From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the American grunge band. For the UK-based 60s band, see Nirvana (British band). For the Swedish death metal band, see Nirvana 2002.
Nirvana | |
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Nirvana band members Krist Novoselic (left) and Kurt Cobain performing at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards.
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Background information | |
Origin | Aberdeen, Washington, United States |
Genres | Alternative rock, grunge |
Years active | 1987–1994 |
Labels | Sub Pop, DGC |
Associated acts | Fecal Matter, Melvins, Foo Fighters, Sweet 75, No WTO Combo, Eyes Adrift |
Website | nirvana.com |
Members | Kurt Cobain Krist Novoselic Dave Grohl |
Past members | Aaron Burckhard Dale Crover Dave Foster Chad Channing Jason Everman Dan Peters |
Nirvana was an American rock band formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting being Dave Grohl,
who joined the band in 1990. Despite releasing only three full-length
studio albums in their seven-year career, Nirvana has come to be
regarded as one of the most influential and important rock bands of the
modern era.[1][2]
In the late 1980s Nirvana established itself as part of the Seattle grunge scene, releasing its first album Bleach for the independent record label Sub Pop
in 1989. The band eventually came to develop a sound that relied on
dynamic contrasts, often between quiet verses and loud, heavy choruses.
After signing to major label DGC Records, Nirvana found unexpected success with "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the first single from the band's second album Nevermind (1991). Nirvana's sudden success widely popularized alternative rock
as a whole, and the band's frontman Cobain found himself referred to in
the media as the "spokesman of a generation", with Nirvana being
considered the "flagship band" of Generation X.[3] Nirvana's third and final studio album, In Utero
(1993), featured an abrasive, less-mainstream sound and challenged the
group's audience. The album did not match the sales figures of Nevermind but was still a critical and commercial success. Nirvana's brief run ended following the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994, but various posthumous releases have been issued since, overseen by Novoselic, Grohl, and Cobain's widow Courtney Love.
Since its debut, the band has sold over 25 million records in the
United States alone, and over 75 million records worldwide, making them
one of the best-selling music artists in history. Four of their albums, two studio and two live, have reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200
chart. In the years since the band's breakup, Nirvana has been ranked
highly on several lists by various publications as one of the greatest
artists of all time. Rolling Stone described Nirvana's influence as having "kicked in" the 1990s as a musical era,[4] adding that their music "guaranteed the nineties would not suck,"[5] and claimed that the band "transformed rock for a generation."[6]
According to the magazine, "few bands in rock history have had a more
immediate and tangible impact on their contemporary pop musical
landscape than Nirvana did in the early Nineties."[7]
Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 2014, the band's first year of eligibility; the museum's biography
of the band states that Nirvana "start[ed] a rock revolution" and
"remain an enduring influence and challenge", before declaring them
"proof that the right band with the right noise can change the world."[8]
History
Formation and early years
Cobain and Novoselic met while attending Aberdeen High, although they never connected, according to Cobain.[9] The pair eventually became friends while frequenting the practice space of the Melvins.[10]
Cobain wanted to form a band with Novoselic, but Novoselic did not
respond to his requests, which included giving him a demo tape of his
project Fecal Matter.
Three years after the two first met, Novoselic notified Cobain that he
had finally listened to the Fecal Matter demo Cobain had given him, and
suggested they start a group. The pair recruited Bob McFadden on drums,
but after a month the project fell apart.[11] In late 1987, Cobain and Novoselic recruited drummer Aaron Burckhard.[12] The three practiced material from Cobain's Fecal Matter tape, but started writing new material soon after forming.[13]
During its initial months, the band went through a series of names,
starting with Skid Row and including Pen Cap Chew, Bliss, and Ted Ed
Fred. The group finally settled on Nirvana, which Cobain said was chosen
because "I wanted a name that was kind of beautiful or nice and pretty
instead of a mean, raunchy punk name like the Angry Samoans".[14] With Novoselic and Cobain having moved to Tacoma and Olympia, Washington, respectively, the two temporarily lost contact with Burckhard. The pair instead practiced with Dale Crover of the Melvins, and Nirvana recorded its first demos in January 1988.[15] In early 1988, Crover moved to San Francisco but recommended Dave Foster to the band as his replacement on drums.[16]
Foster's tenure with Nirvana lasted only a few months; during a stint
in jail, he was replaced by a returning Burckhard, who himself didn't
stay with the band after telling Cobain he was too hung over to practice
one day.[17] Cobain and Novoselic put an ad in Seattle music publication The Rocket seeking a replacement drummer which only yielded unsatisfactory responses. Meanwhile, a mutual friend introduced them to Chad Channing,
and the three musicians agreed to jam together. Channing continued to
jam with Cobain and Novoselic, although the drummer noted, "They never
actually said 'Ok, you're in.'", and Channing played his first show with
the group that May.[18]
Early releases
Nirvana recordered a cover version of "Love Buzz", a song by Dutch group Shocking Blue, and released it as their first single in November 1988 on the Seattle independent record label Sub Pop.[19] The following month, the band began recording its debut album, Bleach, with local producer Jack Endino.[20] Bleach was highly influenced by the heavy dirge-rock of the Melvins and Mudhoney, 1980s punk rock, and the 1970s heavy metal of Black Sabbath. Novoselic said in a 2001 interview with Rolling Stone that the band had played a tape in their van while on tour that had an album by The Smithereens on one side and an album by the black metal band Celtic Frost on the other, and noted that the combination probably played an influence as well.[21] The money for the recording sessions for Bleach, listed as $606.17 on the album sleeve, was supplied by Jason Everman,
who was subsequently brought into the band as the second guitarist.
