Everyone has a hero, or should. They are who we try to model our own lives after, who we look to for guidance, and who we respect and love more than most anybody. They are always there for us, they always know exactly what to say to make us feel better. These are my heroes. Enjoy.
#1. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
Kurt Cobain, singer/guitarist/songwriter of the multi-platinum Grunge band Nirvana. He is my hero and has been since I discovered the 90's music scene. He has been a huge influence in my music, my lifestyle, my apparel, my moods, my writing, and my outlook on life. He is the coolest person that EVER lived, in my opinion.
Kurt is credited with changing music and morphing it into a new sound that had never been heard before. His band, Nirvana, got REALLY REALLY big due to the release of their 1991 album Nevermind which featured the wildly successful hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit," along with smaller yet large hits such as "Come As You Are," "Lithium," and "In Bloom." "Teen Spirit" has been ranked the 6th greatest song of all time, with Nevermind being in the top ten greatest albums of all time. In Utero, Nirvana's follow-up to Nevermind, was Kurt's way of challenging fans. He never wanted fame, and Nevermind had a more mainstream sound than he liked, so he decided that since this time he has full control over the sounds that he would make it be like HE wanted it. In Utero was an INCREDIBLY un-commercial album, yet outselling every other album that year. It debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Charts, which is an incredible accomplishment for any group. In Utero is referred to as a Noise Rock album, with screeching guitars and loud yelling in most every song. Kurt let a few songs have a soothing or listenable sound, and those were the ones that became the album's biggest hits: "Heart-Shaped Box," "Rape Me," "Dumb," "Pennyroyal Tea," and "All Apologies," were the albums hits, while the biggest were "Heart-Shaped Box" and "All Apologies." Kurt's plan of trying to lose fans backfired, as he had re-tapped into Teen Angst with In Utero, even more than he had with Nevermind. The result of In Utero: Nirvana gaining millions more fans, and now being considered one of the greatest, not just Rock, but Music groups of all time. Kids, Teens, and Young Adults alike looked to Kurt Cobain as the voice of a generation of misfits and outcasts, which he did not cope with well. He hated fame, he never expected to become such a large Pop Culture icon. He only wanted a small band with his friend Krist, but that dream had fizzled out. Kurt was found in his home in the spare bedroom above his garage on April 8, 1994, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He had been dead for three days, and was just 27 years old. So, according to Rock fans, Kurt is the newest member of the 27 Club. The 27 Club is the group of Rock Musicians who died at the age of 27, the members are Jimi Hendrix of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jim Morrison of The Doors, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana.
In January of 1994 (four months before Kurt's suicide), Nirvana recorded a song titled "Kurt's Song #1," the final Post-In Utero recording, which Courtney Love, Kurt's wife, claimed rights to. In the early 2000's the song was leaked onto the internet, gaining more attention and listeners every day. The song was retitled: "You Know You're Right," and was released on the band's history album known as Nirvana. The song's hit number one in a matter of a day, but coincidentally was knocked off the top by Nirvana drummer, Dave Grohl's, new band: Foo Fighters' song "All My Life." "You Know You're Right," is the final song ever recorded by Nirvana, according to fans: "One of Nirvana's best songs."
Though he has been dead since 1994, Kurt's influence is still felt today, not only in music, but in Pop Culture as the man who changed the world.
R.I.P. Kurt D. Cobain... You are my hero. You will never die, you'll live on in your music, in the music you've influenced, and in the hearts of your fans. We love you Kurt. "It's better to burn out than fade away......"
