Mighty KC Would Have Been 40 Yesterday

and I don't feel so good myself.

Every generation has an artist (or artists) that die at the height of their popularity - only to become revered. some were criticly acclaimed (Jimi Hendrix) and some were more popular (Jim Morrison). With Kurt Cobain's death 13 years ago, he became an icon. But let's step back and wonder what might have happened if it had been someone else from that time frame ...

One could argue that the four top rock frontmen of the early 1990's were Cobain, Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) and Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots). Critics would have placed them in that order - popularity would have flipped Cornell and Weiland.

In 1992, Pearl Jam was more popular that Nirvana - with Vedder the masses choice for frontman/songwriter of most importance, but Cobain had more punk/indie cred. There was a sect that thought it was actually Cornell and Soundgarden that was the best grunge band - because they had been doing it for longer (since 1984). But what would have happened if it has been Vedder or Cornell?

Vedder, one could argue, would have been more revered that Cobain is now. The band was slighly more commercial, but still had strong political overtones. The popularity and critical acclaim of "Jeremy", "Alive", etc., were stonger than that of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - at the time. Cornell may not have had the popular success (at the time) to garner him an icon.

While Vedder is still making music - and shunning the public spotlight as the new Neil Young meets the Dead; Cornell and Weiland have continued on as frontmen for other bands (with little to no critical praise). What would Cobain have done? I can't see Nirvana being something he would have continued to do for another 13 years. Maybe a solo career? Maybe a few less than well recieved albums in the late 1990's would have sent him down the same road as Billy Corgan. Maybe the Foo Fighers never happen and people continued to overlook Dave Grohl.

Who knows ...