More Buzz Osborne On Kurt Cobain: “The ‘Truth’ About His Situation Has Always Been False”

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

More Buzz Osborne On Kurt Cobain: “The ‘Truth’ About His Situation Has Always Been False”

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Buzz Osborne isn’t quite done hating on Brett Morgen’s Kurt Cobain documentary, Montage Of Heck. In a recent Talkhouse essay, Osborne — who had known Cobain since the two were in high school — stated that the film was “90 percent bullshit” and pointed out a variety of scenarios that didn’t necessarily align with his memories of his late friend. It’s an honest essay, albeit hyper-critical, and just a few days later, Osborne re-stated some of those criticisms in an interview with Riff You. Additionally, Osborne explained why he wrote the essay: “I was asked to review it. I never would’ve watched it otherwise.” Osborne then went on to talk about his lack of involvement with the film and his distrust of Courtney Love. He also accuses viewers of being willfully ignorant by quickly accepting Montage Of Heck as a definitive, wholly truthful work:

When writing the review, how much of it was about standing up for a friend that isn’t around to defend himself?

Yes. That’s it, 100%. I don’t understand how anyone could see it another way. If they want to argue and say that I’m wrong, then okay, I’ll play their game. Would they feel better if Kurt Cobain did ‘fuck a fat retard.’ Do they feel better now? Do they feel better if he actually was suicidal? That makes you feel better? None of that’s true. I don’t think that’s a good legacy for him to have out there … I know it’s not true. It’s that simple.

I think a lot of people tried to trick themselves into believing that everything — or a lot of what they’ve seen about Cobain from that movie — was going to be true because it was fully authorized and featured family members.

If they want to take her (Courtney Love’s) word for things, then go ahead. Do you feel better? Then everything she says is the golden rule. Absolutely. That’s got to be honest, no problem. That’s fine by me. If that makes them feel better, it’s fine by me.

I just don’t understand how anybody could possibly defend her … if they want to defend her or take the side of the film maker, go ahead. How is that my fault? How am I to blame for that? Like I said in my article: ‘Facts don’t make any difference. What matters is what people believe.’ The ‘truth’ about [Cobain’s] situation has always been false. So there you go … utter fabrication. That’s never not been the case.

I take it that you were never asked to be a part of Montage Of Heck?

No. But, I don’t care about that. That’s not my problem. My problem with the whole thing is that they decided to do a documentary and put it out there like it’s true. Well, there are some people out here who don’t believe that. And I am one of them. And I have reason not to believe it.

If people want to question me and they want to question my authenticity, [I’d say] ‘why would I defend him (Kurt) in a way that makes him look better?’ They want to portray him in a way that makes him look worse. To be offended by that is really weird. I question their motives.

Read the whole interview here.

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