Seattle-based Nirvana launched grunge music — and the mainstream alternative rock movement — into the mainstream with the release of their 1991 album Nevermind. Their emotionally abrasive, guitar-driven sound was an entirely original blend of Punk Rock's trademark aggression, Heavy Metal's irreverent power and early Alternative Rock's addictive vocal melodies and set the tone for all Alternative Music to follow. Nirvana is still considered the definitive Alt Rock band.
Kurt Cobain met Krist Novoselic in 1985 and formed a friendship based on a mutual appreciation of the Seattle band The Melvin's. They began playing together and formed a band which they eventually called Nirvana. After recording a number of singles and one album (Bleach) with a series of drummers, they met D.C. hardcore drummer Dave Grohl in 1990 and invited him to join the band. Soon after, they signed to Geffen Records and produced their first major label album: the seminal Nevermind.
Initially, Geffen assumed Nevermind would be moderately successful, like a number of earlier Alt Rock albums. However, the album's first single "Smells Like Teen Spirit," became an overwhelming hit on MTV. In the six months following the album's release it sold three million copies, overshadowing the popularity of Hair Metal and displacing Michael Jackson's Dangerous on the Billboard charts. Nevermind signaled the beginning of a new phase in popular music.
With the wild success of Nevermind, Nirvana became the unwilling voice of a new generation. Cobain, in particular, was seen as the spokesman for disaffected and disgruntled youths — a position he did not feel comfortable filling. In 1993, the band released In Utero, which broke from the radio-friendly sound of Nevermind and upset many fans. During this time, as Nirvana continued touring nationally and internationally, the band members grew increasingly disillusioned.
On April 8, Kurt Cobain's body was found, lifeless, in the spare room of his home. The details are still unclear, but most label the cause of death as suicide. What is known is that Cobain was crippled by the stresses of fame and constant touring, suffered from chronic bronchitis and a stomach condition and was in the process of fighting a heroin addiction. His death was mourned by music fans around the world. But while it ended Nirvana, it could not stem the popularity of Alternative Music.
In their short time as a band, Nirvana popularized Seattle's Grunge sound and, indirectly, popularized many Independent and Alternative bands that had helped create that sound. Pre-grunge Alternative bands like The Pixies, early indie rock bands like Sonic Youth, other Grunge bands like Aice In Chains and even contemporary Alt / Indie bands like Death Cab For Cutie owe their popularity in some part to Nirvana — the first Alternative band to break into the mainstream airways.
- Kurt Cobain: Guitar, Vocals (1987-1994)
- Krist Novoselic: Bass (1987-1994)
- Dave Grohl: Drums (1990-1994)
- Aaron Burckhard (1987‚ 1988)
- Dale Crover (1988, 1990)
- Dave Foster (1988)
- Chad Channing (1988‚ 1990)
- Jason Everman (1989)
- Dan Peters (1990)
- Pat Smear (1993‚ 1994)
Other Drummers:
Other Guitarists:
1989: Bleach (Sub Pop)
1991: Nevermind (DGC)
1992: Incesticide (DGC)
1993: In Utero (DGC)
1994: MTV Unplugged in New York (DGC)
1996: From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah (DGC)
2002: Nirvana (DGC)
2004: With the Lights Out - Box Set (DGC)
2005: Sliver: The Best of the Box (DGC)
MTV Video Music Awards:
- Best Alternative Video: "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
- Best New Artist in a Video, "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
- Best Alternative Video, "In Bloom"
- Best Alternative Video, "Heart Shaped Box"
- Best Art Direction, "Heart Shaped Box"
- International Breakthrough Act
- Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist
- Best Alternative Music Album, MTV Unplugged in New York
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