Nirvana

Nirvana

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Biography

Nirvana
Nirvana was a Seattle-based rock band, key players in the 'grunge' scene of the 1990's. Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic were the band's founding members and they went through a succession of drummers before settling on Dave Grohl, who joined in 1990.

The Early Years: Krist and Kurt met in 1985 and recruited Aaron Burckhard as a drummer. Within a few months, Burckhard was replaced by Dale Crover of the band The Melvins, who played on the band's earliest demo tapes. Dave Foster then briefly replaced him.

In 1988, the band played their first show as Nirvana and a few months later, Chad Channing became the latest in a line of drummers.

The Sub Pop label released the band's first single, titled 'Love Buzz / Big Cheese in 1988 and the following year, the band's first album, Bleach was released, produced by Jack Endino, who had produced their early demos.

In 1989, Cobain mentioned in an interview that the music was getting "poppier and poppier as I get happier and happier." In 1990, they went into the studio with Butch Vig (later of the band Garbage) to record the demos for the follow-up to Bleach. A few weeks after the recording sessions, Channing was no longer a member of the band. They were soon to be introduced to Dave Grohl who became their new drummer.

The Commercial Breakthrough: Following the advice of Kim Gordon (of Sonic Youth), Nirvana signed to DGC Records, David Geffen's company. They chose Butch Vig again as the producer, although Andy Wallace, who mixed Slayer, was brought in to finish the mixing process. The band disliked the resulting polished sound.

The album's first single, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' gained a great deal of MTV airplay and when they toured Europe in 1991, the shows were dangerously oversold. The album, Nevermind, was achieving sales of 400,000 copies a week in the US by Christmas 1991.

A collection of B-sides and rarities, named Incesticide was released in 1992, in an attempt to beat the bootleggers at their own game. It included BBC sessions, including covers of songs by Devo and The Vaselines.'

The band's third studio album In Utero was produced by Steve Albini, already well known for producing The Pixies. The recording sessions were speedy and several weeks after completion, news stories emerged suggesting DGC called the album "unreleasable."

The album was released, though, after a couple of tracks were remixed, and extra vocals and instrumentation added.

In Utero went to number one on the Billboard 200 chart in 1993, though it was not as successful as Nevermind. Pat Smear was added as a second guitarist for Nirvana's first major US tour since their initial success.

Nirvana performed for MTV Unplugged in 1993. Among their own material, they performed covers of songs by the Meat Puppets, David Bowie and Leadbelly.

The final months: Nirvana began a European tour in 1994 but in Rome, on March 4th, Cobain was rushed to hospital, suffering a reaction to a combination of Rohypnol and alcohol. The rest of the tour was cancelled.

Following this incident, Kurt Cobain's previous heroin addiction resurfaced. He was made to check into a rehabilitation centre but after less than a week, he escaped the facility and flew back to Seattle.

One week later, 8th April 1994, he was found dead at his home. The cause of death was a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head.

He left behind his wife, Courtney Love, of the rock band Hole, whom he had married in February 1992 and his daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, born August 1993.

Life After Kurt: The MTV Unplugged album was released in November 1994 and was followed by a video compilation entitled Live! Tonight! Sold Out! A compilation of live Nirvana recordings were finally released in 1996, as the compilation From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah.

Grohl and Novoselic have since been involved in legal wranglings, which continued for over a year, with Courtney Love regarding the release of a Nirvana box-set. The box set, With The Lights Out, was finally released in November 2004.

Shortly after Cobain's death, Dave Grohl recorded a collection of demos, which went on to become the debut album for his band The Foo Fighters. He has also drummed for Queens of The Stone Age.



