Update #7
Dec. 15, 1995
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"Just yesterday I printed the Summary Of Events. I showed them to this
kid and he laughed at first. And then he got kinda quiet, and then
just kinda sat there. He says he believes you now." (E-mail from "C"
at Empnet.com)
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Before I tell you about some of the experiences I've had with the media
this past year, let me fill you in on some of the latest developments.
LICENSE RENEWAL
There's been no word as of this date on the action by Courtney to have my
license suspended or revoked. The State Department Of Consumer affairs just
cashed the check for my bi-annual license renewal, so I have to assume the
attorneys backed off.
I was looking forward to our first legal scuffle over this
investigation, but once again it seems Courtney's attorneys are all bark and
no bite!
I'd hate to have their job. It has to be tough trying to keep the lid on
this whole thing!
WEB SITE SUCCESS
The web site listed in the last update continues to attract a lot of
attention. This site is often referred to as "Tom Grant's" page, but Chris
Carman is the owner of the site and he's the person who put it together.
There are several articles scheduled to appear in magazines and
newspapers as a result of the thousands of readers who continue to check out
this site. The site has recently been rated in the top 5% of all sites
on the Internet by Point Communications Corporation!
YOU'LL FIND THAT PRINTING THE MATERIAL FROM THE WEB SITE WILL GIVE YOU A
MUCH BETTER, EASIER TO READ COPY THAN PRINTING FROM THE E-MAIL VERSION.
Chris has informed me he may make the entire file available soon as a
zipped single text file if there's a demand for it.
If you're interested, let him know.
A PLAN OF ACTION
Many have written to inquire about what they can do to help. Of course
my typical response is to ask them to tell others about the Internet web
site, or copy and pass on this material to anyone who might be interested.
Until the media begins a full fledged effort to investigate and report
the critical details of this case, spreading the word to others will continue
to be crucial during this current phase. You may not always be able to see
the results, but from my vantage point, it's obvious this tactic is working
well.
Meanwhile, I have to ask that you continue to be patient. There will
come a time when we can move ahead with a more comprehensive plan. The
strategy is in place, but "timing is everything."
OUT OF HIDING
Some of my "sources" are now demonstrating a willingness to step
forward, out of the closet of anonymity. This is going to be a welcome
addition. As this case continues to move forward, more voices need to be
heard.
You'll be hearing directly from some of these insiders in future updates.
It's going to be interesting, to say the least.
THE "DREAM MACHINE" HOAX
This was another example of the "confusion tactic" in an endless effort
to throw a blanket of deception over the truth. This one however is
backfiring. Nearly everyone I've spoken with saw through this scam
immediately.
As the truth begins to surface and the public learns most of what
they've been told about Kurt's death has been false, they've got to come up
with something! So now they want you to believe, after all is said and
done... THE MACHINE MADE HIM DO IT!
Courtney's games are simply becoming a little too obvious.
TEARS, LIES AND
THE BARBARA WALTERS INTERVIEW
There's a lot I could say here, but I'll try to be brief.
It was obvious to most who watched this show that Courtney Love did not
belong in the same class with the other individuals featured on the program.
I have to believe there were more than strings pulled to get her on. Someone
used a crane with steel cables for this one!
Putting that aside, I felt the segment on Courtney Love did a pretty
decent job of exposing one of this year's "Most Fascinating" con-artists.
The footage of Courtney's stage performance revealed she takes every
opportunity to inject the image of Kurt "shooting himself" into the minds of
her impressionable young fans.
No matter what you believe about the cause of Kurt's death, this charade
exploits not only that sad event, but also the deaths of the others who
followed after him.
Bad taste and exploitation are nothing new here. What really matters to
Courtney is that the fans imagine Kurt with his own finger on the trigger.
No pun intended because I don't consider this a joke, but does anyone
else notice the overkill here? This is nothing short of a desperate attempt
by a scared but shrewd "actress" at reinforcing the suicide myth.
Still on drugs?
