Neil Young and Kurt Cobain weren’t exactly close, but their bond became etched in rock history after Cobain’s tragic death in 1994.
Though dubbed the Godfather of Grunge, Young had largely stayed focused on his own music until Cobain’s suicide shocked the world. The Nirvana frontman, in his farewell note, quoted Young’s iconic lyric: “It’s better to burn out than fade away.”
This powerful connection drove Young to write Sleeps With Angels in tribute to Cobain, drawing inspiration from Nirvana’s raw sound. Adding to the heartbreak, Young had been trying to reach Cobain in the weeks before his death, hoping to make a difference.
In a rare interview with The Guardian in 2002, Young reflected on the lost opportunity. “I like to think that maybe I could have helped,” he admitted.
“I was just trying to reach him. When he used my song in his note, that connection hit hard. It’s a shame I couldn’t get through—I might’ve been able to ease things for him, even just a little.”
Ultimately, the story of Neil Young and Kurt Cobain is not just about a tragic death, but also about the emotional scars left behind for those who wish they could have done more.
Through Sleeps With Angels, Young not only paid tribute to Cobain’s genius but also channeled his own grief and frustration into a heartfelt musical response, keeping the connection alive in the way he knew best—through his art.