Biography by Contactmusic.com

Album Of The Week: The 30th Anniversary Of 'Nevermind' By Nirvana


Nirvana

Thirty years ago the landscape of popular music was changed forever when Nirvana released their seminal, era defining second album, Nevermind. Nirvana had already built up quite a substantial following in the U.S, and the U.K, by the time they released the follow up to their debut album Bleach on September 24th 1991. Nirvana's popularity grew organically by word of mouth, many memorable live performances and the band's air play on North American college radio stations, but it was Nevermind that would bring the band to a global audience. 

https://admin.contactmusic.com/images/home/images/content/nirvana-nevermind-album-cover%20%281%29.jpg

By the time that Nirvana came to record their masterpiece they had undergone further line-up changes, the most impactful being the inspired decision to recruit "merciless basher" Dave Grohl as the band's drummer. Nirvana had also become disillusioned with their record label, Sub Pop, and had signed to DGC Records. Both of these major decisions helped shape the sound of Nevermind and make Grunge, and the Seattle sound, an early nineties musical phenomenon.

Continue reading: Album Of The Week: The 30th Anniversary Of 'Nevermind' By Nirvana

Spotlight On Nirvana: We Need To Talk About Spencer Elden


Nirvana

The album artwork for Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind is without doubt one of the most iconic in music history. It’s equal parts adorable and bizarre, and while perhaps a little too near the knuckle for today’s climate, still largely innocuous in most people’s minds.

Nirvana - NevermindNirvana - Nevermind

However, the very same baby who posed nude for that album cover, Spencer Elden, is now suing the band for sexual exploitation and child pornography at the tender age of 30.

Continue reading: Spotlight On Nirvana: We Need To Talk About Spencer Elden

Back To School: The Teen Anthems You Need To Get You Through September [Playlist]


Green Day Alice Cooper Wheatus Nirvana Bowling For Soup

Whether you see your school days as the best times of your life or the worst times, the beginning of September always brings with it that same nostalgia of new stationary, new haircuts and the hope that you'll finally achieve the level of cool you feel the need to strive for. Here are some iconic tunes that take us right back to those September days.

The Facts of Life - Black Box Recorder

The effects of teenage angst has not changed in the 20 years it's been since London indie band Black Box Recorder released their iconic coming-of-age hit. It's a rather soothing spoken word song about sexual fascination and exploration with the onset of puberty. We wouldn't go through it again if you paid us.

Continue reading: Back To School: The Teen Anthems You Need To Get You Through September [Playlist]

10 Weirdly Romantic Songs For Valentine's Day [Playlist]


Nick Cave Meat Loaf Tenacious D Nirvana

As it's almost Valentine's Day, you'll be looking for that perfect romantic playlist to set a dinner date to, right? Well, instead of all the corny classics, why not opt for some of the most lyrically confusing yet beautiful love songs ever written? We've got you covered....

Romantic couple - Pixabay

Supernova - Liz Phair
Weirdest lyric
: "Your eyelashes sparkle like gilded grass / And your lips are sweet and slippery like a cherub's bare wet ass"

Continue reading: 10 Weirdly Romantic Songs For Valentine's Day [Playlist]

Music News Round-Up: Coachella 2019 Line-Up Announced, Gary Oldman To Voice Bowie App, UK's Best-Selling Vinyl Revealed


Coachella Lana Del Rey Nirvana David Bowie Arctic Monkeys Stevie Nicks

Coachella 2019 LINE-UP REVEALED

The line-up for the 2019 edition of Coachella Festival has been revealed, with the headliners named as Childish Gambino, Tame Impala and Ariana Grande.

Coachella is held annually in the grounds of the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California on consecutive weekends in mid-April. In 2019, it’s set to take place on the weekends of April 12th-14th and April 19th-21st, with the three days of acts identical over each weekend.

Continue reading: Music News Round-Up: Coachella 2019 Line-Up Announced, Gary Oldman To Voice Bowie App, UK's Best-Selling Vinyl Revealed

Music News Round-Up: Britney Spears' Vegas Residency; Bob Dylan Movie; Blossoms Homecoming Gig


Britney Spears Nirvana Bob Dylan Michael Buble Blossoms

Britney Spears ANNOUNCES NEW LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY

Britney Spears has announced details of a second Las Vegas residency, following the resounding success of her Piece Of Me run which lasted a staggering four years.