Though Everman did not actually play on the album, he received a credit
on Bleach because, according to Novoselic, they "wanted to make him feel more at home in the band".[22]
Just prior to the album's release, Nirvana insisted on signing an
extended contract with Sub Pop, making the band the first to do so with
the label.[23]
Following the release of Bleach in June 1989, Nirvana embarked on its first national tour,[24] and the album became a favorite of college radio stations.[25]
Due to increasing dissatisfaction with Everman over the course of the
tour, Nirvana canceled the last few dates and drove back to Washington.
No one told Everman he was fired at the time, while Everman later
claimed that he actually quit the group.[26] Although Sub Pop did not promote Bleach as much as other releases, it was a steady seller,[27] and had initial sales of 40,000 copies.[28] However, Cobain was upset by the label's lack of promotion and distribution for the album.[27] In late 1989, the band recorded the Blew EP with producer Steve Fisk.[29]
In a late 1989 interview, Cobain noted that the band's music was
changing. He said, "The early songs were really angry ... But as time
goes on the songs are getting poppier and poppier as I get happier and
happier. The songs are now about conflicts in relationships, emotional
things with other human beings".[30] In April 1990, the band began working with producer Butch Vig at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin on recordings for the follow-up to Bleach.[31]
During the sessions, Cobain and Novoselic became disenchanted with
Channing's drumming, and Channing expressed frustration at not being
actively involved in songwriting. As bootlegs of Nirvana's demos with
Vig began to circulate in the music industry and draw attention from
major labels, Channing left the band.[32] That July, the band recorded the single "Sliver" with Mudhoney drummer Dan Peters.[33] Nirvana asked Dale Crover to fill in on drums for a seven-date American West Coast tour with Sonic Youth that August.[34] In September 1990, Buzz Osborne of the Melvins introduced the band to Dave Grohl, who was looking for a new band following the sudden break-up of Washington, D.C. hardcore punks Scream.[35]
A few days after arriving in Seattle, Novoselic and Cobain auditioned
Grohl, with Novoselic later stating, "We knew in two minutes that he was
the right drummer".[36]
Mainstream success
Disenchanted with Sub Pop and with the Smart Studios sessions
generating interest, Nirvana decided to look for a deal with a major
record label since no indie label could buy the group out of its
contract.[37] Following repeated recommendations by Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, Nirvana signed to DGC Records in 1990.[38] The band subsequently began recording its first major label album, Nevermind. The group was offered a number of producers to choose from, but ultimately held out for Butch Vig.[39] Rather than recording at Vig's Madison studio as they had in 1990, production shifted to Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. For two months, the band worked through a variety of songs in its catalog. Some of the songs, such as "In Bloom" and "Breed", had been in Nirvana's repertoire for years, while others, including "On a Plain" and "Stay Away," lacked finished lyrics until mid-way through the recording process.[40]
After the recording sessions were completed, Vig and the band set out
to mix the album. However, the recording sessions had run behind
schedule and the resulting mixes were deemed unsatisfactory. Slayer mixer Andy Wallace
was brought in to create the final mix. After the album's release,
members of Nirvana expressed dissatisfaction with the polished sound the
mixer had given Nevermind.[41]
Initially, DGC Records was hoping to sell 250,000 copies of Nevermind, which was the same level they had achieved with Sonic Youth's Goo.[42] However, the album's first single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" quickly gained momentum, thanks in part to significant airplay of the song's music video on MTV.
