Kurt Cobain’s body was discovered on April 8, 1994 by electrician Gary Smith, who was to install a burglar alarm in the residence. It is likely he killed himself on April 5. Heroin and valium both were found in his blood. The shotgun blast destroyed his head to the point where he was not recognizable; the body was identified from fingerprints. Cobain was 27.

Word spread quickly. MTV took the unprecedented step of ceasing all normal programming. An outdoor vigil in Seattle witnessed the playback of Cobain’s suicide note, recorded by his wife Courtney Love. One fan killed himself after this event. Several others scattered about the country also followed.