Earliest Live Performances

The Earliest Performance List Edition #1
The List Was Compiled By Leo P. Cailleteau, III
I Would Appreciate All Changes.
Last Update 4/27/1996
[email protected]
Note #1 - What Is The Purpose Of The List?
The List Features The Earliest Recorded Version Of Virtually All Of The
Songs Performed By Nirvana Between 1987 And 1994. I Used About Five To
Ten Different Lists Of Shows While Compiling My List. There Are Probably
Many Undocumented Recorded Shows, Which Is Why I Need Your Help
Maintaining The List. When An Incorrect Dates Has Been Posted, Let Me
Know, So I Can Make The Change, And The List Can Be As Accurate As
Possible. The List Is For All Of The Nirvana Fans In The World, But I Ask
One Thing, Do Not Claim The List Is Your Own Work. Use It However You
Like, Just Do Not Do That.
Note #2 - What Is The Deal With The Satyricon Club Show In Portland, Oregon?
The Date Of 4/15 Is The Commonly Accepted Month And Date Of The Satyricon
Club Show In Portland Oregon. The Debate Begins With The Year, Either
1990 Or 1989. However, Neither 4/15/1989 Nor 4/15/1990 Really Fit Into
The Scheme Of Things.
Why Is 4/15/1989 Unrealistic?
I Support My Beliefs With The Facts That A Few Of The Songs Played,
Molly's Lips
(7/13/1989), Verse Chorus Verse (11/20/1989), Dive (7/8/1989), And Been A
Son (9/1/1989), Would Not Reappear For Months After 4/15/1989, Especially
Verse Chorus Verse, Which Would Not Reappear Until 11/20/1989. They Tried
Recording Verse Chorus Verse Many Times, If It Was In A Finished Version
In Which The Band Liked In April Of 1989, Why Would They Have Not Tried
It During The Blew EP Session Of 1989 In September? They Tried It At
Virtually Every Major Session.
Why Is 4/15/1990 Unrealistic?
I Support My Beliefs With The Facts That They Were In Ann Arbor, Michigan
On 4/10/1990 And Would Not Trek All The Way From The Nevermind Demos
Recording Sessions To Play A Gig In Portland, Oregon, Then Travel All
The Way Back To Cambridge, Massachusetts To Play On 4/18/1990
What Is The Date Then?
I Believe The Date Is Probably Sometime In 1990, But Probably Either Very
Early In The Year Of In The Fall Of The Year, When They Were Playing
Around Washington And Oregon, In Places Like Seattle, Tacoma, And
Olympia. .
Note #3 - What Is Live? What Isn't Live
The List Was Compiled Based On Live Performances With A Real Audience In
A Concert Situation. I Did Not Include Radio Performances Or Television
Broadcasts, With The Exception Of MTV Unplugged. What Do All Of These
Decisions Mean? It Means Opinion Was Not Played Live, And 11/03/1990 Was
Not The First Live Performance Of Turnaround.
Note #4 - What Is The Actual Date For Performance #1 Of Rape Me And Play That Funky Music?
Rape Me Debuted During A Show In Santa Cruz, California During The
Nevermind Sessions In June Of 1991. The Exact Date Of The Show Is Usually
Marked By A Question Mark, But After Reviewing A Few Concert
Chronologies, I Settled With 6/19/1991, Which May Not Be Correct, But It
Is In The Range. Play That Funky Music Was Also Played 6/19/1991.
Note #5 - Which Way Do You Determine Performance #1?
When A Song Was First Played In Full By Nirvana, The Date Of The First
Performance Of The Full Version Is Listed. For Example, During The
8/30/1992, Dave Grohl Plays The Drum Beat For Scentless Apprentice Before
Aneurysm. The List Has Listed The First Performance Date As 1/23/1993,
Not 8/30/1992 Because 1/23/1993 Was The First Full Performance. When A
Song Was Played By Nirvana, But Not In The Full Version, It Was Listed By
The First Short Performance, Like More Than A Feeling. A Full Performance
Takes Preference Over Short Performances.
Note #6 - How Is The List Arranged?
Album
Song - Earliest Performance Date
Note #7 - Where Was Radio Friendly Unit Shifter From The Home Alive Compilation Recorded??
The Track Was Included With The Compilation Disc Set, Home Alive, The Art
Of Self Defense, And It Was Recorded 2/18/1994 In Grenoble, France
According To The Disc, Not 8/6/1993 Like Commonly Believed. The Best
Part About The 2/18/1994 Recording, Is That It Means Geffen Was Recording
Shows During The In Utero Tour, Which We Had Previously Thought Had Not
Occurred At All. It Also Means, A Soundboard Copy Of The 2/18/1994 Show
Will Eventually Surface.
There Are Additional Notes At The End.