As you could see from her reaction to the question posed by Barbara
Walters, with all Courtney's experience, she's still not a very good liar.
And finally, it's been nearly two years now. No one cries that easily
whenever a camera is on... unless they want to! I can't help but remember
Susan Smith!
Courtney's unquenchable thirst for publicity and fame will eventually
play a significant role in her downfall.
AN AGENDA?
Listening to a local rock DJ criticizing this investigation, I heard him
comment, "He's got an AGENDA."
This sounded like a weak attempt to discredit my work, but I had to
wonder how the word "agenda" ever became a four letter word!
This is a unique case. It calls for some unique strategies.
Do I have an agenda? Of course I do! And here it is...
1. Stop the "Copy-cat" suicides ...
2. Put Courtney Love on notice...
3. Set up a forum for releasing information...
4. Gain support from Cobain's fans for a re-investigation of his death...
5. Gain support from the parents and other adults who care about Cobain's f
ans...
6. Gain support from a larger segment of the adult population...
7. Inspire the media to examine the circumstances surrounding Cobain's
death, and report the details accurately...
8. Pressure the authorities to re-open this case and have it investigated
by unbiased investigators from another governmental agency...
9. Supply these new investigators with additional evidence and
information...
10. Assist the authorities with the prosecution of the killers.
STAYING FOCUSED
I know it's difficult to stay focused on the basic issues because of the
vast amount of details and information surrounding this case. In addition,
the opposition has been fairly successful at confusing Cobain fans and other
readers by continuing to plant phony stories and rumors.
Many have asked for a one page flyer to distribute. One Cobain fan named
Jon from Milwaukee designed a really nice one and sent me a copy. I want to
thank him for that. We may make these flyers available soon as a graphic
image that can be downloaded.
Until then, the below list of central issues can be used as a simple one
page flyer for copying and distributing. If you decide to do this, please be
sure to include the Internet web site and e-mail address listed below.
THE KURT COBAIN MURDER INVESTIGATION
(Central Issues)
1. Kurt was in the process of leaving Courtney and Seattle when he died.
2. The so called "suicide" note was actually a retirement letter Kurt
wrote to his fans. He was quitting the music business, leaving his
wife, and leaving Seattle.
3. Kurt wrote another letter for Courtney. It explained he was leaving her.
4. Courtney kept this "other" note in secret.
5. Someone else had Kurt's credit card. He had it in L.A., but it was
missing when the body was found.
6. Records show someone was trying to use this credit card AFTER his
death, but BEFORE the body was found.
7. The police don't know who was using Kurt's missing credit card. They
claim to have a "theory," about who was using this card, but won't re
veal
what that theory is.
8. Kurt did NOT barricade himself inside the room as the police and
press reported. The stool was not "wedged" against the door as the
police told me and the media. The stool was actually in front of the
two
unlocked doors that only led out to a balcony.
9. Kurt did NOT leave his driver's license exposed for identification as
reported in the press. A police officer opened the wallet and removed
the
license, displaying it for a photograph.
11. The police and Coroner have no forensic evidence that PROVES Kurt's
death was a suicide.
12. Courtney Love had an abundance of motive for having her husband killed.
o He was leaving her
o There was talk of a divorce. Courtney had asked her attorney to get
her,
the "meanest, most vicious" divorce lawyer she could find.
o Courtney's album was about to be released. A separation from Cobain
at this
time would have been humiliating and disastrous to her career.
o Courtney thought Kurt was having an affair. She was angry and jealo
us.
o And finally, greed. With a "suicide" Courtney ends up with everythi
ng. If they
divorce, she only gets a portion.
13. Courtney's own close friend and attorney, Rosemary Carrol suspected
from the beginning that Courtney was somehow involved in having her
husband
killed.
