Nirvana (band) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nirvana
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Nirvana performing live at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. Kurt Cobain is in the foreground and Krist Novoselic is in the background.
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| Background information | |
| Also known as |
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| Origin | Aberdeen, Washington, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1987–1994 |
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| Past members | See band members section for others |
Nirvana was an American rock band that started in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. The band was formed by lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic. They had a few drummers, but Dave Grohl joined in 1990 and became a key member. Nirvana's success helped make alternative rock music very popular. They were often seen as a voice for young people of their time. Even though their main career only lasted three years, their music is still loved and influences rock music today.
In the late 1980s, Nirvana became part of the Seattle grunge music scene. They released their first album, Bleach, in 1989 with an independent record label called Sub Pop. Their music often used big changes in sound, going from quiet parts to loud, powerful choruses. In 1991, they signed with a bigger record label, DGC Records. Nirvana then became super famous with their song "Smells Like Teen Spirit". This was the first song from their important second album, Nevermind (1991). Nevermind was a huge hit in the 1990s, selling millions of copies. It is known for changing the sound of popular rock music.
Nirvana's music mixed pop melodies with a raw, loud sound, showing their punk style. Their songs often explored feelings of being an outsider. This unique sound made them popular all over the world. After touring a lot, the band released their third album, In Utero (1993). This album reached number one in the US and UK and was praised by music critics. Nirvana stopped making music after Kurt Cobain passed away in April 1994. Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl, and Kurt's widow, Courtney Love, have managed later music releases. Their live album MTV Unplugged in New York (1994) won a Grammy Award.
Nirvana is one of the best-selling bands ever, selling over 75 million records worldwide. During their time as a mainstream band, Nirvana won many awards. These included an American Music Award, a Brit Award, and a Grammy Award. They also won seven MTV Video Music Awards. Five of their songs reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Four of their albums topped the Billboard 200 chart. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine named Nirvana among the 100 greatest artists of all time. They were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, the first year they were eligible.
Contents
The Band's Journey
How Nirvana Started
Singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic met in Aberdeen, Washington. They became friends while visiting the practice space of another band called the Melvins. Kurt wanted to start a band with Krist, but Krist took a while to agree. Kurt gave him a demo tape of his music project, Fecal Matter. Three years after they first met, Krist finally listened to the demo and suggested they start a band.
Their first band, the Sellouts, played songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Krist played guitar and sang, Kurt played drums, and Steve Newman played bass. This band didn't last long. They tried another project in late 1986 with Bob McFadden on drums, but it also ended quickly. In early 1987, Kurt and Krist found drummer Aaron Burckhard. They practiced songs from Kurt's Fecal Matter tape and soon started writing new music.
In their first few months, the band used different names. These included Skid Row, Pen Cap Chew, Bliss, and Ted Ed Fred. The band first played as Nirvana on March 19, 1988, in Tacoma, Washington. Kurt Cobain designed the concert flyer, which listed all the band's previous names. The group chose Nirvana because, as Kurt said, he "wanted a name that was kind of beautiful or nice and pretty instead of a mean, raunchy punk name." Krist moved to Tacoma and Kurt to Olympia, Washington. They lost touch with Aaron Burckhard for a bit. During this time, they practiced with Dale Crover from the Melvins. Nirvana recorded their first demo songs in January 1988.
In early 1988, Dale Crover moved away but suggested Dave Foster as a new drummer. Dave's time with Nirvana was difficult. When he was in jail, Aaron Burckhard filled in again. Aaron left after telling Kurt he was too tired to practice. Dave Foster rejoined but was later replaced by Chad Channing after Kurt and Krist met him. Chad started playing with Nirvana in late May 1988.
First Music Releases
Nirvana released their first single, a cover of "Love Buzz" by Shocking Blue, in November 1988. It came out on the independent record label Sub Pop in Seattle. The band then started recording their first album, Bleach, with producer Jack Endino. Bleach was inspired by the heavy rock of the Melvins and the punk rock of Mudhoney.
The money for recording Bleach, which was $606.17, came from Jason Everman. He then joined the band as a second guitarist. Even though Jason didn't play on the album, he was given credit on Bleach. Krist Novoselic said they did this to make him feel more at home in the band. Before the album came out, Nirvana signed a longer contract with Sub Pop.
Bleach was released in June 1989 and became popular on college radio stations. Nirvana went on their first national tour. However, they cut it short because of problems with Jason Everman. Jason later said he quit the band. Bleach sold well, with 40,000 copies sold at first. But Kurt Cobain was unhappy that Sub Pop wasn't promoting the album enough. In late 1989, Nirvana recorded the Blew EP. Kurt said the band's music was changing, becoming "poppier and poppier as I get happier and happier."