As it toured Europe during late 1991, the band found that its shows
were dangerously oversold, that television crews were becoming a
constant presence onstage, and that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was almost
omnipresent on radio and music television.[43] By Christmas 1991, Nevermind was selling 400,000 copies a week in the US.[44] In January 1992, the album displaced Michael Jackson's Dangerous at number one on the Billboard album charts, and also topped the charts in numerous other countries.[45] The month Nevermind reached number one, Billboard
proclaimed, "Nirvana is that rare band that has everything: critical
acclaim, industry respect, pop radio appeal, and a rock-solid
college/alternative base."[46] The album would eventually sell over seven million copies in the United States,[47] and over 30 million worldwide.[48]
Citing exhaustion, Nirvana decided not to undertake another American tour in support of Nevermind, instead opting to make only a handful of performances later that year.[49]
In March 1992, Cobain sought to reorganize the group's songwriting
royalties (which to this point had been split equally) so that they were
more representative of the fact that he wrote the majority of the
music. Grohl and Novoselic did not object to Cobain's request, but when
the frontman asked for the agreement to be retroactive to the release of
Nevermind, the disagreements between the two sides came close to
breaking up the band. After a week of tension, Cobain ended up
receiving a retroactive share of 75 percent of the royalties, and bad
feelings about the situation remained within the group afterward.[50] Amid rumors that the band was disbanding due to Cobain's health, Nirvana headlined the closing night of England's 1992 Reading Festival, where Cobain personally programmed the performance lineup.[51] Nirvana's performance at Reading is often regarded by the press as one of the most memorable of the group's career.[52][53] A few days later, Nirvana performed at the MTV Video Music Awards where, despite the network's refusal to let the band play the new song "Rape Me" during the broadcast, Cobain strummed and sang the first few bars of the song before breaking into "Lithium". At the ceremony, the band received awards for the Best Alternative Video and Best New Artist categories.[54]
DGC had hoped to have a new Nirvana album by the band ready for a
late 1992 holiday season release; since work on it proceeded slowly, the
label released the compilation album Incesticide in December 1992.[55] A joint venture between DGC and Sub Pop, Incesticide
collected various rare Nirvana recordings and was intended to provide
the material for a better price and at better quality than was available
via bootleg copies.[56] As Nevermind
had been out for 15 months and had yielded a fourth single in "In
Bloom" by that point, Geffen/DGC opted not to heavily promote Incesticide, which was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America the following February.[57]
In Utero, final months, and Cobain's death
See also: Death of Kurt Cobain
In February 1993, Nirvana released "Puss"/"Oh, the Guilt", a split single with The Jesus Lizard, on the independent label Touch & Go.[55] Meanwhile, the group chose Steve Albini, who had a reputation as a principled and opinionated individual in the American indie music
scene, to record its third album. While there was speculation that the
band chose Albini to record the album due to his underground
credentials,[58]
Cobain insisted that Albini's sound was simply the one he had always
wanted Nirvana to have: a "natural" recording without layers of studio
trickery.[59] Nirvana traveled to Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, Minnesota in that February to record the album.[60]
The sessions with Albini were productive and notably quick, and the
album was recorded and mixed in two weeks for a cost of $25,000.[61]
Several weeks after the completion of the recording sessions, stories ran in the Chicago Tribune and Newsweek that quoted sources claiming DGC considered the album "unreleasable".[62] As a result, fans began to believe that the band's creative vision might be compromised by their label.[63]
While the stories about DGC shelving the album were untrue, the band
actually was unhappy with certain aspects of Albini's mixes.
Specifically, they thought the bass levels were too low,[64] and Cobain felt that "Heart-Shaped Box" and "All Apologies" did not sound "perfect".[65] Longtime R.E.M. producer Scott Litt was called in to help remix those two songs, with Cobain adding additional instrumentation and backing vocals.[66]
In Utero debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart in September 1993.[67] Time's Christopher John Farley
wrote in his review of the album, "Despite the fears of some
alternative-music fans, Nirvana hasn't gone mainstream, though this
potent new album may once again force the mainstream to go Nirvana."[68] In Utero went on to sell over 3.5 million copies in the United States.[47]
Simultaneous with the release of the album, Nirvana was recording the video for "Heart-Shaped Box" with director Anton Corbijn,
based on a detailed treatment prepared by Cobain. The video, featuring
an old man wearing a Santa-hat who ascends a ladder and affixes himself
to a crucifix, an obese angel modeled after the Visible Man angel appearing on the cover of In Utero,
and a tree fruiting fetuses, has been interpreted as an allegory of
Heroin addiction, and is "more or less acknowledged as the apical
manifestation of Kurt Cobain's highly personal alphabet of psychological
symbolism." [69] There is some question as to whether or not the old man appearing in the video is actually William S. Burroughs. [69] The video won multiple awards at 1994's MTV Video Awards.
