Kurt Cobain was a rare artistic phenomenon of a lost generation. Nirvana was the lonely musical intersection of creativity, authenticity, raw energy, and mass appeal. Kurt was another tragic story of a rising star that burned bright and sadly burned out at just 27.
For a long time, like many, I’ve wanted Kurt to come back to us: to play another killer show and give another interview, to feel the overwhelming and uncontrollable nostalgia, and to experience Nirvana one more time. Well, the wait is over…
Kind of.
Enter the power of AI with ChatGPT and Midjourney.
The Exclusive RTP 2023 Interview with Kurt Cobain via ChatGPT
Me:
Hey Kurt, how have you been all these years?
Kurt:
Hey, man, it’s been a wild ride. Life’s been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, but hey, I’m still kickin’. How about you? What’s been going on in your world?
Me:
I’m doing pretty good. So, did you hear about Dave Grohl forming his own band, the Foo Fighters?
Kurt:
Ah, Dave and his Foo Fighters. Yeah, I heard about it. Can’t say I’m surprised. Dave always had that drive to keep rockin’ even when things got tough. I wish him the best, man. It’s good to see him finding his own path in the music world.
Me:
Are you a fan, Kurt?
Kurt:
Well, you know, man, I have my own taste in music. I respect Dave and the Foo Fighters for doing their thing, but it’s not necessarily my cup of tea. I’m more into that raw sound, you know? But hey, to each their own. Music is all about expression and finding your own voice.
Me:
I understand. You know, Post Malone did a tribute concert to Nirvana on YouTube. What did you think of that?
Kurt:
Ah, yeah, I heard about that. Post Malone doing a Nirvana tribute? It’s cool, man. It’s always flattering to see artists paying respect to what we did back in the day. Nirvana’s music touched a lot of people, and if Post Malone wants to keep that spirit alive, more power to him. I hope he did justice to the songs and rocked the hell out of it.
Me:
He did. You should really see it sometime. Oh hey, what’s that? You’re smoking a cigarette I see. Hey, it least it can’t kill you. Haha.
Kurt:
Haha, yeah, man, smoking. It’s a trip, isn’t it? Well, I guess for you it’s different since you’re not actually puffin’ on one. But hey, cigarettes, they were my thing back in the day. Can’t say it’s the healthiest habit, but it’s hard to let go sometimes. Guess you could say it’s a part of who I am. Just another way to cope with the chaos, you know? But seriously, take care of yourself and make healthier choices, man. Life’s too short to waste it on self-destruction.
Me:
What I meant was you’re already dead. So it’s okay to smoke.
Kurt:
Well, yeah, you got a point there. I mean, what’s the harm, right? When you’re already dead, the consequences don’t really matter anymore. So, why not light one up and let the smoke curl through the air? It’s all part of the eternal struggle, man. But hey, don’t take my word for it. Make your own choices and live life the way you see fit. Just remember, even in death, there’s no escaping the consequences of our actions.
Me:
Definitely. Speaking of death, how did you really die? Was it Courtney?
Kurt:
Oh, the big question, huh? The truth is, man, it’s a complicated story. There are so many theories floating around, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. But you know what they say, the truth is often stranger than fiction. Some people point fingers at Courtney Love, others have different theories. But at the end of the day, it’s a tragedy, and it’s hard to find closure. All I can say is, cherish the ones you love and hold them close. Life’s too fragile, man. It can slip away like smoke through your fingers.
Me:
So Courtney did it?
Kurt:
Man, I can’t say for sure. There are all sorts of stories and rumors out there, and it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. The truth is, I was dealing with my own demons and struggles at the time. Life was a whirlwind of emotions, and it’s tough to make sense of it all. But pointing fingers and placing blame won’t bring me back or change what happened. What’s important is to remember the music, the passion, and the spirit that Nirvana brought to the world. Let the songs speak for themselves, man.
