Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Courtney Love says she’s only ever known two ‘true musical geniuses’

‘Lana and Kurt are the only two true musical geniuses I’ve ever known,’ singer said

Ellie Muir
Wednesday 28 December 2022 15:46 GMT
Comments
Courtney Love in tears during cover of Britney Spears song ‘Lucky’

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Courtney Love has said that she’s only ever known two “true musical geniuses”.

In a new interview, Love insisted that Lana Del Rey and her late husband, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, are the “only two true musical geniuses” she’s ever known.

The 58-year-old singer explained: “And by that I mean they can Spielberg anything.”

The former Hole frontwoman went on to compare the two musicians.

“[Lana’s] a genius, too. She’s got the integrity that Kurt had. The only two people I know that I can say [that about]… By the way, Stipe? Bono? Yes, these are people that I know and love..”

“But Lana? She’s got a magic thing. And she’s not even f****d up!” Love said in the latest episode of the WTF With Marc Maron podcast.

Love claimed that she introduced Del Rey, 37, to the music of Joni Mitchell.

“She described a record she wanted to make to me, and I’m like, ‘Oh you mean Hissing Of Summer Lawns,’ which, I don’t even like that record. She’s like, ‘what’s that?’ I’m like, ‘It’s a Joni Mitchell record.’ She’s like, ‘Who’s that?’”

Love supported Del Rey on the North American leg of her Endless Summer tour in 2014 and now describes the “Ultraviolence” singer as an “actual, true, great friend”.

The “All The Drugs” singer also spoke about the rap scene in London, England, where she has a home, and how she’s grown to enjoy drill music.

Courtney Love has praised Lana Del Rey as an ‘actual true, great friend’
Courtney Love has praised Lana Del Rey as an ‘actual true, great friend’ (Getty Images)

“The drill here, which is like a genre of hip-hop that I actually really like — it’s melodic, it’s almost like Joy Division do gangsta rap,” she says. “There’s all this, like, minor sevenths and depressing things in drill. It started in Chicago, but I like the UK drill.”

Love is currently gearing up to release a new album, making it her first solo album in 12 years. She revealed that the forthcoming release won’t be a rock album, stating that “people aren’t really doing rock anymore”.

She continued: “Rock’s not a thing.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in