Nirvana (band)
Nirvana | |
|---|---|
 Nirvana band members Krist Novoselic (left) and Kurt Cobain performing at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Aberdeen, Washington, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1987–1994 |
| Labels | Sub Pop, DGC |
| Associated acts | |
| Past members | Kurt Cobain Krist Novoselic Dave Grohl Pat Smear |
Nirvana was an American rock band formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. It was founded by singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic. Nirvana had many drummers, but the final and most well known drummer was Dave Grohl, who joined in 1990. The band ended in 1994 after the death of Cobain. Since they formed, they have sold over 75 million records all over the world.[1]
Nirvana were part of a rock music genre from Seattle called grunge. The genre comes from both punk rock and heavy metal. They released their first album, called Bleach, for record label Sub Pop in 1989. Nirvana's style was songs with quiet verses and loud choruses. After signing to record label DGC Records, in 1991, Nirvana became very popular after releasing the song "Smells Like Teen Spirit". This song was the first single from their second album Nevermind (1991), which sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Nirvana becoming popular also made alternative rock popular. Cobain was then called by some people the "spokesman of a generation".[2]
After many tours and the 1992 compilation album Incesticide and EP Hormoaning, Nirvana released their third studio album In Utero (1993). It was well liked by critics and sold 15 million records worldwide. Nirvana ended after the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994. Some live albums have been released since. MTV Unplugged in New York (1994) won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 1996.
History[change | change source]
Formation and early years (1987-1988)[change | change source]
Singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic met while they were at Aberdeen High School. Cobain said they didn't speak much while there. They became friends after high school while they were both often in the practising space of the Melvins[3] Cobain wanted to start a band with Novoselic, but Novoselic did not answer for a long time. Cobain sent him a demo of his band Fecal Matter. Three years later, Novoselic told Cobain he had listened to the tape and said they should start a band.[4]
After the band[change | change source]
After Nirvana broke up, Dave Grohl started a new band called the Foo Fighters. Krist Novoselic became interested in politics and also kept making music. He was the bassist for Flipper, which Kurt Cobain was a fan of, but later left the band. Novoselic later founded alternative rock band Giants in the Trees in 2017.
Albums[change | change source]
Studio albums[change | change source]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Nirvana catalogue to be released on vinyl". CBC News. 2009-03-21. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
- ↑ Azerrad, Michael."Inside the Heart and Mind of Nirvana". Rolling Stone. April 16, 1992. Archived from the original on January 9, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ↑ Azerrad, 1994. p. 36
- ↑ Azerrad, 1994. p. 44–5
- 1987 establishments in the United States
- 1994 disestablishments in the United States
- 1980s American music groups
- 1990s American music groups
- American rock bands
- Grunge bands
- Musical groups disestablished in 1994
- Musical groups established in 1987
- Musical groups from Washington
- Nirvana (band)
- 1980s establishments in Washington (state)