That October, Nirvana embarked on its first tour of the United States in two years. For the tour, the band added Pat Smear of the punk rock band Germs as a second guitarist.[70] In November 1993, Nirvana recorded a performance for the television program MTV Unplugged. Augmented by Smear and cellist Lori Goldston,
the band sought to veer from the typical approach to the show, opting
to stay away from playing its most recognizable songs. Instead, Nirvana
performed several covers, and invited Cris and Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets to join the group for renditions of three of their songs.[71]
In early 1994, the band embarked on a European tour. Nirvana's final
concert took place in Munich, Germany, on March 1. In Rome, on the
morning of March 4, Cobain's wife, Courtney Love,
found Cobain unconscious in their hotel room and he was rushed to the
hospital. A doctor from the hospital told a press conference that Cobain
had reacted to a combination of prescription Rohypnol and alcohol. The rest of the tour was canceled.[72] In the ensuing weeks, Cobain's heroin
addiction resurfaced. An intervention was organized, and Cobain was
convinced to admit himself into drug rehabilitation. After less than a
week in rehabilitation, Cobain climbed over the wall of the facility and
took a plane back to Seattle. A week later, on Friday, April 8, 1994,
Cobain was found dead of a possible self-inflicted shotgun wound to the
head at his Seattle home.[73]
Aftermath and posthumous releases
In August 1994, DGC announced that a double album titled Verse Chorus Verse featuring live material from throughout the group's career on one CD and its MTV Unplugged performance on another was due for release that November.[55]
However, Novoselic and Grohl found assembling the live material so soon
after Cobain's death to be too emotionally overwhelming.[74] With the career-spanning live portion postponed, MTV Unplugged in New York debuted at number one on the Billboard charts upon release in November 1994. A few weeks later the group's first full-length video, Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!, was released.[55] The following year, MTV Unplugged in New York earned Nirvana a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.[75] In 1996 DGC finally issued a Nirvana live album, From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah, which became the third Nirvana release in a row to debut at the top of the Billboard album chart.[55]
In 1997, Novoselic, Grohl, and Courtney Love formed the limited liability company Nirvana LLC to oversee all Nirvana-related projects.[76] A 45-track box set of Nirvana rarities was scheduled for release in October 2001.[77]
However, shortly before the release date, Love filed a suit to dissolve
Nirvana LLC, and an injunction was issued preventing the release of any
new Nirvana material until the case was resolved.[78]
Love contended that Cobain was the band, that Grohl and Novoselic were
sidemen, and that she signed the partnership agreement originally under
bad advice. Grohl and Novoselic countersued, asking the court to remove
Love from the partnership and to replace her with another representative
of Cobain's estate.[77]
The day before the case was set to go to trial in October 2002, Love,
Novoselic, and Grohl announced that they had reached a settlement. The
settlement paved the way for the release of the compilation album Nirvana, which featured the previously unreleased track "You Know You're Right", the last song Nirvana recorded before Cobain's death.[79] Nirvana was released later that month, debuting at number three on the Billboard album chart.[80] The box set, With the Lights Out,
was finally released in November 2004. The release contained a vast
array of early Cobain demos, rough rehearsal recordings, and live tracks
recorded throughout the band's history. Sliver: The Best of the Box,
which culled 19 tracks from the box set in addition to featuring three
previously unreleased tracks, was released in late 2005.[81]
In April 2006, Love announced that she had arranged to sell 25
percent of her stake in the Nirvana song catalog in a deal estimated at
$50 million. The share of Nirvana's publishing was purchased by Primary
Wave Music, which was founded by Larry Mestel, a former CEO of Virgin Records.
In an accompanying statement, Love sought to assure Nirvana's fanbase
that the music would not simply be licensed to the highest bidder,
noting, "We are going to remain very tasteful and true to the spirit of
Nirvana while taking the music to places it has never been before."[82] Further releases have since been made. This includes the DVD releases of Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! in 2006,[83] and the full, uncut version of MTV Unplugged in New York in 2007.[84] The band's performance at the 1992 Reading Festival was released on both CD and DVD as Live at Reading in November 2009.[85] That month, Sub Pop released a 20th anniversary deluxe edition of Bleach,[86] and DGC released a number of 20th anniversary deluxe-edition packages of both Nevermind in September 2011[87] and In Utero in September 2013.[88]
In 2012, Grohl, Novoselic, and Smear joined Paul McCartney at 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief.[89]
The performance featured the premiere of a new song written by the four
musicians entitled "Cut Me Some Slack". A studio recording was released