Kurt is credited with changing music and morphing it into a new sound that had never been heard before. His band, Nirvana, got REALLY REALLY big due to the release of their 1991 album Nevermind which featured the wildly successful hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit," along with smaller yet large hits such as "Come As You Are," "Lithium," and "In Bloom." "Teen Spirit" has been ranked the 6th greatest song of all time, with Nevermind being in the top ten greatest albums of all time. In Utero, Nirvana's follow-up to Nevermind, was Kurt's way of challenging fans. He never wanted fame, and Nevermind had a more mainstream sound than he liked, so he decided that since this time he has full control over the sounds that he would make it be like HE wanted it. In Utero was an INCREDIBLY un-commercial album, yet outselling every other album that year. It debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Charts, which is an incredible accomplishment for any group. In Utero is referred to as a Noise Rock album, with screeching guitars and loud yelling in most every song. Kurt let a few songs have a soothing or listenable sound, and those were the ones that became the album's biggest hits: "Heart-Shaped Box," "Rape Me," "Dumb," "Pennyroyal Tea," and "All Apologies," were the albums hits, while the biggest were "Heart-Shaped Box" and "All Apologies." Kurt's plan of trying to lose fans backfired, as he had re-tapped into Teen Angst with In Utero, even more than he had with Nevermind. The result of In Utero: Nirvana gaining millions more fans, and now being considered one of the greatest, not just Rock, but Music groups of all time. Kids, Teens, and Young Adults alike looked to Kurt Cobain as the voice of a generation of misfits and outcasts, which he did not cope with well. He hated fame, he never expected to become such a large Pop Culture icon. He only wanted a small band with his friend Krist, but that dream had fizzled out. Kurt was found in his home in the spare bedroom above his garage on April 8, 1994, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He had been dead for three days, and was just 27 years old. So, according to Rock fans, Kurt is the newest member of the 27 Club. The 27 Club is the group of Rock Musicians who died at the age of 27, the members are Jimi Hendrix of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jim Morrison of The Doors, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana.
In January of 1994 (four months before Kurt's suicide), Nirvana recorded a song titled "Kurt's Song #1," the final Post-In Utero recording, which Courtney Love, Kurt's wife, claimed rights to. In the early 2000's the song was leaked onto the internet, gaining more attention and listeners every day. The song was retitled: "You Know You're Right," and was released on the band's history album known as Nirvana. The song's hit number one in a matter of a day, but coincidentally was knocked off the top by Nirvana drummer, Dave Grohl's, new band: Foo Fighters' song "All My Life." "You Know You're Right," is the final song ever recorded by Nirvana, according to fans: "One of Nirvana's best songs."
Though he has been dead since 1994, Kurt's influence is still felt today, not only in music, but in Pop Culture as the man who changed the world.
R.I.P. Kurt D. Cobain... You are my hero. You will never die, you'll live on in your music, in the music you've influenced, and in the hearts of your fans. We love you Kurt. "It's better to burn out than fade away......"
#2. Layne Staley of Alice In Chains
Although Alice In Chains was the runt of the huge Grunge bands, they still had incredible songs, insane guitar riffs, demented lyrics and, in my opinion, the greatest singer that ever lived: Layne Staley.
His voice is this sort of... Magnetic toxin. It's definitely hypnotizing. It draws you into the song more than the instruments do, because his vocals are emotionally louder than the instruments.
He's one of my heroes because he is the one who made me want to be a singer. I told my friend, "If I could sing like Layne Staley sings... I'd be in my room all day just singing random crap."
Sadly, Staley died on April 5th, 2002. The same day as Kurt Cobain, but about eight years difference. His body was found 2 weeks after his death and while he was 6 foot 1 inch, he only weight 86 pounds. A tortured soul and a victim of heroin addiction, he bleeds the freak.
R.I.P. Layne Thomas Staley
His voice is this sort of... Magnetic toxin. It's definitely hypnotizing. It draws you into the song more than the instruments do, because his vocals are emotionally louder than the instruments.
He's one of my heroes because he is the one who made me want to be a singer. I told my friend, "If I could sing like Layne Staley sings... I'd be in my room all day just singing random crap."
Sadly, Staley died on April 5th, 2002. The same day as Kurt Cobain, but about eight years difference. His body was found 2 weeks after his death and while he was 6 foot 1 inch, he only weight 86 pounds. A tortured soul and a victim of heroin addiction, he bleeds the freak.
R.I.P. Layne Thomas Staley
#3. Dave Grohl of Nirvana & Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl, singer/guitarist/song-writer of Foo Fighters. He's the GREATEST drummer ever! Beats Travis Barker by far! Nirvana's drummer before Kurt died... He's a major influence to me because he's the underdog of Nirvana! No one would have ever guessed how talented this dude was! So, that gives me a role model because no one thinks that me or my band will be good, and no one really thinks much of me. So, I'm hoping I will turn out like Dave Grohl.
