It was 19 years ago today that Kurt Cobain, frontman of influential grunge band Nirvana, took his own life at the age of 27. Nirvana had earlier burst onto the music scene with angst-riddled album
Bleach in 1989, but it wouldn't be until 1991's shock commercial success
Nevermind that the band would gain an army of followers, with Kurt dubbed the spokesman of an afflicted generation. Single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" usurped Michael Jackson's "Bad" at number one on the Billboard charts while "Come as You Are" and "Lithium" each made the Billboard Hot 100. Though the band's third album
In Utero was not the commercial success that Nevermind was and continues to be, the far less abrasive release was still a riotous hit among fans - and sadly, Nirvana's final album. Found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Kurt Cobain's untimely and tragic death slammed the brakes on Nirvana's canter toward the rock 'n' roll hall of fame. One of Seattle's most endearing and beloved bands, Nirvana today remain legendary, and still retain a world-wide legion of fans. Few could possibly hazard a guess as to what might have been had Kurt not taken his own life, but there's little arguing that in their all-too-brief run, they were, and perhaps still are, one of the greatest bands in history. Here, we relive 5 of the best Nirvana songs to both celebrate and mourn Kurt's life and death. Click "Next" to begin.