on the soundtrack to Sound City, a film by Grohl.[90][91] On July 19, 2013, they would once again play with McCartney during the encore of his Safeco Field "Out There" concert in Seattle, the first time Nirvana members played together in their hometown in over 15 years.[92][93]
Musical style
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![]()
Sample of "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the first single from the band's breakthrough release Nevermind
(1991). Nirvana utilized dynamic contrasts in its music, present in
this song in the form of a sparse two-note guitar verse guitar melody
and choruses of strummed power chords.[94]
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Problems playing this file? See media help. |
Cobain described the sound of Nirvana when it first started as "a Gang of Four and Scratch Acid ripoff".[56] Later when Nirvana recorded Bleach,
Cobain felt he had to fit the expectations of the Sub Pop grunge sound
to build a fanbase, and hence suppressed his arty and pop songwriting
traits while crafting the record in favor of a more rocking sound.[95] Nirvana biographer Michael Azerrad
argued, "Ironically, it was the restrictions of the Sub Pop sound that
helped the band find its musical identity". Azerrad stated that by
acknowledging that its members had grown up listening to Black Sabbath and Aerosmith, the band was able to move on from its derivative early sound.[96]
Nirvana used dynamic shifts that went from quiet to loud.[64] Cobain had sought to mix heavy and pop musical sounds; he commented, "I wanted to be totally Led Zeppelin in a way and then be totally extreme punk rock and then do real wimpy pop songs". When Cobain heard the Pixies' 1988 album Surfer Rosa after recording Bleach,
he felt it had the sound he wanted to achieve but until then was too
intimidated to try. The Pixies' subsequent popularity encouraged Cobain
to follow his instincts as a songwriter.[97] Like the Pixies, Nirvana moved between "spare bass-and-drum grooves and shrill bursts of screaming guitar and vocals".[98]
Near the end of his life, Cobain noted the band had become bored by the
formula, finding it limited, but he expressed doubts that the band was
skilled enough to try other dynamics.[64]
Cobain's rhythm guitar style, which relied on power chords, low-note
riffs, and a loose right-hand technique, featured the key components to
the band’s songs. Cobain would often initially play a song's verse riff
in a clean tone, then double it with distorted guitars when he repeated
the part. In some songs the guitar would be absent from the verses
entirely to allow the drums and bass guitar to support the vocals, or it
would only play sparse melodies like the two-note pattern used in
"Smells Like Teen Spirit". Cobain rarely played standard guitar solos,
opting to play slight variations of the song's melody as single note
lines. Cobain's solos were mostly blues-based and out of tune, which
music writer Jon Chappell described as "almost an iconoclastic parody of
the traditional instrumental break", a quality typified by the
note-for-note replication of the lead melody in "Smells Like Teen
Spirit" and the atonal solo for "Breed".[94]
Grohl's drumming "took Nirvana's sound to a new level of intensity".[99]
Azerrad stated that Grohl's "powerful drumming propelled the band to a
whole new plane, visually as well as musically", noting, "Although Dave
is a merciless basher, his parts are also distinctly musical—it wouldn't
be difficult to figure out what song he was playing even without the
rest of the music."[100]
During live performances, Cobain and Novoselic would always tune their guitars to E flat.[101] Cobain noted, "We play so hard we can't tune our guitars fast enough."[102]
The band made a habit of destroying its equipment after shows.
Novoselic said he and Cobain created the "shtick" in order to get off of
the stage sooner.[103]
Cobain stated it began as an expression of his frustration with Chad
Channing making mistakes and dropping out entirely during performances.[104]
Songwriting and lyrics
Everett True said in 1989, "Nirvana songs treat the banal and pedestrian with a unique slant."[105]
Cobain came up with the basic components of each song (usually writing
them on an acoustic guitar), as well as the singing style and the
lyrics. He emphasized that Novoselic and Grohl "have a big part in
deciding on how long a song should be and how many parts it should have.
So I don't like to be considered the sole songwriter."[106]
When asked which part of the songs he would write first, Cobain
responded, "I don’t know. I really don’t know. I guess I start with the
verse and then go into the chorus."[64]
Cobain usually wrote lyrics for songs minutes before recording them.[106]
Cobain said, "When I write a song the lyrics are the least important
subject. I can go through two or three different subjects in a song and
the title can mean absolutely nothing at all."[107] Cobain told Spin in 1993 that he "didn't give a flying fuck" what the lyrics on Bleach
were about, figuring "Let's just scream some negative lyrics and as
long as they're not sexist and don't get too embarrassing it'll be
okay", while the lyrics to Nevermind were taken from two years of
poetry he had accumulated, which he cut up and chose lines he preferred
from. In comparison, Cobain stated that the lyrics to In Utero were "more focused, they're almost built on themes".[108]
Cobain didn't write necessarily in a linear fashion, instead relying on
juxtapositions of contradictory images to convey emotions and ideas.
