Seattle PD releases never before seen photos of Kurt Cobain's suicide scene

Kurt Cobain’s death investigation was reexamined by Seattle Police Thursday in light of its 20th anniversary approaching and the discovery by a cold case detective of four undeveloped rolls of film containing photographs of the scene of the legendary musician’s grisly suicide by shotgun in 1994.

Friday, Seattle Police released two of the never before seen shots. The images can be viewed on SPD’s blotter.

The pictures show the personal possessions near Cobain when he ended his life, a pack of American Spirit menthols, some black shades, a dirty towel, some wadded up singles, and a cigar box containing Kurt’s heroin rig: his needle and spoon, lighter and cotton balls. The singer also left his wallet lying open, his ID hanging out, for easier identification, perhaps.

Writing for TIME, Isaac Guzman describes how the seemingly everyday artifacts still manage to evoke strong emotions despite the police’s utilitarian photography: “The images are blunt, as most crime-scene photos are. The police aren’t interested in artistry or lighting. They just want to remember exactly how things looked. In that way, the pictures themselves are highly unsentimental, but they still have the power to provoke.”

Kurt Cobain is an icon that inspired a generation -- Guzman said, “Yes, Kurt’s death was Gen X’s Kennedy assassination.”

This bare look at his end gives fans an intimate glimpse into the artist’s final moments.

[TIME] [SPD Blotter]