In April 1990, Nirvana began working on their next album with producer Butch Vig. Kurt and Krist were not happy with Chad Channing's drumming. Chad also felt left out of the songwriting. As demo recordings of Nirvana with Butch Vig started to get attention from bigger record labels, Chad left the band. That July, Nirvana recorded the song "Sliver" with Mudhoney's drummer Dan Peters. Dale Crover played drums for Nirvana's short tour with Sonic Youth in August.
In September 1990, Buzz Osborne from the Melvins introduced the band to drummer Dave Grohl. Dave's band, Scream, had just broken up. Dave tried out for Krist and Kurt a few days after arriving in Seattle.
Nevermind and Becoming Famous
Nirvana was not happy with Sub Pop. Since their demo recordings were getting interest, they looked for a deal with a major record label. This was because no independent label could buy them out of their contract. Kurt and Krist asked Soundgarden and Alice in Chains manager Susan Silver for advice. She introduced them to people in the music business who helped new bands find deals. After Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon highly recommended them, Nirvana signed with DGC Records in 1990. When Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, Krist Novoselic thanked Susan Silver for helping them get into the music industry.
After signing, the band started recording their first major label album, Nevermind. They wanted Butch Vig to produce it again. Instead of recording in Madison, they moved to Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, California. For two months, the band worked on many songs. Some, like "In Bloom", had been played by Nirvana for years. Others, like "On a Plain", didn't have finished lyrics until halfway through recording. After recording, Butch Vig and the band tried to mix the album. But they were behind schedule, and the mixes weren't good enough. So, Slayer mixer Andy Wallace was brought in to create the final mix. After the album was released, Nirvana members said they weren't happy with how polished the mixer made Nevermind sound.
At first, DGC Records hoped to sell 250,000 copies of Nevermind. But the first single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", quickly became very popular. Its music video was played a lot on MTV. As Nirvana toured Europe in late 1991, their shows were packed. TV crews were always around, and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was everywhere on radio and music TV. By Christmas 1991, Nevermind was selling 400,000 copies a week in the US. In January 1992, the album reached number one on the Billboard album charts. It also topped charts in many other countries. Billboard magazine said Nirvana was a rare band that had everything: critical praise, industry respect, pop appeal, and a strong alternative fanbase. The album eventually sold over seven million copies in the United States and over 30 million worldwide. Nirvana's sudden fame helped make alternative rock popular.
Nirvana did not do another big American tour for Nevermind because they were tired. They only played a few shows later that year. In March 1992, Kurt Cobain wanted to change how the band's songwriting money was split. He wrote most of the music. Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic agreed. After some tension, Kurt received a larger share of the money.
Amid rumors that the band might break up, Nirvana played at the Reading Festival in England in 1992. Nirvana's performance at Reading is seen as one of their best. A few days later, Nirvana played at the MTV Video Music Awards. The band won awards for Best Alternative Video and Best New Artist.
In Utero Album
In February 1993, Nirvana released a split single with The Jesus Lizard. For their third album, Nirvana chose producer Steve Albini. He was known for his honest and strong opinions in the American independent music scene. Kurt Cobain said they chose him for his "natural" recording style, without too many studio tricks. Steve Albini and Nirvana recorded the album in two weeks in February for $25,000.
After the album was finished, some stories came out saying that DGC Records thought the album couldn't be released. Fans worried that Nirvana's music might be changed by their record label. While the stories were not true, the band was unhappy with some parts of Albini's mixes. They thought the bass was too quiet. Kurt felt that "Heart-Shaped Box" and "All Apologies" didn't sound "perfect." So, R.E.M. producer Scott Litt was brought in to remix these two songs. Kurt also added more instruments and backing vocals.
In Utero reached number one on the American and British album charts. Time critic Christopher John Farley wrote that Nirvana had not become too mainstream, even though this new album might make the mainstream more like Nirvana. In Utero sold over five million copies in the United States. That October, Nirvana started their first US tour in two years. For this tour, the band added Pat Smear as a second guitarist.
In November, Nirvana recorded a performance for the TV show MTV Unplugged. With Pat Smear and cellist Lori Goldston joining them, they did something different for the show. They chose not to play their most famous songs. Instead, they performed several cover songs. They also invited Cris and Curt Kirkwood from the Meat Puppets to play three of their songs with Nirvana.
In early 1994, Nirvana went on a European tour. Their last concert was in Munich, Germany, on March 1. In Rome, on the morning of March 4, Kurt Cobain's wife, Courtney Love, found him unwell in their hotel room. He was taken to the hospital. The rest of the tour was canceled.
After Kurt Cobain
After less than a week, Kurt left the hospital without telling anyone and went back to Seattle. One week later, on April 8, 1994, Kurt Cobain was found to have passed away at his home in Seattle.
