Kurt Donald Cobain — the American singer, songwriter, and visual artist — was born on this day — February 20, 1967 — in Aberdeen, Washington.

In 1985, Cobain formed the punk band Fecal Matter, and in 1987, he co-founded Nirvana with bassist Krist Novoselic. As the band’s primary songwriter and frontman, Cobain became a central figure of the Seattle grunge scene and was often characterized as a spokesperson for Generation X.

Nirvana’s breakthrough 1991 album, Nevermind, and its lead single “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” are credited with shifting the mainstream music landscape toward alternative rock. Throughout his career, Cobain was recognized for his distinctive vocal style and his work in various mediums, including painting and sculpture. He passed away in Seattle in April 1994.

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