“Demonised”: Melissa Auf der Maur defends Courtney Love after “unbearable” media treatment
Melissa Auf der Maur has defended and celebrated Courtney Love in her new book, and has since explained that Love faced unfair and “unbearable” treatment from the media.
Aud der Maur, the former Hole and Smashing Pumpkins musician, recently released her memoir, Even the Good Girls Will Cry. She appeared on Pam Grossman’s podcast The Witch Wave to discuss the project.
During the show, Auf der Maur shared, “I decided to include her [Courtney Love] own words in my book because, obviously, a huge mandate for me in the book was to reframe the demonised woman.”
She explained that this was “for so many reasons, not just because she deserves it, [but] because she’s a pioneering feminist that has been shat on, and her husband’s [Kurt Cobain] shadow and his tragedy has somehow just ruined her life.”
Clarifying the statement, the musician went on, “I mean, she didn’t ruin her life. It’s the narrative that people put on her. It’s just unbelievable to have watched that closely — the burning of this woman and the media frenzy and the misogyny. It’s just unbearable.”
Love’s friend explained that she wanted to “reframe her because […] people are afraid of her and tear her down.” However, Auf der Maur explains, Hole deserves “a better place in history because it is living in the gutters of everyone just demonizing her and overlooking her absolute remarkableness.”
Recently, the pair set social media ablaze after Love shared a video which featured Auf der Maur adorned in a blue gown, dancing in slow motion to a Hole song, ‘Malibu’.
However, Love then clarified in an Instagram comment that Hole was not reforming: “Not a reunion, baby. Me and [Auf der Maur are] touring new songs.”
Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A 90s Rock Memoir was released on March 17th.
The book traces Auf der Maur’s upbringing in Montreal, as well as her career as a bassist with Tinker, Hole, and Smashing Pumpkins.
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