On this week’s episode of The Cobain 50, Dusty Henry digs deep into the two Butthole Surfers albums from Kurt’s list – Pee Pee The Sailor (also known as their self-titled debut EP) and Locust Abortion Technician . In one of the more expletive ridden artists on the list, we hear about the band’s story from underground legends to surprising mainstream success. Butthole Surfers pushed the envelope from just their name alone through their storied live performances and some of...
Apr 09, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 55
In this week’s episode, Dusty Henry digs into one of the more caustic bands on Kurt’s list – Swan’s and their 1984 EP, Young God . The band has one of the more abrasive sounds and stories on the list, making for a release that’s not for the faint of heart but vastly influential on industrial music. Disclaimer: This episode deals with topics including abuse, domestic violence, and rape. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or sexual violence, contac...
Apr 02, 2025•31 min•Season 2Ep. 54
This week on The Cobain 50, we share one last bonus episode before we hit the final stretch of albums on Kurt Cobain’s top albums list. Ray Farrell may not be a familiar name to most, but he’s worked with many of the artists and labels we’ve talked about on the list: from SST and Rough Trade to Geffen Records, Sonic Youth to Wipers, Farrell has been through it all. He shares with us stories from his time in the industry, as well as some memories of talking records with Kurt him...
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr 6 min
This week on The Cobain 50, we’re taking a quick break from our regularly scheduled programming to share an interview with another Seattle music icon – Matt Cameron. Cameron is the drummer for legendary groups Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Before then he played in the influential Seattle bands Bam Bam, Skin Yard, and Temple of the Dog. In this interview with Emily Fox, which originally aired on KEXP’s A Deeper Listen podcast, Cameron talks about his career and how he&r...
Mar 19, 2025•42 min
Roddy Nikpour speaks with Josh Modell about It’s Only Right and Natural by The Frogs. By modern standards, The Frogs created cancel-able album after cancel-able album. Somehow, though, their punk innovation outshined controversy, catching attention from Eddie Vetter of Pearl Jam, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, and so many others. The Frogs inspired weirdo art everywhere — including Kurt Cobain’s “Montage of Heck” home recordings. Modell is co-directing a forthco...
Mar 12, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 53
What Records? might not be a household name, but the small Los Angeles-based punk label had a cascading effect on punk-yet-to-come. Dusty Henry digs into this somewhat obscure compilation from Kurt Cobain’s albums list which features deep cuts from L.A.’s punk scene, including bands like The Controllers, KAOS, and The Germs (which featured future Nirvana bandmate Pat Smear). We also hear about the records founder Chris Ashford’s journey from record store clerk to key figure in ...
Mar 05, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Janice Headley talks with Stuart Moxham of Young Marble Giants about Colossal Youth . This album from the Welsh post-punk trio may seem like a surprising entry on Kurt's list given its minimalist instrumentation, but these bands shared a similar disdain for the spotlight. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Written & Produced: Janice Headley Mixed & Mastered: Matt Martin and Roddy Nikpour Special thanks to Isabel Khalili and Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/co...
Feb 26, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 51
Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas dive into The Faith/Void Split by The Faith and Void. In our last entry from the D.C. punk scene, we relive the youthful spirit that drove these bands to make their mark. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry, Matt Martin, and Roddy Nikpour Special thanks to Isabel Khalili and Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 19, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 50
Martin Douglas dives into Album – Generic Flipper by Flipper. Despite the name, their debut album is anything but generic. Krist Novoselic (who briefly joined the band in the 2000s) described this Bay Area band as “proto-grunge.” Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikpour Special thanks to Isabel Khalili and Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 12, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 49
Following KEXP's recent event celebrating The Gits and Martin Douglas's recent Throwaway Style newsletter , we want to tell you more about these contemporaries of Kurt Cobain. The Gits were an early '90s Seattle band. Sub Pop Records recently launched a campaign to rerelease remastered versions of The Gits’ catalogue. So much of the band’s story has been wrapped around the 1993 rape and murder of The Gits frontwoman Mia Zapata. Late last year at KEXP’s Gathering Spa...
Feb 05, 2025•32 min
Janice Headley dives into Eternally Yours by The Saints. (In his list, Kurt wrote the name of a single from the album, “Know Your Product.”) This is the story of how The Saints brought punk from “down under,” featuring exclusive insights from founding guitarist Ed Kuepper and Mudhoney’s Mark Arm, who has been filling in for the late Saints frontman Chris Bailey in recent shows. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Written and produced by: Janice Headley Audio mixin...
Jan 29, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 48
Dusty Henry dives into the self-titled debut from Scratch Acid. This vein of — ahem — “alternative music” helped Nirvana in their own quest to balance abrasiveness with structure. (In the outro, Dusty works in a reference to Charli XCX, effectively dubbing this podcast "brat." We also have some special shoutouts.) Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr.&...
Jan 22, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 47
Martin Douglas dives into The Flowers of Romance by Public Image Ltd. After he left the Sex Pistols in 1978, John Lydon created Public Image Ltd. under the influence of dub, resulting in experimental music that was just about as accessible to mainstream audiences as Kurt Cobain’s Montage of Heck recordings (which is to say, not very accessible at all). Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editori...
