The Cobain 50

Latest Episodes:

The Faith and Void – The Faith/Void Split LP (1982) Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

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.

Flipper – Album – Generic Flipper (1982) Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

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.

Bonus: The Gits on Sound & Vision Live Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

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 Space, our colleague Emily Fox spoke with The Gits guitarist Andy Kessler and bassist Matt Dresdner about the band’s legacy and the life of Mia.

Support KEXP podcasts at kexp.org/cobain

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Saints – Eternally Yours (1978) Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

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 mixing and mastering: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scratch Acid – Scratch Acid (1984) Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

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.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public Image Ltd. – The Flowers of Romance (1981) Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

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
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rites of Spring – Rites of Spring (1985) Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

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 information.

It's Christmas in Seattle: We'll Be Back in 2025! Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

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, weekly music discovery through KEXP DJs and staff
Live on KEXP, world-famous in-studio performances recorded at KEXP

Special thanks to everyone who has been part of The Cobain 50 in 2024, including:

Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, Albina Cabrera, Roddy Nikpour, Janice Headley, Isabel Khalili, Emily Fox, Larry Mizell Jr., Tia Ho, Leah Capindo, Jeia Villacis, Gisela Casa Madrid, and many other contributors and special guests.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fang – Landshark! (1983) Nov 29, 2024

Show notes

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 director: Larry Mizell Jr.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saccharine Trust – Paganicons (1981) Nov 20, 2024

Show notes

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 privacy information.