You can learn more about this investigation through the Internet's
world wide Web at the following site;
http://www.muohio.edu/~carmance/kurt.html
Or E-mail The Grant Company at
TGrantCo@aol.com
This information is offered free of charge. We can no longer send the
material by U.S. mail due to excessive demand and expense
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THE SILENT MEDIA
I've been patient with the media. I felt they needed time, given the
somewhat complex nature of this case. And after all, I had very little
understanding or knowledge of how editors, news directors, and radio and
television producers make decisions about what to cover in their articles or
broadcasts. I felt I had a lot to learn before I could criticize a profession
I knew so little about.
In this update as well as some in the future, I'll begin telling you
about experiences I've had with specific radio, television, and print media.
If you think our media "industry" has sufficient incentive to search for
thetruth behind the stories they cover, you'll be blown away by what you're
going to learn.
THE KROC BLUNDER
Oops!
"Five minutes. That's all!"
The producer of the Kevin and Bean show, which airs in the morning on the
"World Famous KROQ," 106.7 FM in Los Angeles, was requesting a five minute on
air interview by telephone last January.
"Five minutes?" I thought to myself. "No way!"
This was a station that plays a lot of Hole's music. These two guys are
comedians. They make a joke out of everything. Why would they want me for
only five minutes?
Guessing that I was being set up for a sound bite harvest, I told the
producer I'd do an hour minimum, nothing less - and I wanted to meet with
Kevin and Bean the day before to go over what I'd be willing to discuss and
what I wouldn't.
"Done."
We met at the studio for two hours the day before we went on the air.
Kevin and Bean agreed to allow me to lead the listeners through the events
outlined in the "Summary." I told them that would take up most of the hour.
"No problem." Both Kevin and Bean were friendly and came across as somewhat
supportive, but I had a feeling I was being set-up.
I was right.
Ignoring the discussions and agreements we made the day before, ten
minutes or so into the broadcast I got ambushed with verbal attacks. It was
obvious these guys had a job to do. Fortunately, it was also obvious to the
listeners!!
An hour and a half later, we were still going. The phone lines were all
lit up. The switchboard was full. Kevin and Bean tried to do a hatchet job
but it was backfiring. The majority of the callers were supportive of the
investigation and wanted to hear more.
In spite of constant criticism by these DJs, an attorney called in from
his car phone and said something like, "You're not listening. This guy knows
what he's doing," and then gave them a brief lesson on rules of evidence.
When it came time for me to leave, Kevin and Bean asked if I'd be willing
to come back the next week for a follow-up interview. It was obvious the
listeners wanted more.
"Sure. Anytime," I replied.
Listening to my radio as I drove away from the studio, I heard the DJs
promise their listeners they'd have me back soon and they'd take up the
discussion about this case the next morning as well as take more calls from
listeners.
So instead of coming across as some kind of conspiracy nut who these
guys could have some "fun" with, the radio audience determined that I was
credible and what I had to say was important.
Oops! What now?
7:00 AM the next morning, I tuned in to listen to the Kevin and Bean
Show. What follows is a transcript of what I heard. Many who have called the
Cobain Info line have heard the tape of this broadcast, but for those who
haven't, this is how it goes...
BEAN - "It's the world famous K-rock, 106.7 KROQ. Kevin and Bean here
at 7:37. We do have to take care of some pressing business because we've had
aah, I don't think I'm exaggerating if I say, we've had a lot of phone calls
this morning..."
KEVIN - "Aah, you're not exaggerating at all!"
BEAN - "A lot of phone calls this morning who are looking for some
sort
of follow-up on what we devoted the entire show to yesterday which was a
private investigator who was in talking about the death of Kurt Cobain...
We are being forced, 100% against our will to read this to you.
'Courtney Love's representatives objected to the contents of yesterday's
show. Out of deference to Miss Love, we are not going to be following up
today on any subjects related to Miss Love the way we might usually do so. We
may have something further to say in the future. Thanks for listening and
understanding.'
That's basically the total, the sum of what we are being allowed to say
on the air today."
So I was not invited back as they had promised their listeners, and
callers were not allowed to bring up this subject on the air from that day
on.