Kurt's passing gained international attention. Nirvana's music sales quickly increased. Unused tickets for Nirvana concerts were sold for high prices. A public gathering for Kurt was held on April 10, 1994, in Seattle, with about 7,000 people attending.
In 1994, Dave Grohl started a new band called Foo Fighters. He and Krist Novoselic decided that Krist would not join the new band. Dave felt it would be too much pressure and uncomfortable for the other band members. Krist Novoselic then focused on political work.
Plans for a live Nirvana album were canceled because Krist and Dave found it too difficult to put the music together so soon after Kurt's passing. Instead, in November 1994, DGC released the MTV Unplugged performance as MTV Unplugged in New York. It debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and won a Grammy Award. This was followed by Nirvana's first full live video, Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!. In 1996, the live album From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah also debuted at the top of the Billboard album chart.
Later Releases and Reunions
In 1997, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl, and Courtney Love formed a company called Nirvana LLC to manage Nirvana's projects. A collection of 45 rare Nirvana songs was planned for release in 2001. However, Courtney Love filed a lawsuit to stop the release. She believed that Kurt Cobain was Nirvana and that Dave and Krist were just supporting musicians. Dave and Krist sued back, asking the court to remove Courtney from the partnership.
The day before the case was set to go to trial in October 2002, Courtney Love, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl announced they had reached an agreement. The next month, a best-of album called Nirvana was released. It included a new song, "You Know You're Right", which was the last song Nirvana recorded. It debuted at number three on the Billboard album chart. A box set of rare recordings, With the Lights Out, was released in November 2004. This set included early Kurt Cobain demos and live tracks. An album of selected songs from the box set, Sliver: The Best of the Box, came out in late 2005.
In April 2006, Courtney Love sold part of her share in Nirvana's song catalog for about $50 million. She wanted to assure fans that the music would be handled with care and respect for Nirvana's spirit.
Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! was re-released on DVD in 2006. The full version of MTV Unplugged in New York came out on DVD in 2007. In November 2009, Nirvana's performance at the 1992 Reading Festival was released as Live at Reading. Deluxe 20th-anniversary editions of Bleach, Nevermind, and In Utero have also been released with extra songs and videos.
In 2012, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear played with Paul McCartney at a concert for Hurricane Sandy relief. They performed a new song they wrote together called "Cut Me Some Slack". On July 19, 2013, the group played with Paul McCartney again in Seattle. This was the first time Nirvana members had played together in their hometown in over 15 years.
In 2014, Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At the ceremony, Krist, Dave, and Pat Smear performed four songs with guest singers like Joan Jett and Lorde. They then played a full show with other guest vocalists. Dave Grohl thanked all the drummers who played with Nirvana.
In 2016, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl reunited to play David Bowie's song "The Man Who Sold the World", which Nirvana had covered. Beck joined them on guitar and vocals. They have reunited for other performances since then, often with guest singers.
In September 2021, a BBC documentary called When Nirvana Came to Britain was released to celebrate 30 years of Nevermind. It included interviews with Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic. That month, a 30th-anniversary edition of Nevermind was announced. It contained many unreleased live songs and a Blu-ray video. For the 30th anniversary of In Utero, a new edition was released in October 2023. It included full live shows from 1993 and 1994.
Nirvana's Music Style
Nirvana's music is mostly described as grunge, alternative rock, and punk rock. They have also been called hard rock. Their style mixed pop melodies with a loud, raw sound. Billboard magazine said their music was a "genius blend of Kurt Cobain's raspy voice and gnashing guitars, Dave Grohl's relentless drumming and Krist Novoselic's uniting bass-work." This sound connected with fans through songs that were both melodic and hard-hitting.
Kurt Cobain said Nirvana's early sound was like a mix of Gang of Four and Scratch Acid. When Nirvana recorded Bleach, Kurt felt he needed to fit the "grunge" sound of Sub Pop to gain fans. He held back his more artistic and pop songwriting for a heavier rock sound. One writer, Michael Azerrad, said that the limits of the Sub Pop sound actually helped the band find its unique style.
Nirvana often used sudden changes in their music, going from quiet to loud. Kurt wanted to mix heavy and pop sounds. He said, "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 Kurt heard the Pixies' album Surfer Rosa after recording Bleach, he felt it had the sound he wanted but was too scared to try. The Pixies' popularity encouraged Kurt to follow his own songwriting ideas. Like the Pixies, Nirvana moved between quiet bass and drum parts and loud bursts of screaming guitar and vocals. Near the end of his life, Kurt said the band was getting tired of this "limited" style.
