tags: article kurt cobain text nirvana
Which picture did you enjoy taking the most?
The one that’s the most famous, him crying backstage. In Britain, that was ranked the 6th best rock and roll photograph of all time. The way it came about, I had hung out with the band, I met them for the second time, he gave me free range to hang out and take pictures.
They did a brilliant gig, I got great pics of him smashing the guitar and then he went backstage and burst into tears. I thought it would make a good photo, but should I take it because it is a vulnerable moment? I am not a paparazzi, I am a documentary photographer. He knew I wasn’t pushy and I took a shot — he didn’t say no. I took three in all and the third shot he was crying, in the second shot he was sort of ok and the third one he was smiling. A minute between the three was about all this different kind of energy inside him and when he came backstage the energy had to go somewhere. Normally rock stars want to control how they look to the public.
Ian Tilton
but he didn’t care how he looked in public. he said what he felt
most of the time
