Nirvana Fans Gather Near Site of Suicide

The rock music world Saturday mourned the suicide of Kurt Cobain, the troubled lead singer of the grunge band Nirvana, whose anguished lyrics gave voice to a generation.

Cobain, 27, who was at his Seattle home after leaving a California drug rehabilitation facility, died of a shotgun wound to the head, according to a statement from the county medical examiner. His body was identified by fingerprints.

“They’ve classified it as a suicide,” said Seattle police spokeswoman Vinette Tichi. “We won’t be investigating.”

A steady stream of Nirvana fans and the curious trickled through a small park next to Cobain’s home, peering through a fence to see the garage apartment where the musician’s body was found.

Police and private security guards were posted around the 90-year-old home in an exclusive Seattle neighborhood, allowing selected friends and family members to pass the plastic yellow police tape.

In Seattle, a memorial service planned by local radio stations was set for tonight.