Skateboarder Tony Hawk and the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain share a grandson named Ronin Walker Cobain Hawk through the former’s son Riley Hawk and the latter’s daughter Frances Bean Cobain. The September announcement of their child’s birth last year was met with a warm response from fans of both icons. And nobody’s a bigger fan of his grandkid than Tony Hawk. Though, we’d imagine Kurt Cobain would adore him, too.
In a recent social media post, Tony Hawk said that he wished Kurt Cobain was around to meet and hold their months-old grandchild. Cobain passed away in 1994 at the age of 27, leaving behind a then-infant Frances Bean, whom he shared with Hole singer Courtney Love.
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Hawk posted to his Instagram Stories with an image of a concert ticket he had from a 1991 Nirvana show he had attended. The Story, which has since expired, gushed about Hawk’s love for Nirvana’s “transformative” music and how he wishes Cobain could meet their grandson.
I am sobbing at Tony Hawk posting about his grandchild who is also Kurt Cobain's grandchild pic.twitter.com/pa7eseMich
— Sara 'anthem boo endorser' Civian (@SaraCivian) February 24, 2025
“Went straight from S.U.A.S. [Shut Up and Skate] event at Houston Skatepark to this concert in 1991,” the post read. “It was as transformative as live music can possibly be; we all experienced something rare and powerful that night. The world would never be the same. […] 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.”
Pro Skater Tony Hawk is Having The Time of His Life Being a Grandfather
In addition to the bittersweet Instagram Story, Hawk also posted a photo of himself with his young grandson on top of a skateboard. The child’s face is concealed by an emoji, likely for his safety.
“What happens when all of your kids can skate on their own and no longer rely on you to give them rides?” the caption reads. “You wait until they have their own kids. Circles (wheels?) of life.”
Frances Bean Cobain and Riley Hawk married in October of 2023, with R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe famously officiating the wedding. Riley, like his father, also happens to be a professional skateboarder and the frontman of a punk band called Warish. Who knows? Maybe baby Ronin will be skateboarding and screeching into a microphone in a few years.
Photo by Frank Micelotta
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