Ongoing History of New Music

Ongoing History Daily: The US president who hated Nirvana

There are many stories associated with Nirvana’s music, including one that enraged a US president.

The group’s 1993 album, In Utero, featured the song “Rape Me.” Since Nevermind, Kurt Cobain was getting increasingly agitated and enraged by all the salacious stories being published about himself, Courtney Love, and the band in general. He poured all that resentment into “Rape Me,” which he also characterized over and over again as an anti-rape song.

But that’s not how some people interpreted things. That included President George W. Bush. One day, he found his daughter, Jenna, playing the album just as “Rape Me” came on. He was so freaked out that he took the CD out of her Sony DiscMan and broke it over his leg.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 42050 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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