Ongoing History Daily: Kurt Cobain’s wheelchair stunt

In 1992, there were all kinds of stories swirling about Kurt Cobain’s drug use.  By the time the band was scheduled to play the Reading Festival in England on August 30, the rumours were crazy.

At one point, the story was that Kurt had ODed and died–or, at the very least, had to be sent to the hospital.  Kurt was just fine–but he wanted to have some fun with the crowd.

He found an old hospital smock, a wheelchair, and a ratty blonde wig. At the appointed him, he was wheeled onstage.  Krist Novoselic introduced Kurt, saying “He’ll be okay.  With the help of his friends and family, he’ll survive.”  Kurt then got out of the chair and pretended to collapse after singing one line of the first song.

After that, though, the joke was over and Nirvana turned in an amazing set. That footage is included in the documentary, Montage of Heck.