{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "description": "As memoirs go this was thorough, lovingly crafted and unsparing in its treatment of its central figure. Kurt was troubled — tortured even — and deeply flawed. Many musicians are, but he was more than most. He had a shattered, tumultuous childhood in a small town, passed around his family like little wanted luggage. He had friends, he had hangers on, he had more pets than he could handle and no home at all. He had a love of music, a compulsion to create art, perverse screeds committed to journals and endless mysterious pain. A lot of this led to self medication, his friends tried to hold him back. Artists can be troubled and generalizing is hardly fair — art can come from many places and inspirations. Kurt was certainly troubled and that was reflected in everything he created. He reached artistic and professional peaks that many can only dream of. He also spiraled down rapidly. Chronic pain and the money to treat it in any way possible is a toxic combination. Krist, his management, Pat Smear, Courtney and Francis (among others) all either sought to help Kurt, save him from himself or buoy him. That none of it worked is tragic. That none of it worked feels predictable. : Dave’s absence from the book feels conspicuous given that he was a third of their most successful lineup. Perhaps there’s a story there.",
  "path": "/reading/books/9780316492447/heavier-than-heaven",
  "publishedAt": "2025-01-31T00:00:00Z",
  "site": "at://did:plc:sttgf52vkk46f6yuknvqxvgh/site.standard.publication/self",
  "tags": [
    "biography",
    "music",
    "nonfiction"
  ],
  "title": "Heavier Than Heaven"
}