Rock Singer Cobain in Drug Coma : Music: Nirvana’s leader is hospitalized in Rome after overdose. The band’s manager reports signs of recovery.
By CHUCK PHILIPS MARCH 5, 1994 12 AM SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Kurt Cobain, lead singer for the best-selling rock band Nirvana, was rushed to a hospital in Rome early Friday after collapsing into a drug-induced coma.
The 27-year-old Seattle singer-songwriter--who has been hailed as a “spokesman for his generation” because of the anger and alienation in his music--was comatose throughout the morning but began to show signs of recovery by midday.
“Kurt opened his eyes, he moved his fingers, and he responded to his name--those are good signs,” Nirvana manager Janet Billig said after speaking by phone to Cobain’s wife, Courtney Love, who has been at the singer’s side since calling paramedics to the rescue.
“It’s very serious, but based on what we’ve been told by the doctors we are optimistic that he will make a full recovery,” Billig said.
Cobain, who canceled concerts Wednesday and Thursday in Germany because of illness, overdosed on a mixture of champagne and “painkillers” in a hotel room, where he had been recuperating with his wife, who heads the rock group Hole, and their 2-year-old daughter.
Because so many young rock figures, from Jimi Hendrix to Jim Morrison, have died tragically over the years, the rock world braced itself early Friday for the worst as sketchy reports of Cobain’s overdose surfaced in Italy. Some U.S. radio stations even reported that he had died.
Although the singer has acknowledged taking heroin and other illegal substances in the past, Cobain told The Times in late 1992 that the birth of his child had caused him to swear off drugs.
“I don’t want my daughter to grow up and someday be hassled by kids at school. . . .
I don’t want people telling Frances that her parents were junkies,” Kurt said.
Billig said the drugs pumped from Cobain’s stomach by doctors in the emergency room of the Umberto I Polyclinic Hospital were prescribed to fight off influenza and a throat condition.
In most cases, doctors rarely prescribe anything stronger than antibiotics to combat flu.
But tranquilizers are sometimes given to ease throat problems, medical experts said Friday.
The Italian news agency ANSA said Cobain went into a coma after combining a large dose of a strong sedative with champagne. The drug, known in Italy by the name Roipnol, is used mostly for insomnia and is not carried by many Italian pharmacies.
Billig said she spoke to Cobain upon his arrival in Rome this week and described him as “in great spirits. He was happy to be going to Rome. He feels comfortable there and was looking forward to having some time off from the tour with his family.”
Thanks to Cobain’s songwriting skills and blaring guitar style, Nirvana went from underground rock cult status to international stardom in 1991 after the release of the group’s “Nevermind” album.
The collection generated more than $120 million in sales worldwide and established Nirvana as a force that changed the course of modern rock ‘n’ roll. The group--whose latest album, “In Utero,” is also a best-seller--was on a European tour, following a highly successful U.S. tour last year that included a sold-out date in December at the Forum in Inglewood.
Cobain was transferred from the public hospital to a private clinic called the American Hospital.
The singer’s mother, Wendy O’Connor, told the Daily World in Aberdeen, Wash., that the singer’s vital signs were strong and he should recover. “He’s going to make it,” she said.
Kurt's Overdose in Rome
On March 3th, 1994, Kurt Cobain overdosed in his hotelroom in Rome, found unresponsive, and was admitted to the hospital. Kurt was rushed to the Umberto I Polyclinic Hospital, and had his stomach pumped. He was in a coma then transferred to Rome American Hospital, where he regained consciousness later. Courtney Love said about the Rome incident in a 1994 interview with Select Magazine:
''Anyway, what I wanted to say to you was that all this was just a tiff between me and Kurt, OK? That was all it was. A tiff. He was just upset that he was in some awful place and I was away enjoying myself and shopping. It was not a suicide thing... So now we're going back to the therapist when it all calms down."
Statement of Gold Mountain management after his overdose in Rome:
"Kurt insisted it was not a suicide note. He just took all of his and Courtney's money and was going to run away and disappear."
Dr. Galetta who treated Kurt in Rome denied it was a suicide attempt and said Kurt did NOT ingest that amount of pills, and he was familiar with suicide attempts, and the overdose was NOT a suicide attempt. He stated Kurt was not, and did not seem suicidal at all. and said the following: "Cobain doesn't know what happened to him. He hasn't gained complete control of his memory. When he emerged from the coma, he was very hungry and asked for a strawberry milkshake!"
