Nirvana
Biography / Discography
Formed in Aberdeen, Washington, USA, in
1988, the Nirvana that the MTV generation came to love comprised Kurt Cobain (b.
Kurt Donald Cobain, 20 February 1967, Hoquiam, Washington, USA, d. 5 April 1994,
Seattle, Washington, USA; guitar/vocals), Krist Novoselic (b. 16 May 1965,
Croatia, Yugoslavia; bass) and David Grohl (b. 14 January 1969, Warren, Ohio,
USA; drums). Grohl was "something like our sixth drummer", explained Cobain, and
had been recruited from east coast band Dain Bramage, having previously played
with Scream, who recorded for Minor Threat's influential Dischord Records label.
Their original drummer was Chad Channing; at one point Dinosaur Jr's J. Mascis
had been
touted as a permanent fixture, along with Dan Peters from Mudhoney.
Having been signed by the Seattle-based Sub Pop Records, the trio completed
their debut single, "Love Buzz"/"Big Cheese", the former a song written and
first recorded by 70s Dutch act Shocking Blue. Second guitarist Jason Everman
was then added prior to Bleach, which cost a meagre $600 to record. Though he
was pictured on the cover, he played no part in the actual recording (going on
to join Mindfunk, via Soundgarden and Skunk). The set confirmed Nirvana's
ability to match heavy riffs with melody and it quickly attracted a cult
following.
However, Channing left the band following a
European tour, and as a likely replacement proved hard to find, Dan Peters from
labelmates Mudhoney stepped in on a temporary basis. He was featured on the
single "Sliver", Nirvana's sole 1990 release. New drummer Grohl reaffirmed a
sense of stability. The revamped trio secured a prestigious contract with Geffen
Records, whose faith was rewarded with Nevermind, which broke the band
worldwide. This was a startling collection of songs that transcended structural
boundaries, notably the distinctive slow verse/fast chorus format, and almost
single-handedly brought the "grunge" subculture overground. It topped the US
charts early in 1992, eclipsing much-vaunted competition from Michael Jackson
and Dire Straits and topped many Album Of The Year polls. The opening track,
"Smells Like Teen Spirit", reached the US and UK Top 10, further confirmation
that Nirvana now combined critical and popular acclaim. In February 1992, the
romance of Cobain and Courtney Love of Hole was sealed when the couple married
(Love giving birth to a daughter, Frances Bean). It was already obvious,
however, that Cobain was struggling with his new role as "spokesman for a
generation".
The first big story to break concerned an article in Vanity Fayre that alleged
Love had taken heroin while pregnant; this saw the state intercede on the
child's behalf by not allowing the Cobains alone with the child during its first
month.
Press interviews ruminated on the difficulties
experienced in recording a follow-up album, and also revealed Cobain's use of a
variety of drugs in order to stem the pain arising from a stomach complaint. The
recording of In Utero, produced by Big Black/Rapeman alumnus Steve Albini, was
not without difficulties. Rumours circulated concerning confrontations with both
Albini and record company Geffen over the "lo-fi" production. When the record
was finally released, the effect was not as immediate as Nevermind, although
Cobain's songwriting remained inspired on "Penny Royal Tea", "All Apologies" and
the evocative "Rape Me".
Cobain's descent into self-destruction accelerated in 1994, however, as he went
into a coma during dates in Italy (it was later confirmed that this had all the
markings of a failed suicide attempt), before returning to Seattle to shoot
himself on 5 April 1994. The man who had long protested that Nirvana were
"merely" a punk band had finally been destroyed by the success that overtook him
and them. The wake conducted in the press was matched by public demonstrations
of affection and loss, which included suspected copycat suicides. The release of
MTV Unplugged In New York offered some small comfort for Cobain's fans, with the
singer's understated, aching delivery on a variety of cover versions and Nirvana
standards enduring as one of the most emotive sights and sounds of the 90s.
Grohl went on to form the excellent Foo
Fighters, alongside ex-Germs guitarist Pat Smear (who had added second guitar to
previous touring engagements and the band's MTV Unplugged appearance), following
press rumours that Grohl would be working with Pearl Jam (much to Courtney
Love's chagrin) or Tom Petty. Novoselic formed Sweet 75 early in 1997 and Eyes
Adrift in 2001. A legal squabble broke out in summer 2002 between Love and
Grohl/Novoselic over the ownership of Nirvana's unreleased recordings. The
dispute was eventually settled, however, and in October the first new Nirvana
recording to emerge since Cobain's death, "You Know You're Right", made its
debut in the US Hot 100.
DISCOGRAPHY: Bleach (Sub Pop 1989)***, Nevermind (Geffen 1991)*****, In Utero
(Geffen 1993)****, MTV Unplugged In New York (Geffen 1994)****.
COMPILATIONS: Incesticide (Geffen 1992)***,Singles(Geffen 1995)****, From The
Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah
(Geffen 1996)****, Nirvana (Geffen 2002)****.
VIDEOGRAPHY: Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! (Geffen 1994), Teen Spirit: The Tribute
To Kurt Cobain (Labyrinth 1996).
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Route 666: On The Road To Nirvana, Gina Arnold. Nirvana And The
Sound Of Seattle, Brad Morrell. Come As You Are, Michael Azerrad. Nirvana: An
Illustrated Biography, Suzi Black. Nirvana: Tribute, Suzi Black. Never Fade
Away, Dave Thompson. Kurt Cobain, Christopher Sandford.
Teen Spirit: The Stories Behind Every Nirvana Song, Chuck
Crisafulli. Nirvana: Nevermind, Susan Wilson. Who Killed Kurt Cobain?: The
Mysterious Death Of An Icon, Ian Halperin and Max Wallace. The Nirvana
Companion, John Rocco. The Cobain Dossier, Martin Clarke and Paul Woods (ed.).
Eyewitness Nirvana: The Day-By-Day Chronicle, Carrie Borzillo. Nirvana, Steve
Gullick and Stephen Sweet (photographers). Heavier Than Heaven: The Biography Of
Kurt Cobain, Charles R. Cross.
FILMOGRAPHY: Kurt & Courtney (1998).
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