Often in his lyrics, Cobain would present an idea then reject it; the
songwriter explained, "I'm such a nihilistic jerk half the time and
other times I'm so vulnerable and sincere [. . . The songs are] like a
mixture of both of them. That's how most people my age are."[109]
Legacy
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
wrote that prior to Nirvana, "alternative music was consigned to
specialty sections of record stores, and major labels considered it to
be, at the very most, a tax write-off". Following the release of Nevermind, "nothing was ever quite the same, for better and for worse".[1] The success of Nevermind not only popularized grunge, but also established "the cultural and commercial viability of alternative rock in general".[110]
While other alternative bands had had hits before, Nirvana "broke down
the doors forever", according to Erlewine. Erlewine further stated that
Nirvana's breakthrough "didn't eliminate the underground", but rather
"just gave it more exposure".[111] In 1992, Jon Pareles of The New York Times
reported that Nirvana's breakthrough had made others in the alternative
scene impatient for achieving similar success, noting, "Suddenly, all
bets are off. No one has the inside track on which of dozens, perhaps
hundreds, of ornery, obstreperous, unkempt bands might next appeal to
the mall-walking millions". Record company executives offered large
advances and record deals to bands, and previous strategies of building
audiences for alternative rock groups had been replaced by the
opportunity to achieve mainstream popularity quickly.[112]
Erlewine stated that Nirvana's breakthrough "popularized so-called 'Generation X' and 'slacker' culture".[111]
Immediately following Cobain's death, numerous headlines referred to
Nirvana's frontman as "the voice of a generation", although he had
rejected such labeling during his lifetime.[113] Reflecting on Cobain's death over ten years later, MSNBC's
Eric Olsen wrote, "In the intervening decade, Cobain, a small, frail
but handsome man in life, has become an abstract Generation X icon,
viewed by many as the 'last real rock star' [. . .] a messiah and martyr
whose every utterance has been plundered and parsed".[110]
Awards and accolades
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Nirvana
Since its breakup, Nirvana has continued to receive acclaim, and is
regularly considered one of the greatest music artists of all time. In
2003, Nirvana was selected as one of the inductees of the Mojo Hall of Fame 100.[114] The band also received a nomination for induction in the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004 as the "Greatest Artist of the 1990s".[115] Rolling Stone placed Nirvana at number 27 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004,[116] and at number 30 on their updated list in 2011.[117] In 2003, the magazine's senior editor David Fricke picked Kurt Cobain as the 12th best guitarist of all time.[118] Rolling Stone later ranked Cobain as the 45th greatest singer in 2008[119] and 73rd greatest guitarist of all time in 2011.[120] VH1 ranked Nirvana as the 42nd greatest artists of rock and roll in 1998,[121] the 7th greatest hard rock artists in 2000,[122] and the 14th greatest artists of all time in 2010.[123]
Nirvana's contributions to music have also received recognition, with Nevermind
and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" consistently being ranked as one of the
greatest albums and songs of all time, respectively. The Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame has inducted two of Nirvana's recordings, "Smells Like Teen
Spirit" and "All Apologies", into its list of "The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll".[124] The museum also ranked Nevermind number 10 on its "The Definitive 200 Albums of All Time" list in 2007.[125] In 2005, the Library of Congress added Nevermind to the National Recording Registry, which collects "culturally, historically or aesthetically important" sound recordings from the 20th century.[126] In 2011, four of Nirvana's songs appeared on Rolling Stone's updated list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" ranking the highest at number 9.[127] Three of the band's albums were ranked on the magazine's 2012 list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time", with Nevermind placing the highest at number 17.[128] The same three Nirvana albums were also placed on Rolling Stone's 2011 list of "The 100 Best Albums of the Nineties", with Nevermind ranking the highest at number 1, making it the greatest album of the decade.[129] Time included Nevermind on its list of "The All-TIME 100 Albums" in 2006, labeling it "the finest album of the 90s."[130] In 2011, the magazine also added "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on its list of "The All-TIME 100 Songs",[131] and "Heart-Shaped Box" on its list of "The 30 All-TIME Best Music Videos".[132]
Nirvana are one of the best-selling bands of all time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide.[133] With over 25 million RIAA-certified units, they are also the 80th best-selling music artist in the United States.[134] Two of the band's studio albums and two of their live albums have reached the top spot on the Billboard 200.[135] Nirvana has been awarded one Diamond, three Multi-Platinum, seven Platinum and one Gold certified albums in the United States by the RIAA,[136] and four Multi-Platinum, four Platinum, two Gold and one Silver certified albums in the UK by the BPI.[137] Nevermind, the band's most successful album, has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums ever.[138] Their most successful song, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", is among the best-selling singles of all time, having sold 8 million copies.[139]
Nirvana were announced in their first year of eligibility as being part of the 2014 class of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on December 17, 2013. The induction ceremony was held April 10, 2014 in Brooklyn, New York, US at the Barclays Center.[140] However, Channing, who was informed of his omission by SMS, was not included in the induction, as the accolade was only applied to Cobain, Novoselic and Grohl.[141]
Band members
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Timeline

Discography
Main article: Nirvana discography
- Studio albums
See also
Notes
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Nirvana Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- Kaufman, Gil. "Nirvana Lead Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees List". MTV. October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- Azerrad, Michael. "Inside the Heart and Mind of Nirvana". Rolling Stone. April 16, 1992. Archived from the original on January 9, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- "100 Best Albums of the Nineties". Rolling Stone. April 27, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- "100 Best Albums of the Nineties: Nirvana, 'Nevermind'". Rolling Stone. April 27, 2011. Retrieved October 22 2013.
