Converse's Kurt Cobain Sneakers: Shoes That Reflect Your Lifestyle?

Kurt Cobain shaped the country's rock music landscape while wearing Converse sneaks. He blithely, angrily altered Seattle's future, ripped a hole for the city on the map of pop culture, all while wearing Converse. He went nuts on stage. He whispered and screamed. He played the shit out of guitars. He shot up and nodded off in the shoes.

Kurt killed himself while wearing Converse. The shoes were prominent in the image that famously documented his death.

Naturally, then, Converse will begin selling Kurt Cobain-"inspired" shoes this May. It is, apparently, the "Converse Century," after all. What better way to celebrate?

The shoe line is official, of course—permission was granted, and materials were provided by Courtney Love and the Cobain estate.

Materials? Yes, per the Nirvana Fan Club (which has big, sharp images of the new shoes), "artwork and scribbles borrowed from Cobain's personal notebooks" will appear on the sneakers. There will be Cobain-ed versions of the Chuck Taylor, Jack Purcell, and One Star models.

But wait, there's more: "To make the collection even more unique, they'll have wear and fray detailing and Kurt Cobain's signature subtly embroidered on the shoe's outer."

In case you forget which dead celeb's memory you're kicking—and who's name brand you're not so subtlely advertising—with each and every step.

Converse has a different take: "The shoes provide a rarely seen glimpse into the head of this musical and lyrical genius with sketches that display his hopes, dreams and lyrics from amazing songs such as 'Come As You Are.' "

As shoe company execs and investors hear the cha-ching! of big-time sales (assuming some young fools will drop at least $50 to sport the shoes), all we hear is the chk-chk of a shotgun slide prepping a fresh shell.

Some fashion statement.

Perfectly appropriate Chuck Taylor comes from our Flickr pool, courtesy of Slightlynorth.