Cobain Interview: Bisexuality, Axl And Pearl Jam

The recent report that Kurt Cobain of Nirvana is a "practicing bisexual" is refuted in a cover story in the Feb. 9 issue of The Advocate, the national gay and lesbian news magazine. What Cobain actually said is: "I'm definitely gay in spirit, and I probably could be a bisexual. . . . If I wouldn't have found Courtney (Love, his wife), I probably would have carried on with a bisexual lifestyle."

The interview, by Kevin Allman with photos by longtime Seattle grunge photographer Charles Peterson, is one of the most relaxed and revealing Cobain has ever done. In addition to talking openly about his gay feelings, he is quoted as saying Love insisted on a prenuptial agreement and she is strict about not spending his millions. He says the couple have bought a "modest" house here and are eager to leave Los Angeles.

While the gay stuff is titillating, what will probably be most quoted from the interview are Cobain's stinging comments about his most unfavorite bands, Guns N' Roses and Pearl Jam. The Gunners are "pathetic and untalented . . . really talentless people," and Axl Rose, who Cobain said tried to beat him up at the "MTV Music Video Awards," is "insane . . . a sexist and a racist and a homophobe." He's not as harsh on Pearl Jam, but says he doesn't like their music because "they're a real commercial rock band."

-- Mike Starr, bassist and founding member of Alice in Chains, has quit the band at the peak of its popularity. According to a

spokesman for Columbia, the band's label, Starr left because of "the rigors of touring." His last dates with the band were on a recently completed tour of South America, including an appearance at the "Hollywood Festival" in Brazil with Nirvana and L7. Starr's temporary replacement is Mike Inez, formerly with Ozzy Osbourne. He will accompany the band on its tour of England, which opens tomorrow and continues through March 3. After that, the band will look for a permanent replacement. Starr, formerly of Sato and Gypsy Rose, joined Alice in Chains at its inception in January of 1988. There is no word on his plans.

-- Screaming Trees is the lead story in the music section of the Feb. 18 issue of Rolling Stone. The Ellensburg band, whose song "Nearly Lost You" was one of the highlights of the "Singles" soundtrack, is depicted as a volatile group in which "fist fights were once common." Until recently, according to the article, "often the members wouldn't rehearse, write or even speak to each other." But the success of the band's current "Sweet Oblivion" album, which has sold 200,000 copies, has helped bring calm to the foursome, at least most of the time. "Alcohol is the key ingredient in the Trees' volatile mix," says the article, and it still causes problems, especially for gifted lead singer Mark Lanegan, who is described as having "a legendary wild streak." Despite the problems, the Trees are depicted as having a bright future - if they don't kill each other first.

-- Seattle jazz saxophonist Kenny G is enjoying the greatest success of his recording career with "Breathless," his sixth LP, which has climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard album chart. Since its release in November, it has sold more than 2 million copies. His previous charted albums were "Duotones," which hit No. 6 in 1987, and "Silhouette," which reached No. 8 in 1988. G has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, having played at one of President Clinton's inaugural balls and appearing on "Good Morning America" and "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee."

-- "Seattle Music Scene - Volume One," just out on the local Insight Records label, is the aural equivalent of a vanity publication. The 18 cuts on the disc are from unsigned local bands, with styles ranging from metal to folk to hard rock. Because the bands supplied their own tapes, the sound quality varies, and so does the quality of the music. The best cuts are a couple of rock songs, "Nine One One," powerfully delivered by Transient Love, and "Hog's Head" by Grin, which features layers of guitars and vocals (it's produced by the Posies' Jonathan Auer). Among other bands on the recording are Spoonbender, Sadhappy, the Pleasure Elite, Recklessx and Frankly Scarlett.