- "How Nirvana Made 'Nevermind'". Rolling Stone. March 5, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- "Nirvana Biography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- By Andy Greene (2013-12-16). "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2014 Inductees: Nirvana, Kiss, E Street Band". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 209
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 36
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 44–5
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 57
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 58
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 61–2
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 67–8
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 73
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 76–7
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 79
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 85
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 90–1
- Fricke, David. "Krist Novoselic". Rolling Stone. September 13, 2001.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 91–2
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 110–11
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 111
- Young, Charles; O'Donnell, Kevin. "Nirvana: Album guide". Rolling Stone. April 11, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 115–20
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 134
- Price, David J. Nirvana's 'Bleach' Turns 20, New Live Recording Coming. Billboard. August 4, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2011. According to the source, Bleach has now sold 1.7 million copies in the United States.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 123
- Robb, John. "White Heat". Sounds. October 21, 1989
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 137
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 138–39
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 142
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 141
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 151
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 154
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 136–37
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 162
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 164–65
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 176–77
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 179–80
- Wice, Nathaniel. "How Nirvana Made It". Spin. April 1993.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 203
- Lyons, James. Selling Seattle: Representing Contemporary Urban America. Wallflower, 2004. ISBN 1-903364-96-5, p. 120
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 239
- "Nirvana Achieves Chart Perfection!" Billboard. January 25, 1992.
- Basham, David. "Got Charts? No Doubt's Christmas Gift; Nirvana Ain't No Beatles". MTV.com. December 20, 2001. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
- "Nirvana's 'Nevermind' To Be Re-Released". Billboard.com. June 27, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 256
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 257–58
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 271
- "Nirvana's Reading Festival gig to be released on DVD". NME. April 20, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- "Nirvana headline Reading Festival". BBC Online. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 276–78
- Gaar, Gillian G. "Verse Chorus Verse: The Recording History of Nirvana". Goldmine. February 14, 1997.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 294
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 296
- DeRogatis, 2003. p. 5–6
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 317
- Gaar, 2006. p. 40
- DeRogatis, 2003. p. 4
- DeRogatis, 2003. p. 17
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 332
- Fricke, David. "Kurt Cobain: The Rolling Stone Interview". Rolling Stone. January 27, 1994.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 336–37
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 338
- "In Numero Uno". Entertainment Weekly. October 8, 1993. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- Farley, Christopher John. "To The End Of Grunge". Time. September 20, 1993. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- ""Great OD's This Day In History" [MIXTAPE]". Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 352
- Di Perna, Alan. "Behind Unplugged". Guitar World. March 1995.
- Sanz, Cynthia. "Hardly Nirvana". People. March 21, 1994. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- Heard, Chris. "Torment of rock hero Cobain". BBC News. April 6, 2004. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- Ali, Lorraine. "One Last Blast". Rolling Stone. October 17, 1996.
- Pareles, Jon. "Rookies' Win Big in the 38th Grammy Awards". The New York Times. February 29, 1996. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
- DeRogatis, 2003. p. 32–3
- Heath, Chris. "The Nirvana Wars: Who Owns Kurt Cobain?". Rolling Stone. June 6, 2002.
- DeRogatis, 2003. p. 33–4
- Stout, Gene. "Courtney Love, former members of Nirvana settle suit". September 30, 2002. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- Susman, Gary. "'Mile' Marker". Entertainment Weekly. November 7, 2002. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
- "Track List Set For Nirvana Compilation". Billboard. September 20, 2005. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
- Vineyard, Jennifer. "Courtney Love Sells Substantial Share Of Nirvana Publishing Rights". MTVNews.com. April 13, 2006. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
- Cohen, Jonathan. "Nirvana Concert Film Making DVD Debut". Billboard. October 3, 2006. Archived from the original on October 21, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- Cohen, Jonathan. "Nirvana's 'Unplugged' Finally Heading To DVD". Billboard. October 4, 2007. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- "Nirvana 'Live At Reading Festival' DVD finally set for official release". NME. September 3, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- Breihan, Tom. "Sub Pop to Reissue Nirvana's Bleach". Pitchfork Media. August 14, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- "Details of Nirvana's Nevermind Reissue". UpVenue.com. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- Kreps, Daniel (August 13, 2013). "Inside Nirvana's Rarities-Packed 'In Utero' Reissue: Demos, Live Cuts, and a Found Track | Music News | Rolling Stone". Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- "Paul McCartney to replace Kurt Cobain in Nirvana reunion". Guardian.co.uk. December 12, 2012. Retrieved on December 12, 2012.
- "Nirvana Reunites with Paul McCartney, Record New Song 'Cut Me Some Slack'". Consequence of Sound. December 12, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- Erlewine, Stephen. "Sound City: Real to Reel - Original Soundtrack". allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- Vozick-Levinson, Simon (July 22, 2013). "Paul McCartney on Playing With Nirvana's Surviving Members". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- "Paul McCartney at Safeco Field". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. July 20, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- Chappell, Jon. "Nirvana's music". Guitar. June 1993.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 102
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 103
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 103–4
- Kanter, L.A. "Kurt Cobain's Well-Tempered Tantrums". Guitar Player. February 1992.
