Dear Frances Bean Cobain,

Twenty years ago this weekend, your Dad and his buddies released Nevermind. My parents loved it. They still do. Yesterday, they listened to the whole album from beginning to end and told me about what it was like back in the early 90s. When they heard about your Dad’s death in 1993, my Dad was in his own band and my my Mom was writing a lot of poetry. It seems like a million years ago. For them, it feels like yesterday.

It must have been strange having Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love as parents. A rock God and sort of a hopeless mess with her own talents and contributions that have been wildly overshadowed by her nutty personality. I can’t imagine it. Let’s face it. Your Mom seems completely crazy. And by crazy, I mean that it’s probably a really smart idea to keep your distance. Remember, it’s not about you. It’s about her. At least your grandmother and aunt stepped in when it counted. I hope they were nice to you.

I recently saw the photos of you that were taken by Hedi Slimane. I think a lot of people were surprised by them. But to me, you seem like someone I’d probably like to compare reading lists with. I’m assuming you’re as much of a book dork as me.

Quentin Crisp

Your tattoos tell me that you’re really smart. You have a lot of references to art and celebrities on your body which are really interesting to me. Like I’ve said before, I am not the tattoo type of girl. But I do appreciate that you happen to appreciate the cultural contributions of others. That’s what my whole blog is about… appreciating little pieces of the human puzzle.

So let’s break it down. First, you have a huge portrait of Quentin Crisp on your back. This is a very interesting choice. He wrote The Naked Civil Servant and was a major 70s gay icon. He was the ultimate effeminate chap from London. Why did you choose him? He was a writer, illustrator, actor and artist’s model. He just seemed hip beyond measure. I hope you write about him someday.

Then there’s the text on your arm– lyrics from Jeff Buckley‘s song, Grace. It reads:

“”There’s the moon asking to stay
Long enough for the clouds to fly me away
Well it’s my time coming, I’m not afraid to die.”

That’s pretty heavy. I love Jeff Buckley, too. You have excellent taste. I especially love Lilac Wine. That is an awesome song. I can’t help but think that he also died tragically at a young age. He was a talent beyond measure, like your Dad.

Then there’s the French phrase on your back:

L’art est la solution au chaos.

Art is the solution to chaos. Some people have said that this is sort of an inelegant translation, but we get the point. Your life has been publicly riddled with chaos… suicide, parental drug use, inescapable fame that you didn’t ask for. Wow. Thank God for art. Seriously.

Anyway, I hope all is well in your world. Keep doing your art thing. And you don’t have to use a pseudonym if you don’t want to. People will take you seriously. Trust me.

Always,

Capra