Jan 15, 2025•51 min•Season 2Ep. 46
We're back! This week, Dusty Henry dives into the self-titled debut from Rites of Spring. They represent the earliest iteration of “emo” music, proving that it would never be just a phase. "Emo" still exists in waves that ripple to this day. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...
Jan 08, 2025•41 min•Season 2Ep. 45
The Cobain 50 returns with new episodes January 8, 2025. We’re taking the month to rest with our families and listen to good music. We hope you’ll do the same! In the meantime, let KEXP keep you company through the holidays with our other active podcast series, including: El Cancionero de Kurt , the Spanish-language companion podcast to The Cobain 50 (English subtitles available on YouTube) A Deeper Listen , conversations with artists about the stories behind their new music In Our Headphones , ...
Dec 04, 2024•4 min
Disclaimer: This episode deals with topics including domestic abuse, drug use, and murder. Dusty Henry dives into Landshark! by Fang. Vocalist Sam “Sammytown” McBride murdered his girlfriend Dixie Lee Carney in 1989. Since his release from prison in 1995, Fang has continued as a band, raising questions about the complicated ethics of which artists we choose to listen to. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial...
Nov 29, 2024•20 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Martin Douglas dives into Paganicons by Saccharine Trust. Written in Kurt’s list as “1st EP,” Saccharine Trust’s debut is one of the most original releases from the SST catalog, which also includes punk classics like Black Flag, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, and many others. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...
Nov 20, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Roddy Nikpour dives into The Record by Fear. Known for an infamous Saturday Night Live performance littered with slam dancers, Fear sings from a grotesque vantage point to call out injustice through “punk irony.” Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 13, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Dusty Henry dives into Tales of Terror by Tales of Terror. Their run was short and marked with tragedy, but their influence has kept their music alive for generations — from the local Sacramento scene to other bands like Mudhoney and Nirvana. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 06, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 41
Friday, November 1, 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Nirvana’s live album, MTV Unplugged in New York . This week, Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas set the stage and bring us some of their favorite moments from this iconic stripped-back performance. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 30, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 40
The Cobain 50 returns October 30 celebrating the 30th anniversary of Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York . This week, we're sharing a conversation featured on another KEXP podcast, A Deeper Listen. Dusty Henry spoke with David Bazan about Pedro the Lion's latest album, the third in a five-part series of albums based on places that formed his identity. One of his formative memories includes moving to Seattle in 1991 — the same year when Nirvana released Nevermind . Support KEXP podcasts at kexp.o...
Oct 23, 2024•42 min
Martin Douglas dives into Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth. When it comes to art punk, indie rock, or alternative rock, there are few bands more widely influential than Sonic Youth, who were also directly involved with Nirvana’s emergence into the mainstream. The bands were signed to both the same record label and the same management company. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. ...
Oct 16, 2024•2 hr 31 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Janice Headley dives into She Hangs Brightly by Mazzy Star. Born from California's Paisley Underground scene, the group is distinguished by the languid vocal style of Hope Sandoval, a Mexican-American songwriter who came into the spotlight in the 1990s. This episode is part of KEXP's monthlong Aquí y Ahora programming for Latinx Heritage Month , officially celebrated from September 15 to October 15 in the United States. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Written + Produced: Janice Headley Mix...
Oct 09, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Dusty Henry dives into Damaged by Black Flag. While we covered their sophomore album My War earlier in this series , Black Flag’s debut album introduces us to one of its most prominent singers: Henry Rollins, who ushered in one of the band’s boldest eras. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 02, 2024•41 min•Season 2Ep. 37
During KEXP's fall fund drive , we're celebrating the 33rd anniversary of Nirvana's Nevermind and the 31st anniversary of In Utero . Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, and Albina Cabrera share a tale of two albums — one polished, one gritty — including the music's impact on them personally and across the world. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Special thanks: Albina Cabrera, host of El Cancionero de Kurt Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizel...
Sep 25, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Roddy Nikpour dives into the album Entertainment! by Gang of Four. They are the antiheroes of pop music, writing poignant lyrics that denounce the ideals of capitalism, accompanied by guitar riffs that are as choppy as they are danceable. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 18, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Janice Headley dives into Pod by The Breeders. Their debut album really lets Kim Deal shine outside of her role in The Pixies. The Breeders influenced generations of artists, including Kurt Cobain, who invited the band to open for Nirvana twice during their touring career. Hosts: Dusty Henry & Martin Douglas Written + Produced: Janice Headley Mixed + Mastered: Roddy Nikpour Podcast Manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial Director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudi...
Sep 11, 2024•41 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, Albina Cabrera, and Roddy Nikpour dig into Kurt Cobain's relationship with the "classic rock canon" and how he — now getting played on classic rock radio himself — interpreted it through Nirvana. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Special thanks: Albina Cabrera, host of El Cancionero de Kurt Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
Sep 04, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Martin Douglas dives into Lead Belly's Last Sessions . The blues aren’t limited to a specific era or place — if you’ve got the blues and a strong enough voice, you can sing the blues. Kurt Cobain just happened to filter the blues through a muddy strain of punk rock. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
Aug 28, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Dusty Henry dives into Rocks by Aerosmith. This album might not feature Aerosmith’s most recognized songs, but it demonstrated the power of hard rock to mainstream audiences, solidifying the band’s legacy. This album also represents a cautionary tale: For every high, there's always a comedown. Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain See omnystudio...
Aug 21, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 31