- di Perna, Alan. "Nevermore". Guitar World. March 1999.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 231–32
- Cross, Charles R. "Requiem for a Dream". Guitar World. October 2001.
- Gilbert, Jeff. "Cheap Tricks". Guitar World. February 1992.
- Classic Albums—Nirvana: Nevermind [DVD]. Isis Productions, 2004.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 140
- True, Everett. "Seattle: Rock City." Melody Maker. March 18, 1989.
- di Perna, Alan. "The Making of Nevermind". Guitar World. Fall 1996.
- Robb, John. "White Heat". Sounds. October 21, 1989.
- Steinke, Darcey. "Smashing Their Heads on That Punk Rock". Spin. October 1993.
- Azerrad, 1994. p. 210–11
- Olsen, Eric. "10 years later, Cobain lives on in his music". MSNBC.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. American Alternative Rock / Post-Punk. Allmusic.com. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
- Pareles, Jon. "Pop View; Nirvana-bes Awaiting Fame's Call". The New York Times. June 14, 1992. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
- Rich, Frank. "Journal - Far From Nirvana". The New York Times. April 14, 1994. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
- The Mojo Hall of Fame 100 (120 - 10th Anniversary Issue). Mojo magazine. November 2003. ISSN 1351-0193.
- "First stars in music Hall of Fame". BBC. November 12, 2004. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- "Rolling Stone: The Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All-Time". Rock On The Net. 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
- Pop, Iggy. "100 Greatest Artists: Nirvana". Rolling Stone. 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
- "100 Greatest Guitarists: David Fricke's Picks: Kurt Cobain". Rolling Stone. 2003. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- "100 Greatest Singers: Kurt Cobain". Rolling Stone. November 27, 2008. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
- "100 Greatest Guitarists: Kurt Cobain". Rolling Stone. November 24, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
- "VH1: 100 Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll". Rock On The Net. 1998. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
- "VH1: '100 Greatest Hard Rock Artists': 1-50". Rock On The Net. 2000. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
- "VH1 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time". Stereogum. September 3, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
- "The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
- "Definitive 200 Albums". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-04-10. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- MTV News staff (April 6, 2005). "For The Record: Quick News On Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams, Ciara, 'Dimebag' Darrell, Nirvana, Shins & More". MTV. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- Nirvana songs listed on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time":
- "'All Apologies'". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
- "'Come As You Are'". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
- "'In Bloom'". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
- "'Smells Like Teen Spirit'". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
- Nirvana albums listed on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time":
- "'In Utero'". Rolling Stone. May 31, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
- "'Unplugged'". Rolling Stone. May 31, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
- "'Nevermind'". Rolling Stone. May 31, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
- Nirvana albums listed on Rolling Stone's "100 Best Albums of the Nineties":
- "'MTV Unplugged in New York'". Rolling Stone. April 27, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- "'In Utero'". Rolling Stone. April 27, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- "'Nevermind'". Rolling Stone. April 27, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- Tyrangiel, Josh (November 13, 2006). "All-TIME 100 Albums: Nevermind". Time. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- Suddath, Claire (October 21, 2011). "All-TIME 100 Songs: ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’". Time. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- "30 All-TIME Best Music Videos: ‘Heart-Shaped Box’". Time. July 26, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- "Nirvana catalogue to be released on vinyl". CBC.ca. March 21, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- "Top Selling Artists". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- "Nirvana Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- "Gold & Platinum database search: 'Nirvana'". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 23, 2013. Note: In the "Search by parameters" section, user needs to (1) enter "Nirvana" in the "Keywords" field and (2) tick the "Exact match" box then (3) click the "Search" button.
- Maloy, Sarah. "Nirvana's 'Nevermind' 20th Anniversary Editions Include Unreleased Recordings, Alternate Mixes, More". Billboard. July 26, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- "On This Day: 1994: Rock musician Kurt Cobain 'shoots himself'". BBC. April 8, 1994. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Inductees". Rockhall.com. 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
- Darren Levin (18 March 2014). "Nirvana drummer dumped from Hall Of Fame via brutal SMS". Faster Louder. Faster Louder Pty Ltd. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
References
- Azerrad, Michael. Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. Doubleday, 1994. ISBN 0-385-47199-8
- Cross, Charles R. Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain. Hyperion, 2001. ISBN 0-7868-8402-9
- DeRogatis, Jim. Milk It!: Collected Musings on the Alternative Music Explosion of the 90's. Da Capo, 2003. ISBN 0-306-81271-1
- Gaar, Gillian G. In Utero. Continuum, 2006. ISBN 0-8264-1776-0
- Rocco, John (editor). The Nirvana Companion: Two Decades of Commentary. Schirmer, 1998. ISBN 0-02-864930-3
External links
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