The move was announced on Thursday night (October 18th) that the 36 year old pop megastar will have a new residency, slated to begin in 2019 at the theater inside the new Park MGM Resort.

Continue reading: Music News Round-Up: Britney Spears' Vegas Residency; Bob Dylan Movie; Blossoms Homecoming Gig

Album Of The Week: The 25th Anniversary Of The Final Nirvana Masterpiece 'In Utero'


Nirvana

Today we celebrate one of the greatest rock albums of all time on its 25th anniversary; that is Nirvana's third and final studio album 'In Utero' released on DGC Records. It is still, and will always be, one of the best rock albums in music history.

Nirvana - In UteroNirvana - In Utero

This chart-topping grunge masterpiece has sold at least 15 million copies worldwide since it's release in 1993, with tracks including 'Heart-Shaped Box', 'All Apologies' and the controversial 'Rape Me' being some of the greatest rock songs in the world. It certainly made the difficult recording process worth the fight.

Continue reading: Album Of The Week: The 25th Anniversary Of The Final Nirvana Masterpiece 'In Utero'

Dave Grohl Pays An Emotional Tribute To Nirvana With 'In Bloom'


Dave Grohl Nirvana

It was an emotional moment for Nirvana fans during Trombone Shorty's set at a festival over the weekend, as Dave Grohl hit the drums to play 'In Bloom' for just the second time since the death of his former bandmate Kurt Cobain. A rare moment cloaked in sombre reflection.

Dave Grohl at Cal Jam 2018Dave Grohl at Cal Jam 2018

The Foo Fighters frontman was drumming for New Orleans instrumentalist Trombone Shorty at his Voodoo Threauxdown Festival at Los Angeles' Greek Theater on Saturday (September 15th 2018), playing 'In Bloom' from Nirvana's second album 'Nevermind' for the first time in four years.

Continue reading: Dave Grohl Pays An Emotional Tribute To Nirvana With 'In Bloom'

Dave Grohl Says Nirvana Drew People In


Dave Grohl Nirvana Kurt Cobain

Dave Grohl has hailed Nirvana's relatable music as a huge reason for the band's success and enduring popularity.

The 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' rocker joined the grunge outfit - completed by Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic - in 1990, a year after the release of debut album 'Bleach', and he connected with the group after seeing how he built a rapport with their fan base.

In 'Visit Seattle', Grohl has reflected on travelling to the city to audition for Nirvana, and the first time he saw them live in front of 1,200 people at a club.

Continue reading: Dave Grohl Says Nirvana Drew People In

Nirvana Respond To The Latest 'Kurt Cobain Is Alive!' Conspiracy Theory


Nirvana Kurt Cobain Dave Grohl Courtney Love Frances Bean Cobain

Nirvana’s official Facebook page have responded to the latest internet conspiracy theory that suggests frontman Kurt Cobain is still alive, over 20 years after his death. The bizarre theory emerged online this week after a video circulated of a Peruvian singer who bore a resemblance to Cobain, performing ‘Come As You Are’.

NirvanaKurt Cobain died in 1994, but conspiracy theorists believe the Nirvana frontman lives on

In the video from 2012, singer Ramiro Saavedra was seen performing the track from Nevermind on Peruvian talent show ‘Yo Soy’. Thanks to his blonde hair, sunglass and Cobain-style outfit, Saavedra bore enough of a resemblance to Cobain for some fans to suggest that it actually was the singer, who died in 1994.

Continue reading: Nirvana Respond To The Latest 'Kurt Cobain Is Alive!' Conspiracy Theory

Nirvana

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Nirvana

Band form

1987

Band disban

1994






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Nirvana Movies

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