# Where is (or was) this "Believe On The Lord Jesus" billboard that Kurt Cobain was photographed in front of? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 11, 2024, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139 "2024-09-11T23:18:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GoodZuckerbergs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@GoodZuckerbergs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodZuckerbergs)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/1 "2024-09-11T23:18:34Z")
[![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSttPhXVAAAOHsC.jpg) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSttPhXVAAAOHsC.jpg) I can imagine it might be in Washington state near where he grew up, but maybe not? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/2 "2024-09-11T23:20:43Z")
The vegetation definitely looks like Washington to me. My guess is that it was on Route 8 somewhere between Aberdeen and Olympia, but it’s almost certainly been gone for decades now. ---
**Author:** ![GoodZuckerbergs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@GoodZuckerbergs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodZuckerbergs)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/3 "2024-09-11T23:24:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > but it’s almost certainly been gone for decades now. Actually it’s been gone for 2,000 years, but it’s comin’ back, baby! I’m so sorry, I couldn’t resist. 😇 ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/4 "2024-09-11T23:49:24Z")
Cool picture that I have never seen. I love that Mudhoney/Big Muff pedal t-shirt! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/5 "2024-09-11T23:58:22Z")
I grew up in the area. I vaguely recall a sign like that around Centralia maybe. (For locals, I also know that one right-wing sign with the changeable letters, and am not confusing the two.) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/6 "2024-09-11T23:59:48Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > (For locals, I also know that one right-wing sign with the changeable letters, and am not confusing the two.) Yeah, it’s definitely not the Uncle Sam billboard, that’s for sure. > **[Uncle Sam billboard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Sam_billboard)** > > The Uncle Sam billboard is a large, privately owned billboard in Washington state which displays messages of political commentary. The billboard is located directly adjacent to the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 in Napavine, Washington, around 8 miles (13 km) south of Chehalis, in Lewis County. Since its beginnings in the 1960s, the sign has been used to display the right-wing political opinions of its owners and is considered a local landmark. > The two-sided billboard, which depicts a large p... ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/7 "2024-09-12T00:00:29Z")
When did that photo of them together first show up? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/8 "2024-09-12T00:02:49Z")
I grew up in that area and I can confirm that it isn’t the infamous Uncle Sam billboard. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/9 "2024-09-12T00:06:17Z")
Definitely not. I’m pretty sure I saw the sign more than once. I spent many years in Olympia, and I made a lot more trips east and south than west and north, which is why I’m vaguely inclined to think the sign was in that general direction. ---
**Author:** ![GoodZuckerbergs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@GoodZuckerbergs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodZuckerbergs)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/10 "2024-09-12T00:23:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When did that photo of them together first show up? You’re probably concerned that it might be photoshopped- no, it’s an old photo that has appeared in multiple books from decades ago, including _Heavier than Heaven_ et al. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/11 "2024-09-12T00:26:39Z")
Nope, just trying to get a timeframe for the photo ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/12 "2024-09-12T00:43:36Z")
That was back when Jesus didn’t want him for a sunbeam… ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/13 "2024-09-12T05:52:22Z")
> [@GoodZuckerbergs](#): > > it’s an old photo that has appeared in multiple books from decades ago, including _Heavier than Heaven_ et al. Based on my Google-Fu, the photo was taken by Krist Novoselic, and he apparently wrote of it at one point that Kurt always thought of himself as ugly and said that this was the only photo of himself he’d ever seen where he thought he looked good. Nothing on where or when it was taken, though. Anyone wanna track down Krist’s phone number and ask him? I’m sure he’ll dig that you’re only asking on behalf of an internet message board for fans of a defunct newspaper column. ETA: I also found a color version of it, but I can’t say whether this was the original which was subsequently converted to B&W, or whether a B&W original was colorized. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/94/f3/d2/94f3d27bc0cd299e8a4bf0f0f1e768b9.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/94/f3/d2/94f3d27bc0cd299e8a4bf0f0f1e768b9.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/14 "2024-09-12T16:18:12Z")
The color version is also a bunch lightened and contrast enhanced. I’m no pro, but I’d sooner believe the B&W was the original. If one started w the color version & simply BW-ized it, the result would be a bunch different and more “legible” so to speak than the BW example in the OP. So anyone crafting that BW version would need to do a bunch of work to make it less-good looking. Which seems counterproductive and hence the more unlikely possibility. YMMV. Actual fact may vary as well. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/15 "2024-09-12T16:48:06Z")
FWIW, that’s not a “billboard” in the traditional sense. It’s a semi trailer. eta: and why “on”? Why not “in”? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/16 "2024-09-12T18:02:20Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > eta: and why “on”? Why not “in”? It’s a direct quote from the KJV. > **[Bible Gateway passage: Acts 16:31 - King James Version](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016%3A31&version=KJV)** > > And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/17 "2024-09-12T18:16:32Z")
Note the cropping changes between the two versions. More off to the left, top and bottom is shown in the B&W and more to the right is shown on the color. Neither can possibly be a full scan of the ur-photo. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/18 "2024-09-12T18:22:19Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It’s a direct quote from the KJV. Where nothing could possiblie be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/19 "2024-09-12T18:42:54Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It’s a direct quote from the KJV. But the original was in Aramaic. So why did KJ choose that? (🙂 I know, just funning) > [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Where nothing could possiblie be wrong. nothing can be wrong…be wrong… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139/20 "2024-09-12T18:54:41Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > [@Smapti](#): > > > > It’s a direct quote from the KJV. ⁢ > > But the original was in Aramaic. So why did KJ choose that? An proper answer would be difficult. But I do note the original Greek uses ἐπὶ (epi), which is “on,” “above”, “before,” etc. (Consider the prefix epi-). Of those, “on” makes the most sense. Growing up, I always thought of believing “on” Jesus being a bit different than believing “in” him. It’s hard to describe, but “on” implies more looking on him, rather than just believing “in” him which means the same thing when people say “I believe in you! You can do it!” But that’s probably silly stuff in my head, given that other, more modern translations use “in.” Prepositions are rarely a one-to-one mapping in other languages. I do wonder if the preposition for “believe” was different in the KJV days, or if it was just about literal translation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-or-was-this-believe-on-the-lord-jesus-billboard-that-kurt-cobain-was-photographed-in-front-of/1007139.md?page=2)