Dave got his start in the Washington D.C. Punk Rock group Scream before the group disbanded. He later joined Nirvana in the early 90's. Following the saddening demise of Nirvana due to Kurt Cobain's suicide, Dave said he never wanted to play music again because of the death of his dear friend. After his grieving was over, Dave said he'd give music one more chance (thank God). He formed a new band with members of Sunny Day Real Estate. Sunny Day Real Estate had only made one hit called "Seven." They called their band: Foo Fighters. People made remarks to the band such as, "Nirvana wanna-be's" since people knew Dave was in the band, so they figured that the band was going to try to turn itself into a Nirvana sound-alike group, which was not the case. After releasing the album, The Colour and the Shape, the Foo's were now their own band, and no one could label them "Nirvana wanna be's" any longer, thanks to the song "Everlong," which was featured on the album. They released many hit songs afterwords. "Everlong," "Learn to Fly," "The Pretender," "My Hero," "I'll Stick Around," "Monkey Wrench," and "Rope," are probably their biggest hits.
Dave got his start in the Washington D.C. Punk Rock group Scream before the group disbanded. He later joined Nirvana in the early 90's. Following the saddening demise of Nirvana due to Kurt Cobain's suicide, Dave said he never wanted to play music again because of the death of his dear friend. After his grieving was over, Dave said he'd give music one more chance (thank God). He formed a new band with members of Sunny Day Real Estate. Sunny Day Real Estate had only made one hit called "Seven." They called their band: Foo Fighters. People made remarks to the band such as, "Nirvana wanna-be's" since people knew Dave was in the band, so they figured that the band was going to try to turn itself into a Nirvana sound-alike group, which was not the case. After releasing the album, The Colour and the Shape, the Foo's were now their own band, and no one could label them "Nirvana wanna be's" any longer, thanks to the song "Everlong," which was featured on the album. They released many hit songs afterwords. "Everlong," "Learn to Fly," "The Pretender," "My Hero," "I'll Stick Around," "Monkey Wrench," and "Rope," are probably their biggest hits.
#4. Zack De la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine
Zack De la Rocha, singer of the protest band: Rage Against the Machine. He is probably my biggest influence in references of Politics, Anti-American Outlooks, and protests. He's probably the greatest Rapper who ever lived. Mainly because his Rapping has a point, unlike artists like Lil Wayne.
Rage Against the Machine is a Thrash Metal, Punk, Grunge, Rock-Rap band that gained attention with their self-titled album Rage Against the Machine which was hugely successful thanks to the second song on the album: "Killing In the Name." They were nominated for a Grammy for their 1996 follow-up album Evil Empire, which featured the huge hit "Bulls On Parade." Rage Against the Machine has a powerful message of Anti-American and Anarchist beliefs throughout their music. At Woodstock '99, Rage put an upside-down American flag on stage and lit it on fire during their set. An upside-down flag shows a sign of a corrupted country or nation, which is what America has become. Sadly, Rage Against the Machine broke-up.
The instrument players of the band left Zack and joined Soundgarden singer, Chris Cornell, to form Audioslave, but Rage Against the Machine is back together as of 2007. Hopefully putting together new music.
Rage Against the Machine is a Thrash Metal, Punk, Grunge, Rock-Rap band that gained attention with their self-titled album Rage Against the Machine which was hugely successful thanks to the second song on the album: "Killing In the Name." They were nominated for a Grammy for their 1996 follow-up album Evil Empire, which featured the huge hit "Bulls On Parade." Rage Against the Machine has a powerful message of Anti-American and Anarchist beliefs throughout their music. At Woodstock '99, Rage put an upside-down American flag on stage and lit it on fire during their set. An upside-down flag shows a sign of a corrupted country or nation, which is what America has become. Sadly, Rage Against the Machine broke-up.
The instrument players of the band left Zack and joined Soundgarden singer, Chris Cornell, to form Audioslave, but Rage Against the Machine is back together as of 2007. Hopefully putting together new music.
#5. John Lennon of The Beatles
John Lennon, singer of the world-famous Beatles. If not for him, we would not have any of the people on this list! He's inspired so many artists (every artist) in this world! He is one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music, not only in his home land of Europe, but in EVERY part of the world! Everyone should love The Beatles! It's kinda weird if you don't.
#6. Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix is my Guitar Hero. He's by far the greatest guitar player of all time! I know all of you are like, "Nuh-uh, the guitarist for Avenged Sevenfold" (or some other crappy band) "is way better!" Well, guess what! Hendrix is the best because he INVENTED IT! He was the first to use a guitar as a raw instrument and change it's sound. He's known as the Master of Stratocaster because he mostly played Fender Stratocaster guitars
#7. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam
Eddie Vedder, singer of the multi-platinum, Grammy winning, chart topping, Grunge group: Pearl Jam. One of my heroes because of his knowledge and understanding of the music industry.