Seattle, WA
Charles R. Cross, Kurt Cobain Biographer and Revered Chronicler of Seattle Music Scene, Dies at 67
Charles R. Cross, an instrumental figure in the Seattle music scene who wrote the definitive 2001 biography of Kurt Cobain, “Heavier than Heaven,” has died at age 67, his family confirmed on Sunday night.
“We are sorry to share that Charles Cross has passed. He died peacefully of natural causes in his sleep on August 9, 2024. We are all grief-stricken and trying to get through this difficult process of dealing with the next steps,” his family said in a statement shared with the media.
Nancy Wilson of Heart wrote on Facebook, “Whadda one-of-a-kind guy. His passion and purpose was to make it his life’s work to celebrate and chronicle the beautiful global renaissance that started with our local Seattle music scene.”
She noted on Facebook that Cross was “never salacious, never invasive” in his 2012 biography, “Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock & Roll.” Cross also wrote biographies of another Seattle icon, Jimi Hendrix, as well as Led Zeppelin.
Cross served as editor of the influential Seattle music monthly “The Rocket,” from 1986 through 2000, just as bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney were poised to explode on the national stage.
As he said in a recent video about the digitization of all 300 issues of “The Rocket,” When you look back on the history of the paper, we’re the first people to cover Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam.” He also mentioned that Cobain — in a now-famous listing looking for a drummer— was one of the many musicians who advertised in the magazine’s classified ads.
On a personal note, he was also a friend and mentor of mine, who gave me one of my entertainment journalism gigs at The Rocket. I last spoke with him on the phone a year ago when he generously shared his insight for TheWrap’s story about suicide prevention in Hollywood. As an expert on the Seattle music scene, he was also, sadly, an authority on the subject, and frequently gave lectures on suicide prevention.
Served as editor of the University of Washington’s Daily in 1979, where he worked with future “Rocket” editor and collaborator John Keister of “Almost Live!” fame.
He also founded the Bruce Springsteen fanzine “Backstreets,” selections of which were published in 1989 as “Springsteen: the Man and His Music.”
The Seattle music community mourned Cross’ unexpected death. No Depression co-founder Grant Alden recalled how. Cross gave him a “ringside seat to the grunge circus” and how his industry connections helped Alden create the roots music journal. He also noted Cross’ generosity after selling “The Rocket.”
“Some years later a check arrived. I was no longer desperately broke and in debt because ND actually took off, but it was still a welcome kindness. He didn’t have to do that. I know how capitalism works,” wrote Alden.
Pacific Northwest Archives founder Karl Braun wrote on Facebook, “[He] probably knew more about Seattle music than anyone on earth … he was in progress on his memoir/autobiography which he told me would have many additional stories that had not made their way into any of his previous works.”
Cross had previously described the book as “a little bit about my life and a little bit about Seattle music history.”
He also wrote for The Seattle Times, Rolling Stone, Spin, Esquire, Playboy, the Los Angeles Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
He is survived by his son, Ashland.
.
The Seattle Sounders traveled to St. Louis on Saturday and came away 1-0 winners in a gritty performance. Soon after halftime, first half substitute Kalani Kossa-Rienzi scored the lone goal following a good counterpress from Jesús Ferreira, with calmness and composure from the goalscorer to pick his spot. The Sounders came under pressure from the hosts, but their defense was resolute throughout, turning aside repeated attacks in exactly the kind of performance you need to win on the road in MLS.
Here is a direct link to the form; we hope this allows everyone to submit a response.
Here’s the scale:
(Substitutes can be left blank if the player did not play enough to judge)
1 – Not a pro quality performance
4 – Average USL Championship starter
6 – Average MLS starter
9 – MLS All Star
10 – MLS MVP-quality performance
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – MARCH 07: Shane Pinto #12 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates his goal during the second period against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on March 07, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
SEATTLE – Shane Pinto had a goal and two assists in Ottawa’s four-goal spree in the first and second periods and the Senators beat the Seattle Kraken 7-4 on Saturday night.
Linus Ulmark made 17 saves to help Ottawa improve to 3-1 on a five-game trip. The Senators are four points behind Boston for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Seattle has lost two in a row and four of its past six. It holds the second wild card in the West after San Jose’s overtime loss to the New York Islanders.
Tyler Kleven, Dylan Cozens and Michael Amadio also scored after Jacob Melanson gave Seattle an early lead.
After Eeli Tolvanen scored for Seattle to cut it to 4-2 late in the second, Warren Foegele, Tim Stutzle, and Brady Tkachuk pushed Ottawa’s lead to five in the third.
Matty Beniers and Brandon Montour had late goals for the Kraken. Joey Daccord made 29 savss for Seattle.
Seattle’s Jaden Schwartz left late in the first period after taking a skate to the face. He did not return.
Up next
Senators: At Vancouver on Monday night.
Kraken: Host Nashville on Tuesday night.
The Source: Information in this story came from The Associated Press.
MORE KRAKEN NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Seattle Kraken add some help ahead of trade deadline
Seattle Kraken acquire Bobby McMann from Maple Leafs for draft picks
Seattle Kraken sign captain Jordan Eberle to two-year, $5.5 million extension
Seattle Kraken deliver dud in 3-2 loss to Blues ahead of trade deadline
Joey Daccord makes 35 saves as Seattle Kraken earn 2-1 win over Hurricanes
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
SEATTLE – At 10:42 a.m., The Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Alarm Center received a 911 call reporting a broken natural gas line in the 3000 block of S. Jackson St. Crews arrived on scene and began investigating.
The gas line supplied a single-family residence. The home was evacuated. Natural gas readings in the area and wind direction prompted crews to evacuate all residences for one block to the north of the broken gas line.
Firefighters set up an exclusionary zone to keep people from entering the impacted area. Fire crews along with Seattle Police and King County Metro used apparatus to block streets from Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. at S. Jackson St. to 31st Ave. S. and the Northbound lanes of S. Washington St.
Puget Sound Energy arrived and secured the gas leak by 1 p.m. All residents were able to safely reoccupy their homes. No injuries reported.
Country Joe McDonald, anti-war singer who electrified Woodstock, dies at 84
Apple is going high-end with new ‘Ultra’ products next
Private security firm helping Americans evacuate the Middle East amid war with Iran
Before-and-after satellite imagery offers a rare look at damage inside Iran
‘Fire-breathing’ trend linked to severe burns in teens, officials warn
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Before-and-after satellite imagery offers a rare look at damage inside Iran
Hungary's opposition leader Péter Magyar calls on Russia to refrain from election interference
Video appears to show U.S. cruise missile striking Iranian school compound
Trump vows block on signing new laws until SAVE America Act passes Senate
How targeting of desalination plants could disrupt water supply in the Gulf
-
Wisconsin1 week agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts6 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Maryland1 week agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Florida1 week agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Pennsylvania3 days agoPa. man found guilty of raping teen girl who he took to Mexico
-
Oregon1 week ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling
-
News1 week ago2 Survivors Describe the Terror and Tragedy of the Tahoe Avalanche
-
Sports4 days agoKeith Olbermann under fire for calling Lou Holtz a ‘scumbag’ after legendary coach’s death