CENSORSHIP
This was a perfect example of how money and power can buy silence,
even though the public wants to hear! This type of censorship is based
entirely on fear of exposure of the truth. The tobacco companies are experts
at this tactic as we've recently seen on C.B.S. and A.B.C.
Most of us are extremely naive when it comes to our beliefs and
understanding of freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
BUT... THE MESSAGE IS GETTING THROUGH !
Dear Mr. Grant,
I am new to the Internet, and I was fooling around yesterday, looking
for Nirvana links, when I found the reports from your investigation. They
took my breath away. Like a lot of other Nirvana fans, I never could quite
accept that Kurt killed himself, but I never knew that there was so much
evidence against it.
When I first heard about your investigation in 1994, I thought that you
were just some whacko trying to get your 15 minutes of fame. However, now
that I know about you and the case, I know I could not have been more wrong.
You truly want to find out the truth about Kurt's death. I just want you to
know that I, and many other people who felt the same pains Kurt did deep in
their souls, support you 100%...
I have battled depression and alienation throughout my life. Nirvana was
like a life raft for me, knowing there was someone else out there who went
through the same things I did, and seemed to be winning the war. After his
death, I seriously considered suicide for a time. Kurt seemed like the most
stubborn guy in the world. If the world had finally beaten him down, someone
so talented and successful, what chance did I stand?
Now I know, as I always felt, that he didn't give in. But the world was
only too eager to file him away as just another f__ked up druggie who pissed
his life away. It fit the script perfectly.
It's obvious that the Seattle police did this, the media did this,
society at large did this. They believed what they wanted to believe. They
played right into Courtney's hands, and it makes me sick. She was nothing
before Kurt, and she knew she'd be nothing again without him. All of her
grandstanding, her refusal to let Kurt's soul rest in peace, shows that she
is more than a little too focused on reminding everyone that Kurt was HER
husband and SHE'S supposedly the one who was hurt the most by his death. But
she sure seemed more than willing to just keep right on going with her career
with hardly a pause of mourning.
Unlike Krist and Dave, who avoided the media for a long time after, she
was more than willing to talk to the media and make her "grief" public. It
didn't seem odd to me at the time, but now it's awfully suspicious.
I'm sorry if this letter was long and rambling, but I just wanted to let
you know how I feel, and how a lot of other people feel. And if only more
people knew the facts, they too
would want to see the case reopened. I'm looking forward to seeing your next
update in the future, and I hope that the forces trying to stop you don't
succeed.
Good Luck,
G. C.
ABOUT THE "LETTERS UPDATE"
The "Letters Update" (Update #8), is being released along with this
update. It includes excerpts from a small portion of the mail I've received.
A few well written letters have been printed in full, but including the
entire contents of each letter would require too much space.
I appreciate hearing from everyone who has written. I wish I could
display all your letters here. I read every one and when I have the time, I
often respond with a short note.
I've corrected some of the obvious spelling errors. A few of these
writers are young kind hearted kids who were influenced by Kurt Cobain in a
very positive way. Some of them put up with harassment from other kids at
school. I know it can be embarrassing to have something you wrote being read
by others if you made mistakes in spelling. I'd like them to be proud to show
their friends how they've contributed to this effort without being made fun
of for something as petty as a mis-spelled word.
For those of you who are getting flack from some of your friends with
comments like, "He killed himself. Get over it," I want you to know there are
thousands of thoughtful and sincere people like yourself who have subjected
themselves to ridicule simply because they have an opinion and they're not
afraid to express it.
But opinions are continuing to change! You'll want to check out the
section composed of letters from more "FORMER SKEPTICS."
Our support base now includes readers of all ages, from all walks of
life. Those who have written include:
o Very young Nirvana fans
o Older readers who have developed an interest in the case
o Kids who WERE suicidal...
o Professionalso Educators and the educated
Letters in response to this investigation are well over 90% supportive.
The "Letters Update" contains a very small sampling:
It's only a matter of time.
Tom Grant
The Grant Company
291 S. La Cienega Bl. Suite #301
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
TGrantCo@aol.com
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(
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