Ongoing History Daily: Come as you are

Before Nirvana, no one outside of the logging industry knew (or even cared about) the town of Aberdeen, Washington. It’s this lonely little place at the end of a highway south of Seattle that reputedly (and ironically) once had one of the highest suicide rates in the state.

This is where Kurt grew up.  It’s where he made his first recordings.  It’s where he formed his first bands.  And it’s where he first met future Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic, whose mom worked at a local beauty salon.  Now that Kurt is an icon, Aberdeen is on the map. 

In fact, the town has a permanent Kurt memorial on the way in.  The sign reads “Welcome to Aberdeen.  Come as You Are.”