Helen Mirren says it’s “so sad” Kurt Cobain never got to experience GPS tech
Helen Mirren has shared that she thinks it’s “so sad” that Kurt Cobain never got the chance to experience GPS technology.
In a new chat with Evening Standard, the legendary actor spoke at length about how lucky she feels to have lived in a world without all of today’s technological experiences. While she’s grateful to have had a deeper human connection earlier in her life before all of today’s major technological advances such the internet, computers, smart phones and more, she’s also amazed at developments like the Global Positioning System (GPS).
She relates technological advances over the last three decades to the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who died at the age of 27 in 1994: “I always say, it’s so sad that Kurt Cobain died when he did, because he never got to see GPS.”
Mirren continued: “It’s the most wonderful thing, my little blue spot walking down the street. I just find it completely magical and unbelievable.” She added, expanding on the topic: “I never thought I’d be 79. I’m not full of youth, but I am full of life. I much prefer that phrase… And I feel so grateful that I lived in a world without technology for quite some time. I knew a world without technology in a deep and full sense… Human connection was a very different thing back then.”
This isn’t the first time Mirren has spoken about Cobain missing out on other technological advancements. In 2014, she said in a chat with Oprah Winfrey: “Look at Kurt Cobain—he hardly even saw a computer! The digital stuff that’s going on is so exciting. I’m just so curious about what happens next.”
The following year, she doubled down on the sentiment to Cosmopolitan: “I was thinking about Kurt Cobain the other day and he died without knowing the internet, and I’m totally blown away by that.”
On the topic of technological advancements, AI has seen major improvements over the last few yeaRs. Last year, Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic told NME about the chances of a reunion from the surviving Nirvana members in the future and the possibility of using AI for new Nirvana music.
“That’s a good idea… that’s interesting,” Novoselic said to NME. “I can hardly wait to hear a new Beatles song. Come on, it’s The Beatles! I want to hear a new Beatles song! And if AI helps it, then absolutely – that’s the way it is today.”
Asked if they would ever record new music, he replied: “Yeah, we actually have some material. Dave [Grohl] already spilled the beans on that. I’m going to bug Dave about that! ‘Hey, what about those jams we did? What do you want to do with those?’ Thank you for reminding me!”
Nirvana, meanwhile, recently settled a copyright dispute over the band’s smiley face logo. In 2018, the band sued Marc Jacobs International after the company debuted a “Redux Grunge” collection including the image.
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Surej Singh
NME