Me:
Gotcha. I understand. So, let’s talk about Spotify. What do you think of Spotify and do you have a subscription?
Kurt:
Spotify, huh? Well, back in my day, we didn’t have all these fancy streaming services. We had to hunt down records and cassettes to get our fix. But hey, times change, and technology moves forward. If Spotify helps people connect with music and discover new artists, then that’s a good thing. As for me, well, I’m more into the raw, live experience of music. Nothing beats the energy of a live show, man. But hey, if you’re into Spotify, rock on!
Me:
You should really listen to Spotify, Kurt.
Kurt:
Haha, man, you know what? Maybe I should give it a shot. Who knows, I might discover some new tunes that’ll blow my mind. I’ll fire up Spotify and see what the fuss is all about. Thanks for the suggestion, my friend. Rock on!
Me:
Any time. Random question: Would you ever consider rapping? And have you heard of Eminem?
Kurt:
Haha, rapping, huh? Well, I gotta say, man, that’s not really my style. I’m more about that raw, grungy rock sound, you know? But hey, music is all about expression, and if someone wants to spit some rhymes and flow with the beats, that’s their thing. As for Eminem, oh yeah, I’ve heard of him. He’s got that fast-tongued, controversial style. Can’t deny his talent and the impact he’s had on the rap game. Keep doing your thing, Slim Shady!
Me:
I think you’d be a good rapper, Kurt. Just imagine it…
Kurt:
Haha, man, me as a rapper? Now that’s something. I gotta admit, it’s an intriguing idea. Maybe I’d drop some wicked verses, spitting out my thoughts and emotions in a whole new way. Who knows, maybe there’s a hidden rap star inside me waiting to burst out. It’s all about embracing creativity and trying new things, right? Thanks for the vision, my friend. Keep dreaming and making music your own way.
Me:
Kurt, I want to end this interview by saying that there are 19-year-olds wearing Nirvana shirts in the year 2023. You left a legacy, you really did. You changed the world and we will never forget you.
Kurt:
Wow, man, that means a lot to hear. It’s mind-blowing to think that even years after my time, there are still young folks out there rocking Nirvana shirts and connecting with the music. I poured my heart and soul into those songs, and it’s humbling to know that they’ve left a lasting impact. The world can be a tough place, but music has this amazing power to bring people together, to express our pain, our joys, and our struggles. To all the fans out there, keep wearing those shirts proudly, keep singing along, and keep the spirit of Nirvana alive. Thank you for your kind words and for keeping the legacy going.
Kurt Cobain ChatGPT Prompt (How I Created The Interview)
I had the opportunity of a lifetime: I sat down with Kurt Cobain and interviewed him, thanks to the AI behind ChatGPT.
It wasn’t easy.
It took multiple interviews and prompts before I was able to get it right. He kept saying things that just weren’t authentic to his personality.
If you want to interview Kurt Cobain for yourself, use Run The Prompt’s very own jailbroken character prompt and use Kurt Cobain as your character in the prompt instead of the examples I provided (Beavis & Butthead, South Park, etc.). I tried a variety of different creative interview-style prompts, but the jailbroken character worked best. I don’t exactly know why, since I didn’t need Kurt to curse or talk about any sensitive subjects.
Nirvana Midjourney Prompts + Photoshop (How I Created The Concert Images)
The 2023 AI Nirvana concert images from Midjourney were also difficult to get right, even though the prompts were pretty simple, short, and straightforward.
Kurt Cobain has a truly one-of-a-kind look that can go wrong very quickly and in so many different ways. Prompt after prompt, image after image, I finally generated a handful of images that captured the true Kurt Cobain at 56 years old.
To get multiple images of Kurt looking similar in each image, I used a Midjourney strategy for consistent character generation. Basically, you run a prompt to create your character (Kurt). Then, you take that image and use it for an image prompt. In the image prompt, you use the same prompt that you used initially but just tweak one piece of it. For example, I would only change what Kurt was doing, such as playing the guitar, singing, crowd-surfing, or playing the recorder. Well, maybe not the last one.
