With hit albums such as “Nevermind”, they changed the rock and roll genre forever. They became very successful in the 70s and 80s. Throughout the years Kurt Cobain, the frontman of Nirvana has talked about several musicians who influenced him to be successful in his career.
Kurt talked about the band that made him cry and the bands that helped him, but the one band he grew up listening to was Black Sabbath. Over the years, many bands and artists complimented including, Kurt’s favorite artist, Ozzy Osbourne.
Since Kurt was a kid, he was a fan of Ozzy Osbourne, and witnessing him giving his opinion on Nirvana should’ve felt surreal.
Ozzy Osbourne’s opinion on Nirvana and Kurt Cobain
Ozzy Osbourne and Nirvana were unique on their own. During an interview with VH1 Ozzy talked about his love for the Grunge band Nirvana, “I love Nirvana, it was like Heavy Metal meets The Beatles, you know, to a point”.
Thsi wasn’t the only time Ozzy shared his love for Nirvana in the public eye. During an interview with Launch Radio Networks, he stated that Nirvana was one of his favorite bands. “Apparently, I met (late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain), ’cause I was talking to Dave Grohl,” he said.
Ozzy added, “He said, ‘You probably don’t remember this. But when you were in Devonshire Studios in the (San Fernando) Valley, me and Kurt were in the room where they had a pool table. When you walked in we were like, ‘F***ing hell.'”
The vocalist of Bloakc Sabbath also wrote in his biography “I Am Ozzy“ about how Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” impacted him. “It had a huge impact on me, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’. I was very proud when I found out that Kurt Cobain was a fan of mine. I thought he was awesome,” Ozzt stated.
Nirvana refused to open for Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy’s love for Nirvana was boundless and wanted the group to go on a tour with him. This was a rare opportunity for Kurt Cobain to share the stage with him. This would’ve been blockbuster news for the rock and roll community and would even boast their career but Kurt refused to do so.
Kurt Cobaibn recalled the moment during an interview with journalist Gilbert Blecken in 1991. “I can understand Ozzy liking us, because we have at least some similarities with his former band. Sure, I respect the man. I have always loved his music except for his last five albums or whatever,” he said.
He added, “I didn’t pay attention to most of his solo stuff besides ‘Bark At The Moon‘, whenever that one was. Ozzy was also in the same mixing studio that we were in for our last record. We met each other in the hall sometimes.”
“We didn’t speak. But there were a few times where we were coming towards each other. I had to move up against the wall and wait for him to stumble past me ’cause he was so fucked up. He also asked us to go on tour with him. But we turned it down. It would have been fun and kind of exciting to be part of his last shows. But we don’t really wanna play in huge arenas supporting someone.”
Kurt was also asked if bands such as Guns N’ Roses offered them to play together, “Yeah. And Rush, Skid Row, and a bunch of others also asked us. Those kind of bands,” Kurt replied.
After the success they received from ‘Nevermind’ they got offers from multiple bands like Gusn N’ Roses and Rush. However, Kurt wanted Nirvana to stand on its own rather than depending on some big groups.
Unfortunately, Kurt Cobain passed away on April 5, 1994, at 27. Nirvana disbanded after Kurt’s passing and Dave Grohl formed Foo Fighters which became a successful project. In 2007, Dave also stated that Kurt Cobain was an Ozzy Osbourne fan.
“Kurt really liked Ozzy. Growing up in a town like Aberdeen [in Washington state] and hearing a band like Black Sabbath – it’s a sweet release,” Grohl said.
He added, “Suddenly there’s something outside your small-town world you can relate to. When you can hear that alienation in someone else’s music. The first Nirvana record, Bleach, which I don’t play on but I love. You listen to some of those songs and it’s a guitar line, a bass line, a vocal and thundering drums. There’s a lot of Black Sabbath in that, for sure.”
Both of these artists have made a huge impact on each other’s lives. Osbourne must’ve regretted the moment of not remembering Kurt, but Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ will forever have a special place in his heart.