Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was never one to hold back his thoughts, no matter how divisive they might have seemed. One of his more notable opinions was his view on fellow musician, Phil Collins of Genesis. In a 1992 discussion with Melody Maker, Cobain didn’t mince words when talking about what he liked and didn’t in the rock scene. Phil Collins was on his list of dislikes.
Cobain voiced his sentiments about Collins saying, “The aspects of rock I can’t stand? Animated characters and horns. And Phil Collins, especially that white-male soul vibe.”
Expanding on his disapproval, Cobain continued, “I can’t stand tie-dyed shirts either. Did you know there are unofficial tie-dyed Nirvana shirts out there? I’d only wear one if it was colored using Phil Collins’ urine and Jerry Garcia’s blood.”
But Phil Collins wasn’t the only artist Cobain clashed with. His animosity towards Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses is well-known. Their rivalry reached a peak at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. Recounting an incident with Rose, Cobain said:
“Courtney and I were at the MTV Awards, just chilling in a tent. Axl walked past, and we jokingly asked if he’d be our child’s godfather. He didn’t take it well. Surrounded by bodyguards and with our baby in my arms, he confronts us. He told Courtney to shut it, and then threatened me. I was like, ‘What are you going to do, hit me?’ And he said I embarrassed everyone, especially my wife. I jokingly told Courtney to keep quiet.”
It’s clear that Cobain had no qualms about expressing his opinions, even if it ruffled a few feathers.
You can read Kurt Cobain’s 1992 interview with Melody Maker here.
