Without a doubt, Nirvana’s Nevermind is one of the most influential rock albums of all time, and dozens of famous artists have cited its influence — but which albums most inspired Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain?
According to a handwritten list that was published along with many of Cobain’s journal entries, Cobain's influences include artists from Aerosmith to Black Flag, from Leadbelly to Public Enemy and from Sonic Youth to Sex Pistols.
Also included on the list are groundbreaking indie rock albums including the Breeders' summery Pod, the Pixies' first full-length, Surfer Rosa, PJ Harvey's biting album Dry, and Mudhoney's Superfuzz Bigmuff.
So which band made the list three times? Which inclusion is the biggest surprise? And who came out on top? See the full list below.
Kurt Cobain's favorite albums
1. Iggy and the Stooges, Raw Power.
2. Pixies, Surfer Rosa.
3. The Breeders, Pod.
4. The Vaselines, Pink EP.
5. The Shaggs, Philosophy of the World.
6. Fang, Landshark.
7. MDC, Millions of Dead Cops.
8. Scratch Acid, Scratch Acid EP.
9. Saccharine Trust, Paganicons.
10. Butthole Surfers, Pee Pee the Sailor aka Brown Reason to Live.
11. Black Flag, My War.
12. Bad Brains, Rock for Light.
13. Gang of Four, Entertainment!
14. Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks.
15. The Frogs, It's Only Right and Natural.
16. PJ Harvey, Dry.
17. Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation.
18. The Knack, Get the Knack.
19. The Saints, Know Your Product.
20. anything by Kleenex
21. The Raincoats, The Raincoats.
22. Young Marble Giants, Colossal Youth.
23. Aerosmith, Rocks.
24. Various Artists, What Is It.
25. R.E.M., Green.
26. Shonen Knife, Burning Farm.
27. The Slits, Typical Girls.
28. The Clash, Combat Rock.
29. The Faith/Void, Split EP.
30. Rites of Spring, Rites of Spring.
31. Beat Happening, Jamboree.
32. Tales of Terror, Tales of Terror.
33. Leadbelly, Leadbelly's Last Sessions Vol. 1.
34. Mudhoney, Superfuzz Bigmuff.
35. Daniel Johnston, Yip/Jump Music.
36. Flipper, Generic Flipper.
37. The Beatles, Meet the Beatles.
38. Half Japanese, We Are They Who Ache With Amorous Love.
39. Butthole Surfers, Locust Abortion Technician.
40. Black Flag, Damaged.
41. Fear, The Record.
42. PiL, Flowers of Romance.
43. Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.
44. Marine Girls, Beach Party.
45. David Bowie, The Man Who Sold the World.
46. Wipers, Is This Real?
47. Wipers, Youth of America.
48. Wipers, Over the Edge.
49. Mazzy Star, She Hangs Brightly.
50. Swans, Young God.
via Brooklyn Vegan