Love would later claim after Kurt died, that the reason Cobain had an overdose in Rome was because he attempted suicide because she was considering having an affair. "He must have been psychic or something," she told TVGuide.com. "I almost did one time, and he knew it. ... I have no idea how he knew it. The plan didn't ever go anywhere. Nothing happened,
but... the response to it was he took 50 Rohypnol pills and ended up in a coma because
I thought about cheating on him. I mean, f-ck."
Really? What a weird thing to say about your own husband. And you first said that Rome was an accident when he was alive!
While there’s no doubt that Rohypnol was slipped into Kurt’s drink, Dr. Galletta, the attending
physician in Rome, denies Courtney’s claim that Kurt had ingested 50 pills.
And Kurt denied the Rome incident was a suicide attempt. Wouldn't he have to be a complete fool to think anyone would believe him if there was evidence he had deliberately taken 50 pills? Sure, there may have been 50 unwrapped foil packets, or 50 empty foil blisters from a blister pack found in the hotel room. But that doesn't mean Kurt was the one who unwrapped or emptied them. It only means someone unwrapped or emptied the foil packets. Someone wanted the Rome incident to look like a suicide attempt.
In a press conference held on March, 7 1994, Cobain's docter, Osvaldo Galletta, announced," Kurt Cobain is clearly and dramatically improving. Cobain doesn't know what happend to him. Yesterday he was hospitalized in a state of coma and respiratory failure. Today he is recovering from a pharmacological coma, due not to naroctis, but the combined effect of alcohol and tranquilizers that where been medically prescribed by a doctor."
Later Dr. Galletta, told Max Wallace and Ian Halperin (the authors Who Killed Kurt Cobain?) and investigative reporters: "We usually tell a suicide attempt. This didn't look like one to me".
An Interview with Dr. Galetta about Cobain's accidental overdose
Kurt and Courtney In an ambulance after Kurt's overdose. Courtney Love waited a long time before calling medical assistance. Mean while, Courtney used her time to apply her make up and call the media to spread false stories.
Courtney even called the media and had plenty of time to apply her make up while her husband was in coma on the floor in their hotelroom.
ROHYPNOL EFFECTS
Kurt Cobain had overdosed on Rohypnol and champagne. Rohypnol is ten to twenty times the strength of Valium. Rohypnol has been used to commit sexual assaults because it renders the victim incapable of resisting, giving it the reputation of a “date-rape” drug. Rohypnol users often describe its effects as “paralyzing.” The effects start twenty to thirty minutes after taking the drug, peak within two hours and may persist for eight or even twelve hours. A person can be so incapacitated (made unable to act) they collapse. They lie on the floor, eyes open, able to observe events but completely unable to move. Afterwards, memory is impaired and they cannot recall any of what happened. The person experiences loss of muscle control, confusion, drowsiness and amnesia.
Because of its dangers, Rohypnol is not legal in the United States, even for medicinal purposes. What makes this drug a “weapon” is the way it's being used by criminals. Rohypnol is used to incapacitate a victim. When dropped into drinks, just one two-milligram pill can incapacitate the victim, especially if the drink contains alcohol. The drug has no taste or odor so the victim is unaware that the drink has been tampered with.
After ingesting the drug, the victim becomes extremely intoxicated, disoriented, nauseated and will usually pass out. While the victim is unconscious, anything can happen.
But that's not all. One of the most dangerous features of this drug is that it also causes amnesia. The victim won't remember what happened while under the influence of this drug. No memory—no testimony!
When Kurt overdosed in 1993 rather than call an ambulance, Courtney just injected him with Narcan and brought him back. She has lots of drug connections...all kinds of connections actually. Friends in the press, friends in the Seattle Police Department (her friend Detective Terry, who was later murdered after Kurt's death). Friends in the press who would spin her manipulative ********. The Rome incident was initially called an ''accidental overdose.'' After Kurt passed away suddenly it's his first suicide attempt. Love claimed ''He tried to kill himself before.'' She blatantly said it herself in the Select magazine 1994 interview: "If he thinks he can get away from me that easily, he can forget it. I'll follow him through hell."