Kurt Cobain's rhythm guitar style was very important to the band's songs. He often played a song's verse quietly, then made it louder with distorted guitars when he repeated the part. Sometimes, the guitar would be silent in verses, letting the drums and bass support the singing. Kurt rarely played typical guitar solos. Instead, he played variations of the song's melody as single notes. His solos were often blues-based and sounded a bit off-key. The band had no formal music training. Kurt said, "I have no concept of knowing how to be a musician at all whatsoever."
Dave Grohl's drumming made Nirvana's sound much more powerful. Michael Azerrad said Dave's "powerful drumming propelled the band to a whole new plane." He noted that Dave's drumming was also very musical.
The band often destroyed their equipment after shows. Krist Novoselic said he and Kurt started this to leave the stage sooner. Kurt said it began as a way to show his frustration with earlier drummers making mistakes during performances.
Songwriting and Lyrics
Everett True said in 1989 that Nirvana's songs treated everyday things in a unique way. Kurt Cobain usually came up with the main ideas for each song, often on an acoustic guitar. He also created the singing style and lyrics. He stressed that Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl played a big part in deciding how long songs were and their different sections. He didn't like to be seen as the only songwriter.
Kurt often wrote lyrics just minutes before recording them. He said, "When I write a song the lyrics are the least important subject." He also said he didn't care much about the lyrics on Bleach, thinking "Let's just scream negative lyrics, and as long as they're not sexist and don't get too embarrassing it'll be okay." The lyrics for Nevermind came from two years of poetry he had collected. He would cut them up and choose lines he liked. In contrast, Kurt said the lyrics for In Utero were "more focused" and "almost built on themes." Kurt didn't write in a straight line. Instead, he used contrasting images to show feelings and ideas. He often presented an idea and then rejected it in his lyrics.
Nirvana's Impact
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Nirvana became incredibly popular and are known for bringing alternative rock music to the mainstream. Before Nirvana, alternative music was often found only in special sections of music stores. After Nevermind was released, "nothing was ever quite the same," according to Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic. While other alternative bands had hits, Nirvana "broke down the doors forever." Their success gave alternative music much more exposure. Erlewine also wrote that Nirvana helped popularize "Generation X" and "slacker" culture. After Kurt Cobain passed away, many headlines called him "the voice of a generation."
Nirvana is one of the best-selling bands of all time, having sold over 75 million records. They are also one of the bestselling music artists in the United States. They have had 10 songs in the Top 40 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, with five reaching number one. Two of their studio albums and two of their live albums have reached the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Nevermind, their most successful album, has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums ever. Their most famous song, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", is among the bestselling singles of all time, selling 8 million copies.
Awards and Recognition
Even after they stopped making music, Nirvana has continued to receive praise. In 2003, they were chosen for the Mojo Hall of Fame. The band was also nominated in 2004 for "Greatest Artist of the 1990s" by the UK Music Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine placed Nirvana at number 27 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004. In 2003, the magazine's senior editor David Fricke picked Kurt Cobain as the 12th best guitarist ever.
Nirvana's contributions to music have also been recognized. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has included two of Nirvana's songs, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "All Apologies", in its list of "The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". The museum also ranked Nevermind as number 10 on its "The Definitive 200 Albums of All Time" list in 2007. In 2005, the Library of Congress added Nevermind to the National Recording Registry. This registry collects important sound recordings from the 20th century.
In 2011, four of Nirvana's songs appeared on Rolling Stone's updated list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was the highest at number 9. 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 highest at number 17. Time magazine included Nevermind on its list of "The All-TIME 100 Albums" in 2006, calling it "the finest album of the 1990s." In 2011, the magazine also added "Smells Like Teen Spirit" to its list of "The All-TIME 100 Songs."
Nirvana was announced as part of the 2014 class of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held on April 10, 2014, in Brooklyn, New York. The award was given to Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl. Former drummer Chad Channing was not included in the induction. However, Chad attended the ceremony, and Dave Grohl publicly thanked him for his contributions. In 2023, Nirvana (represented by Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl, and Pat Smear) received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
Band Members
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Final lineup
Former members
Touring musicians
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Session musicians
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Band Member Timeline
Nirvana's Albums
- Bleach (1989)
- Nevermind (1991)
- In Utero (1993)
Images for kids
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Nirvana performing live at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. Kurt Cobain is in the foreground and Krist Novoselic is in the background.
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The wordmark logo of Nirvana
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Grohl performing with Scream in 1989
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Announcement from the band encouraging people to participate in the making of the music video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
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Nirvana added an extra guitarist, Pat Smear, for the In Utero tour.
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Cobain's house in Seattle, where he was found to have passed away in April 1994
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Krist Novoselic in 2011
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Bottom half of guitar smashed by Kurt Cobain, displayed at Museum of Pop Culture
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Nirvana articles at EMP Museum in Seattle, Washington
See also
In Spanish: Nirvana (banda) para niños
