Tony Hawk struck an emotional chord with fans after sending out a bittersweet message to grunge icon Kurt Cobain.
The skateboarding legend reflected on his growing family in a poignant Instagram story, as some fans are only just realizing he’s now, technically, related to the late Nirvana frontman.
That’s right – Tony Hawk and Kurt Cobain, two of the biggest stars of the 90s, share a grandson.
Back in September, Hawk became a grandfather for the first time when his son Riley Hawk, 31, and Frances Bean Cobain, 32, welcomed a baby boy, called Ronin Walker Cobain Hawk. What a powerhouse of a name!
Frances Bean Cobain with her son, Ronin Walker Cobain Hawk (Instagram/TheSpaceWitch)
Frances, 32, is the only child of Cobain and singer and guitarist Courtney Love.
Born in 1992, she wasn’t even two years old when her father took his own life in April 1994 at the age of 27.
But she shared the happy news of her new arrival last year, posting a series of pictures of their joyous family of three to social media.
“Welcome to the world most beautiful son. We love you more than anything,” she wrote.
Now, Hawk shared how he wishes Cobain was here today to meet his ‘wondrous grandchild.’
Riley Hawk and his newborn son (Instagram/Thespacewitch)
In a recent Instagram story to his 9.3 million followers, Tony shared a ticket stub from a Nirvana concert he attended in Houston, Texas back in October 1991 – when it cost just $10 a ticket, by the way!
Hawk wrote: “Went straight from S.U.A.S. event at Houston skatepark to this concert in 1991. It was as transformative as live music can be.
“We all experienced something rare and powerful that night. The world would never be the same.”
The doting grandfather then opened up about his family, writing: “I wish Kurt were here so he could see the incredible woman his daughter has become.
“Meet her devoted, caring husband, and hold our wondrous grandchild,” he reflected.
Is that a tear in your eye? Same here…
Hawk penned the sweet message via his Instagram story (Instagram/Tonyhawk)
Some were in pieces over the beautiful message, as one fan wrote on TikTok: “Well dang, not me ugly crying over here. OUR GRANDCHILD. Imagine being at that show and having no clue that you would share the same grandchild years later. Wow.”
A second agreed: “Not this making me cry. So glad Frances found this love and family.”
A third reckoned: “The cultural congruence of skating and grunge, this was like meant to happen. Also I just know Kurt’s daughter feels at ease with the Hawks.”
Over on X, formerly Twitter, people were stunned to discover Hawk and Cobain’s familial link as people admitted they had ‘no idea’.
One person reckoned baby Ronin is already ‘the coolest person alive’, as a second dubbed him ‘the ultimate 90s (grand)baby’.
“Crazy legacy from both sides,” another weighed in, as someone else wrote: “Can you imagine being the kid that gets to say your grandfathers are Kurt Cobain and Tony Hawk?”
And Hawk is keen to pass on his love of skateboarding to Ronin too.
In another Instagram post last week, Hawk posted a photo of himself beaming while sat on a skateboard, holding his grandson.
“What happens when all of your kids can skate on their own and no longer rely on you to give them rides?” he asked. “You wait until they have their own kids. Circles (wheels?) of life.”