Who called the press at 6 am for a photo moments before the ambulance pulled away? Courtney never misses an opportunity to get publicity does she? Dr. Galetta, who treated Kurt at Umberto Prima Hospital says Kurt didn't remember anything when he came out of his coma. But wait...hours before Kurt was threatening to leave her and take her out of his will. Rohypnol (a date rape drug that can sometimes cause amnesia.) would be ideal to subdue or make someone forget what happened that night. Which she just happened to have a prescription for well alright. She force-fed him pills and injections on several occasions...
why would the Rome incident be any different?
So, we have the note Kurt wrote to Courtney in Rome saying he was going to leave her. Which Courtney later burned....why burn the note? He turned down Lollapalooza for 6-7 million. Even though Kurt didn't care, Courtney did because that was a lot of money at stake. Also, there's the revised will Kurt was going to write excluding Courtney.
That never happened though.
One week later, the other side of the champagne and Rohypnol barrier, Courtney calls Select office from Heathrow airport. She sounds exhausted, weary in mind as well as in body, but relived too. Kurt is out of the hospital and they're going back to Seattle; yes, he's OK now; no, there have been no serious after-affects of the coma; who cares if the Nirvana tour is going ahead?
This is what Courtney said about kurt's overdose in Rome:
"It was horrible. He had those pills, the ones I was popping right in front of you? He's been in Slovenia or one of those gross places, and I mean, he gets depressed and he never drinks. He's been on painkillers already and something for the flu. He just thinks he's immortal...
"I woke up at six in the morning or something, and I reached for him and he had blood coming out of his nose. It was almost a John Bonham. I know it sounds glib but I really though he was dead.
"When the ambulance came for him I beat up a paparazzi, ha ha... We were at the American Hospital and this guy starts getting real physical, he started interfering with Kurt's oxygen and he hit me in the jaw. So I hit him with all my force in his nuts."
"Kurt was in a coma for 20 hours and I was hysterical throughout. I mean, they had two tubes in his nose and two in his mouth, things coming out of every available artery...
They had to put the glucose in through his neck. All of his life functions, including pissing, were being done by a machine.
"I mean, I have seen him get really fucked up before but I have never seen him nearly eat it.
"When Kurt came round and started responding we gave him a clipboard and a pencil, and you know what the first thing he wrote was? FUCK YOU. I tell you, I'd take ten days of Vanity Fair after this. Even though everything is OK now I just feel numb. But if he thinks he can get away from em like that he can forget it. I'll follow him through hell."
"Anyway, what I wanted to say to you was all this was just a tiff between me and Kurt, OK? That was what it was. A tiff. He was just upset that he was in some awful place and I was away enjoying myself shopping. It was not a suicide thing...
"So now we're going to go back to the therapist when it all calms down. It's funny, all the lawyers and the doctors are taking up all the rock star money..."
"When Kurt came round and started responding we gave him a clipboard and a pencil, and you know what the first thing he wrote was? FUCK YOU. I tell you, I'd take ten days of Vanity Fair after this. Even though everything is OK now I just feel numb.
"But if he thinks he can get away from me like that, he can forget it. I'll follow him through hell!"
If Courtney slipped Rohypnol into Kurt's drink in an attempt to kill him, why did she try to save him by calling an ambulance?
There are several possibilities. Here are just two:
1. Courtney’s called the ambulance as a way to cover up her real intentions.
If she called the police and an ambulance, (although she waited very long to call 911) she could say she called them for Kurt's well being and that she cared about him.
2. After messing with his drink, Courtney waited until she thought Kurt was dead.
Only then did she call for an ambulance, thinking Kurt was dead.
By Courtney's own admission to Rolling Stone Magazine, she found her husband comatose on the hotel room floor at 3 or 4 A.M. Se did not call the ambulance until 6:30 and never provided an explanation fo the delay. Earlier that morning Geffen Records had revieced a phone message from a "female indentifying herself as Courtney saying "Kurt was dead".
Courtney thought this was it.
She put on her make-up and called the press!
The curtain was about to go up.
Act One was about to begin.
The spotlight would now belong to Courtney Love.
“Something good
can come out of Kurt’s death.
I don’t know what it is yet,
but something good can…
Something good can.”
Courtney Love on MTV—April 10, 1994
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