The List

Go directly to:
Bleach/ Nevermind/ Hormoaning/ Incesticide/ In Utero/Unplugged/ Rarities/ Songs only played Once
Bleach
1. Blew - 12/21/1988- Hoquiam, Washington
2. Floyd The Barber - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
3. About A Girl - 7/8/1987 - Chicago, Illinois
4. School - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
5. Love Buzz - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
6. Paper Cuts - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
7. Negative Creep - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
8. Scoff - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
9. Swap Meet - 11/25/1990 - Seattle, Washington
10. Mr. Moustache - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
11. Sifting - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
12. Big Cheese - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
13. Downer - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
I'd Appreciate All Corrections And Changes.
Nevermind
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit - 4/17/1991 - Seattle, Washington
2. In Bloom - 4/2/1990 - Chicago, Illinois
3. Come As You Are - 5/29/1991 - Los Angeles, California
4. Breed - 9/1/1989 - Tijuana, Mexico
5. Lithium - 8/19/1990 - San Diego, California
6. Polly - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
7. Territorial Pissings - 3/8/1991 - Vancouver, British Colombia
8. Drain You - 6/13/1991 - San Francisco, California
9. Lounge Act - 8/20/1991 - Cork, Ireland
10. Stay Away - 5/14/1990 - Lincoln, Nebraska
11. On A Plain - 5/29/1991 - Los Angeles, California
12. Something In The Way - 8/27/1991 - Bremen, Germany
13. Endless, Nameless - 6/20/1991 - Portland, Oregon
I'd Appreciate All Corrections And Changes.
Hormoaning
1. Turnaround - 4/17/1991 - Seattle, Washington
2. Aneurysm - 11/25/1990 - Seattle, Washington
3. D7 - 10/23/1990 - Birmingham, England
4. Son Of A Gun - 10/11/1990 - Olympia, Washington
5. Even In His Youth 9/13/1989 - Denver, Colorado
6. Molly's Lips - 11/17/1989 - Negativ, Germany
I'd Appreciate All Corrections And Changes.
Incesticide
1. Dive - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
2. Sliver - 9/22/1990 - Seattle, Washington
3. Stain - 8/26/1989 - Seattle, Washington
4. Been A Son - 9/1/1989 - Tiajuana, Mexico
5. Turnaround - 4/17/1991 - Seattle, Washington
6. Molly's Lips - 11/17/1989 - Negative, Germany
7. Son Of A Gun - 10/11/1990 - Olympia, Washington
8. Polly - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
9. Beeswax - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
10. Downer - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
11. Mexican Seafood 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
12. Hairspray Queen - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
13. Aero Zeppelin - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
14. Big Long Now - It Was Never Recorded Live.
15. Aneurysm - 11/25/1990 - Seattle, Washington
I'd Appreciate All Corrections And Changes.
In Utero
1. Serve The Servants - 4/9/1993 - San Francisco, California
2. Scentless Apprentice - 1/23/1993 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
3. Heart-Shaped Box 1/23/1993 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
4. Rape Me - 6/19/91 - Santa Cruz, California
5. Frances Farmer - 4/9/1993 - San Francisco, California
6. Dumb - 10/14/1991 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
7. Very Ape - 7/23/1993 - New York, New York
8. Milk It - 4/9/1993 - San Francisco, California
9. Pennyroyal Tea - 8/25/1991 - Hasselt, Belgium
10. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter - 10/18/1993 - Phoenix, Arizona
12. All Apologies - 11/30/1991 - ?, Scotland
13. Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Thru The Strip - It Was Never
Recorded Live.
I'd Appreciate All Corrections And Changes.
MTV Unplugged
1. About A Girl - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
2. Come As You Are - 5/29/1991 - Los Angeles, California
3. Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam - 9/25/1991 - Providence, Rhone Island
4. The Man Who Sold The World - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
5. Pennyroyal Tea - 8/25/1991 - Hasselt, Belgium
6. Dumb - 10/14/1991 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
7. Polly - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
8. On A Plain - 5/29/1991 - Los Angeles, California
9. Something In The Way - 8/27/1991 - Bremen, Germany
10. Plateau - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
11. Oh Me - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
12. Lake Of Fire - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
13. All Apologies - 11/30//1991 - ?, Scotland
14. Where Did You Sleep Last Night - 10/14/1991 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
I'd Appreciate All Corrections And Changes.
