You could soon step inside Kurt Cobain's childhood home in Washington, where the singer laid down the "groundwork" for his iconic grunge sound, which inspired a generation.
The modest one-and-a-half-story house, in Aberdeen, was recently added to the Heritage Register of culturally significant buildings, Washington state's Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation confirmed.
The Nirvana frontman, who took his own life in 1994 aged 27, was born in the town and attended school there. The new co-owner, Lee Bacon, is planning on returning the home to how it looked during Cobain's residency.
Bacon, who bought the home with wife Danielle from the Cobain family in 2018 for $225,000, told Rolling Stone magazine renovations were "90 to 95 percent" complete.
Bacon unveiled plans to turn the home into a tribute to the late singer, eventually opening it up for private tours.
As it's in a residential neighborhood, Bacon says he's still mapping out how tours might work, adding in the near future they may run on "on special days, events or happenings by special request. We're working on the logistics of how that could be," Rolling Stone reported.
He told the magazine: "Our goal is to make the house a tribute project to Kurt's early life and career, with museum detail."
While local regulations prevent the house from becoming a fully fledged museum, Bacon has also purchased a 25,000-square-foot building in downtown Aberdeen, around a mile-and-a-half from the house.
He plans on devoting part of it to create a Tribute Lounge and Gallery Cafe, which will tell the story of Cobain's childhood house. Bacon added the space will also feature memorabilia, photos and items connected with the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" singer.
Meanwhile the house is being returned to its 70s-inspired décor, with the exterior, currently pastel yellow, to be repainted "light-colored fern" and "dark-colored mint," Bacon is quoted as saying.
The application submitted by the Bacons indicated the kitchen is still sporting its "period Seventies plywood cabinetry with canary-yellow Formica countertops," Rolling Stone added.
Bacon reportedly retained the original dining room table the family used, Cobain's mattress and toddler set he and his sister, Kim, used.
Kim Cobain told the magazine she enjoyed "being involved," and supported the Bacons' plans.
Announcing the decision on their Facebook page on July 10, the state of Washington's Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation said: "Even Grunge is historic now! We are proud to note our first listing on the Washington Heritage Register of a property that is directly associated with the alternative rock genre and subculture—Grunge. The sound emerged during the mid-1980s in the Pacific Northwest led by bands such as Nirvana.
"The Donald and Wendy Cobain House in Aberdeen served as Kurt Cobain's (the frontman of Nirvana) childhood home during his formative years from 1968 to 1984. It was here that the young blue eyed, blond-haired, energetic young boy with unusual artistic skills, and a widely creative imagination, garnered his passion for music.
"The house gave Cobain a place to practice and experiment with a variety of musical instruments, giving him the pivotal groundwork for his later mastery of song writing, singing, and playing guitar for the band."
If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours every day.
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