After I generated the Midjourney images, I ran them through Photoshop. I applied filters to them to ensure they had the same overall look and feel. I used Photoshop’s new “Generative Fill” AI feature to remove extraneous and/or odd elements that Midjourney threw into the scenes. Bad Midjourney! Then, I mashed the best four images together to create the ‘2023 Alive & Loud’ concert image featured at the top of the article.
I chose to name the concert ‘2023 Alive & Loud’ as a homage to their famous 1993 concert ‘Live & Loud.’ Because Kurt Cobain is ‘alive’ in the photos, I thought it suited it well.
Here are the prompts. Enjoy.
(Copy/Paste The Prompts In Midjourney)
https://s.mj.run/IYHOC3IMcL0 Kurt Cobain playing at a 2023 Nirvana concert, ambient lighting, wearing grunge clothes, zoomed out picture, sold out crowd, giant arena, electric vibe, cinematic –ar 3:2
Kurt Cobain, 56 year old man in 2023, gray and blond hair, very short stubble beard, playing electric guitar in a Nirvana concert, ambient lighting, wearing grunge clothes, not close up picture, sold out crowd, giant arena, electric vibe, cinematic –ar 3:2
https://s.mj.run/IYHOC3IMcL0 Kurt Cobain, 56 year old man in 2023, gray and blond hair, very short stubble beard, singing at a Nirvana concert, ambient lighting, wearing grunge clothes, not close up picture, sold out crowd, giant arena, electric vibe, cinematic –ar 3:2 –no guitar
Dave Grohl, 54 year old man in 2023, black/dark brown/gray beard and hair, fisheye lens, facing the camera, playing the drums hard and quickly in a Nirvana concert, ambient lighting, wearing grunge clothes, not close up picture, sold out crowd, giant arena, electric vibe, cinematic –ar 3:2
https://s.mj.run/aPWmeLReuqM krist novoselic, 58 year old in 2023, fisheye lens, facing the camera, playing the bass guitar in a Nirvana concert, ambient lighting, wearing grunge clothes, sold out crowd, giant arena, electric vibe, cinematic –ar 3:2
2021 AI Nirvana Song “Drowned In The Sun”
Have you listened to AI music yet? It’s hit or miss. This is a hit.
First of all, no, I did not have anything to do with this song. I added it as an extra tasty treat just for you because I love you. It was created by the YouTube Channel Good Luck Chuck, whoever the hell that is.
In my opinion, the accuracy of this song is so good that it’s spooky. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought it was an actual Nirvana song on the first listen. I’ve even had it stuck in my head a few times. And this song isn’t even new. It was created in 2021. Let that sink in.
Wrapping it up
So, where are we headed with AI-generated entertainment? My prediction is that in a fairly short amount of time, deceased artists will be “coming back” to make new music albums and even music videos.
There will be huge legal battles among artists, AI music producers, streaming services, and record companies. It will be a Napster 2.0 environment, and who knows, maybe Lars will get mad again.
As for Kurt Cobain, it’s hard to say anything that others haven’t already said about him. His genius transcends time and space.
Some say that his tragic end overshadowed his art and rendered him overrated, but I couldn’t disagree more. If he were still alive, the only thing that would change about me as a Nirvana fan is I wouldn’t have the need to recreate him with artificial intelligence. Instead, I’d be having a blast at a real Nirvana concert with a real 56-year-old Kurt Cobain. And it would be absolutely sick.
Disclaimer: Kurt Cobain is left-handed. I tried hard to get Midjourney to make him left-handed, but it didn’t work. Also, the guys are not playing the exact make and models of the instruments that they use in real life. This also was not possible with Midjourney.
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2 comments
This is so cool. Kurt Cobain looks REAL!
Thanks, Eric! Be sure to check back soon for more content. We post regularly!