Filter, the iconic band behind the hard-hitting track “Hey Man, Nice Shot,” recently graced the stage at Streetfest 2012. Before their electrifying performance, lead singer Richard Patrick sat down for an insightful interview, diving deep into the story behind their most controversial song. One of the biggest talking points? The persistent rumor that “Hey Man, Nice Shot” was penned in response to Kurt Cobain’s tragic suicide. Let’s unpack the real story behind this explosive song and Richard Patrick’s candid clarifications.
The Kurt Cobain Misconception
“Hey Man, Nice Shot” exploded onto the music scene, quickly becoming a signature anthem for Filter. However, its release timing unfortunately coincided with the aftermath of Kurt Cobain’s suicide, sparking immediate and widespread speculation. Richard Patrick recounted the initial shock and confusion surrounding this interpretation. “The song was so controversial, and I was like, ‘What did I do?'” he expressed, highlighting the unexpected backlash. The narrative that the song was about Cobain’s suicide rapidly gained traction, especially in Seattle. Patrick explained, “That was the tragedy of the song coming out after he killed himself. The problem was the song was written in ’91 – my label, Warner Bros. or someone put it out and said, ‘It’s a song about suicide,’ so DJs in Seattle said, ‘No this song is about Kurt Cobain’ and they kept repeating it and repeating it over and over and when you repeat it, whether it’s true or not, it becomes the truth.” This illustrates how easily misinformation can spread and solidify, particularly in the pre-internet era of the early 90s.
The True Inspiration: Budd Dwyer’s Public Tragedy
Richard Patrick firmly debunked the Kurt Cobain connection, revealing the actual, albeit darker, inspiration behind “Hey Man, Nice Shot.” The song, he clarified, was born from a reaction to the shocking public suicide of Pennsylvania State Treasurer Budd Dwyer in 1987. Dwyer, facing corruption charges, shot himself live on television during a press conference. This event deeply impacted a young Richard Patrick. “I saw the raw footage of it. I’m from the suburbs, I don’t remember seeing a lot of things like that growing up. When you’re 22 and you see that, you’re like, ‘Wow.’ There was no Internet to watch death on … you can see anything on the Internet now. Back then, we were watching it out of fascination of like, ‘Wow. We’re all gonna die. There was a morbid curiosity. I was watching it and I was all, ‘Hey man, nice shot,'” Patrick stated. The morbid fascination and raw shock of witnessing such a public and brutal act fueled the song’s creation. The phrase “Hey man, nice shot” was a dark, sarcastic, and visceral reaction to the graphic imagery he witnessed – that’s why I say hey man nice shot – a phrase born from shock and disbelief, not from any intention to comment on Kurt Cobain’s personal tragedy.
Dave Grohl’s Understanding and Shared Experience
The controversy surrounding “Hey Man, Nice Shot” even reached Dave Grohl, Cobain’s Nirvana bandmate and Foo Fighters frontman. Richard Patrick recounted discussing the rumor with Grohl, seeking to clarify the song’s true origins. “I said, ‘From the bottom of my heart, it wasn’t about Kurt Cobain.'” Grohl’s response was understanding and empathetic, revealing he faced similar misinterpretations regarding his own music after Cobain’s death. According to Patrick, “Dave said he heard the song and thought it was great and then people called him and told him it was about Kurt and he was all, ‘Dude, you’re making money off my dead friend, then I read your article in Rolling Stone, and I completely understand because people think I’M writing songs about Kurt and I”m not – I wrote all my first Foo Fighters record while Kurt was still alive.'” This exchange highlights the unfortunate reality of how tragedy can sometimes overshadow artistic intent, leading to misinterpretations and unwarranted controversy.
Filter’s El Paso Performance at Streetfest 2012
Despite the long-standing controversy, Filter continued to connect with fans through their music. Richard Patrick expressed his enthusiasm for performing in El Paso at Streetfest 2012. “We love El Paso, we played here last year, we’re really looking forward to tonight and having a good time,” he shared, signaling the band’s positive relationship with their El Paso audience. Fans eager to experience Filter’s powerful music live, including the iconic “Hey Man, Nice Shot,” had the opportunity to catch their set at Streetfest.
In conclusion, Richard Patrick’s interview provides crucial insight into the real story behind “Hey Man, Nice Shot,” definitively separating it from the Kurt Cobain narrative. The song, born from the unsettling spectacle of Budd Dwyer’s suicide, stands as a testament to the power of shocking events to inspire artistic expression, even if that expression is sometimes misinterpreted. Filter’s performance at Streetfest 2012 offered a chance for fans to appreciate their music beyond the controversies, focusing on the raw energy and impactful sound that defines the band.
