Members
Kurt Cobain - Lead Vocals/Guitar
DOB: February 20, 1967, Aberdeen, WA
DOD: April 5, 1995, Seattle, WA
Krist Novoselic - Bass
DOB: May 16, 1965, Compton, CA
Dave Grohl - Drums/Backing Vocals
DOB: January 14, 1969, Warren, OH
Pat Smear (In Utero Tour) - Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals
DOB: August 5, 1969, Los Angeles, CA
Bio
Nirvana was founded in 1985 by Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic although it wasn't until 1987 that a drummer, Chad Channing, and name was chosen. Originally living in Arberdeen, WA, a small logging town about 100 miles east of Seattle, Cobain and Novoselic moved to Olympia, Washington's capital city, where they would find Channing and play small gigs. Throughout 1987 the band would gain solid fan base underground and record about ten demos. This lead to Nirvana's signing to Sub Pop records and their first single, a cover, called Love Buzz in 1988. In 1989 they released their first album, Bleach, selling 35,000 copies.
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| Nirvana- (from left to right) Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic |
The album launched Nirvana into instant stardom and the band was not at all prepared. It was all downhill from there. In 1992 Cobain married Courtney Love, lead singer of the underground band Hole, and that she was expecting a child. Soon after, rumors began to spring up that Cobain and Love were heavily into heroin. The rumors were supported by the fact that several of Nirvana's shows would be canceled that summer and a set tour schedule was not released. According to the band, the cancellations were due to Cobain complaining of terrible stomach aches, this would later be confirmed because he would be admitted to a hospital in June. Right before their child would be born, an article written in Vanity-Fair would accuse Love of using during her pregnancy, which were denied by Cobain and her. In August, Love gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
With the heavy documentation of Cobain's personal life, Nirvana didn't have many chances to record a new album. In 1993, they would finally release their third and final album In Utero to positive reviews and strong sales. During its recording, Cobain struggles with heroin addiction, suffering an overdose and threatening suicide. It was clear, in hindsight but not to those around him at the time, that Cobain had begun a downward spiral of emotional and physical pain which he coped with by self medicating with heroin. The pain he was feeling comes out well in this album which was way less polished than Nevermind. The band would begin a tour after the album's release adding Pat Smear as a second guitarist and backing vocals. He would act as live double-tracking, a recording technique Cobain often used because he disliked his own voice and it was commonly used by one of his influences, John Lennon. The band toured the U.S., including the recording of the "unplugged" show, until 1994 when they would begin a European tour.
On March 4, 1994, Love found Cobain had tried to commit suicide with a cocktail of champagne and tranquilizers. He was hospitalized and returned to Seattle. After again threatening suicide, an intervention was held on Cobain's behalf which caused him to begin rehab in Los Angeles. He started treatment on March 30 but escaped two days later. On April 5, 1994, Cobain commited suicide via shotgun blast to the head. His body was discovered three days later at his home in Seattle.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Bleach (1989)
- Nevermind (1991)
- In Utero (1993)
Live Albums
- MTV Unplugged in New York (1994)
- From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah (1996)
- Live at Reading (2009)
Compilations
- Incesticide (1992)
- Nirvana (2002)
Recommended Songs
- Smells Like Teen Spirit
- Heart-Shaped Box
- Dumb (Unplugged Version, Starts at 1:13)
- Lithium
- You Know You're Right
- All of the "Unplugged" album
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