She claims that there is compelling and authoritative evidence that Cobain was murdered. The authors, however, unequivocally state that they saw no smoking gun evidence linking Courtney Love to her husband's death and they discredit many of the most popular conspiracy theories surrounding the death.
Shortly after the book's release, the television show Dateline NBC
aired a segment critically examining some of the book's conclusions. London's The Guardian
newspaper described the book as "valuably different in tone to everything else you'll read on the subject."
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
, is a collaborative investigative journalism
Investigative journalism
Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Investigative journalism...
book written by Ian Halperin
Ian Halperin
Ian Halperin is a Canadian investigative journalist and writer from Montreal, Quebec whose 2009 book, Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson was a #1 best-seller on the New York Times list on July 24, 2009. He is the author or coauthor of nine books including Celine Dion: Behind the...
and Max Wallace
Max Wallace
-Who Killed Kurt Cobain?:Wallace coauthored the international bestseller Who Killed Kurt Cobain? with Ian Halperin in 1998, .-Love and Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain:...
purporting to show that rock star 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...
, believed to have committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, was in fact murdered, possibly at the behest of his 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...
. It is a follow-up to the authors' 1998 bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
on the same subject, Who Killed Kurt Cobain?. The book is based on 30 hours of revealing audiotaped conversations, exclusively obtained by the authors, between Courtney Love's private investigator, Tom Grant, and her entertainment attorney, who both dispute the official finding of suicide and believe Cobain was in fact murdered. The lawyer says on the tapes that she believes the so-called suicide note was "forged or traced." The authors also interview Cobain's grandfather, who believes Kurt was the victim of foul play and Courtney's father, who also believes he was murdered. In the book, a prominent forensic pathologist examines the known autopsy evidence and claims that the official suicide scenario was "impossible." She claims that there is compelling and authoritative evidence that Cobain was murdered. The authors, however, unequivocally state that they saw no smoking gun evidence linking Courtney Love to her husband's death and they discredit many of the most popular conspiracy theories surrounding the death.
Reception
Love and Death reached #18 on the New York Times Bestseller list in April 2004.Shortly after the book's release, the television show Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
aired a segment critically examining some of the book's conclusions. London's The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper described the book as "valuably different in tone to everything else you'll read on the subject."