Common Rarities
1. Ain't It A Shame - It Was Never Recorded Live.
2. Anorexorist - 12/14/1987 - Seattle, Washington
3. Baba O'Riley 12/7/1991 - Rennes, France
4. Bambi Slaughter - It Was Never Recorded Live.
5. Beans - It Was Never Recorded Live.
6. Bikini Twilight - It Was Never Recorded Live.
7. Blandest - 7/12/1989 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8. Born In A Junkyard - 9/13/1989 - Denver, Colorado
9. Buffy's Pregnant - It Was Never Recorded Live.
10. Clean Up Before She Comes - It Was Never Recorded Live.
11. Marigold - It Was Never Recorded Live.
12. Rock Whore - 11/28/1991 - Sheffield, England
13. Curmudgeon - 11/23/1991 - Ghent, Belgium
14. D7 - 10/23/1990 - Birmingham, England
15. Dazed And Confused - 11/26/1989 - Mezzago, Italy
16. Do You Love Me - It Was Never Recorded Live.
17. Donuts - 10/27/1990 - Nottingham, England
18. Dough, Ray, And Me - It Was Never Recorded Live.
19. Down In The Dark - It Was Never Recorded Live.
20. The End - 8/23/1991 - Reading, England
21. Even In His Youth - 9/13/1989 - Denver, Colorado
22. Love Gunn - 9/16/1991 - Seattle, Washington
23. Formaldehyde - 10/14/1991 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
24. Gypsies, Tramps, And Thieves - It Was Never Recorded Live.
25. Help Me, I'm Hungry - 11/5/1989 - Amsterdam, Holland
26. Here She Comes Now - 5/6/1990 - Atlanta, Georgia
27. High On The Hog - 11/26/1989 - Mezzago, Italy
28. I Hate Myself And Want To Die - It Was Never Recorded Live.
29. If You Must - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
30. Immigrant Song - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
31. In His Room - 11/25/1990 - Seattle, Washington
32. It's Closing Soon - It Was Never Recorded Live.
33. Jealousy - 1/23/1993 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
34. Laminated Effect - It Was Never Recorded Live.
35. Maiden Circle - It Was Never Recorded Live.
36. Moist Vagina - It Was Never Recorded Live.
37. Misery Loves Company - It Was Never Recorded Live.
38. Moby Dick - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
39. The Money Will Roll Right In - 6/30/1992 - Stockholm, Sweden
40. Montage Of Heck - It Was Never Recorded Live.
41. More Than A Feeling - 8/30/1992 - Reading, England
42. My Sharona - 2/16/1994 - Rennes, France
43. Oh, The Guilt - 11/25/1990 - Seattle, Washington
44. On The Mountain 10/23/1993 - Chicago, Illinois
45. Opinion - It Was Never Recorded Live.
46. Pen Cap Chew - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
47. The Priest They Called Him - It Was Never Recorded Live.
48. Raunchola - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
49. Return Of The Rat - It Was Never Played Live.
50. Sex Bomb - It Was Never Played Live.
51. Spank Thru - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
52. Sweet Emotion - 1/23/1993 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
53. Sweet Home Alabama - 1/20/1990 - Tacoma, Washington
54. Talk To Me - 11/20/1991 - Barciella, Spain
55. Token Eastern Song - It Was Never Recorded Live.
56. Vendettagainst - It Was Never Recorded Live.
57. Run Rabbit Run - 12-21-1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
58. Verse Chorus Verse - 11/20/1989 - Linz, Austria
59. Wild Thing - 4/17/1991 - Seattle, Washington
60. Play That Funky Music - 6/19/1991 - Santa Cruz, California
I'd Appreciate All Corrections And Changes.
A Few More Notes
1. Most Bands Usually Play Covers Only In Concert, Which Means That Sex
Bomb And Gypsies, Tramps, And Thieves Was Probably Only Played Live, But
Until We Find More Documentation. I Will Continue To List These Tracks As
Never Being Played Live.
2. I've Made A Few Conclusions About Songs Which Are Actually A Song With
A Different Title. For One, I've Concluded That New Poopy, Which Was
Supposedly Played At MTV Rehearsals In 1992 Is Actually Tourette's. It
First Perfectly In The Scheme Of Things.
3. These Dates Are Not In Stone. The List May Say That I Hate Myself
And Want To Die Was Never Played And Recorded Live, It May Have Been, But
The Show Just Has Not Surfaced Yet.
4. The Exact Date Of Europe 1991 Would Be Appreciated. Apparently, The
Show Is Not 11/20/1991 As Previously Believed.
One Live Performance Songs
1. Anorexorist - 12/14/1987 - Seattle, Washington
2. Baba O'Riley 12/7/1991 - Rennes, France
3. Beeswax - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
4. Blandest - 7/12/1989 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5. Curmudgeon - 11/23/1991 - Ghent, Belgium
6. Dazed And Confused - 11/26/1989 - Mezzago, Italy
7. Downer - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
8. Love Gunn - 9/16/1991 - Seattle, Washington
9. High On The Hog - 11/26/1989 - Mezzago, Italy
10. If You Must - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
11. Immigrant Song - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
12. Jealousy - 1/23/1993 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
13. Lake Of Fire - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
14. Moby Dick - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
16. More Than A Feeling - 8/30/1992 - Reading, England
17. My Sharona - 2/16/1994 - Rennes, France
18. Oh Me - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
19. On The Mountain 10/23/1993 - Chicago, Illinois
20. Pen Cap Chew - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
21. Plateau - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
22. Raunchola - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
23. Rock Whore - 11/28/1991 - Sheffield, England
24. Wild Thing - 4/17/1991 -