Nirvana
Ex-Nirvana Members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear Still Jam Together
To celebrate the release of Medicine at Midnight, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Pat Smear returned to SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show. Along with the new album and their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination, the members also discussed their time in Nirvana and how they feel about it now. “Every once in a while, me and Krist and Dave get together and we do play as if we’re Nirvana, so I don’t have to miss it—we do it,” Smart admitted. “Last time, we did it at the house where we recorded the [new Foo Fighters] album.” When Stern asked if they listen to Nirvana albums, both Grohl and Smear said no because it was too painful. “It just makes me sad,” Smear said. Grohl admitted that his 11-year-old daughter knows the words to “Come As You Are,” despite him never playing that record for he...
Nirvana’s Bleach to Be Reissued as a Limited-Edition Red Cassette
At this point, there’s been so many printings, pressings and reissues of Nirvana’s 1989 debut Bleach that it’s nearly impossible to keep track of which is what and for collectors, worth how much. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, another version of the Sub Pop record (aka the album that started it all) will be issued as a limited-edition cassette. The cassette, which will be featured as Love Buzz Red, will be sold through Tapehead City. There’s only 500 of them, so if you want to grab the item, you’re going to have to move quickly. You can preorder the cassette here. The Tapehead City description of the release reads as follows: “Bleach” was the debut album from Nirvana released on June 15, 1989, by Sub Pop records and Love Buzz was their first single. Kurt Cobain died 27 ye...
Ty Dolla $ign Covers ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’
This year has been an odd one so far (to put it mildly), but you probably didn’t have rapper/feature king (and former SPIN cover subject) Ty Dolla $ign covering Nirvana on your bingo card. Late on Monday, the rapper posted a short clip on Twitter of him powering through an instrumental version of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” with his band. They look like they’re having fun jamming on the alt-rock standard, which turns…30 this year. Check it out below. Late last year, Ty Dolla $ign released his long-awaited third album, the aptly titled Featuring Ty Dolla $ign. The record featured the king of the collab teaming with stars like Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi, Kanye West, Post Malone and a whole lot more. As for Nirvana, we spoke with Krist Novoselic late last year about the lasting impact of the ba...
The 35 Best Albums of the Last 35 Years
Let’s face it: With most “Best Albums” lists, you know the broad strokes of the ranking before you even click. Part of that predictability is understandable: Most iconic records earn their reputation. But these rankings shouldn’t be fossilized, and a shit-ton of amazing LPs have been shoved aside in the pursuit of maintaining the status quo. We didn’t ignore the unimpeachable on our list — you’ll see plenty of the staples you’ve come to expect. But we also hope we’ll spark your curiosity and encourage you to hunt for a title you may have missed over the last 35 years. 35. Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel of Love (1987) CREDIT: Columbia Records How does one follow up a rock album that recalibrates stadium sound systems and offers a stark look at hard times in America? With love songs, of course. ...
Krist Novoselic on the Lasting Impact of Nirvana
For many, Nirvana were the voice of Generation X. And with good reason. Kurt Cobain’s lyrics reflected elements of alienation and angst of the post-Boomer generation, while their incredibly melodic music powered by Krist Novoselic’s booming bass and Dave Grohl’s tenacious drumming took what was going on underground and brought grunge and alternative to the mainstream and blew the then-ruling hair metal away. “We had a pretty good time [as they shot to fame],” Novoselic tells SPIN over the phone. “But we really didn’t even know what was going on. We were doing these tours at this point in relatively small places. We heard we were on heavy rotation on MTV and these label guys would show up and it would be like ‘Oh okay.’ Just working hard and trying to play good every night.” That shar...
The Most Influential Artists: #1 Nirvana
As part of our 35th anniversary, we’re naming the most influential artists of the past 35 years. Today, we’ve finally reached the top spot. From Seattle, Washington, here is Nirvana. CREDIT: Gie Knaeps/Getty Images The hero’s journey has been told time and time again. Hero leaves small town, battles along the yellow brick road and ultimately finds success. In this case, the hero was a blonde kid from the small riverfront town of Aberdeen, Washington, who defied the odds and changed the course of music. Kurt Cobain was everything: Feminist. Outspoken. Sly. Snarky. Hilarious. Intelligent. Intuitive. Forward-thinking. Genius. Teaming up with bassist Krist Novoselic and (four drummers later) Dave Grohl, Cobain kick-started a sonic revolution, bursting eardrums and revolutionizing a sound...
Eddie Van Halen’s Iconic Guitars Sell for $422,000 at Legend-Studded Auction
Eddie Van Halen’s “Frankenstrat” is easily one of the most recognizable instruments in rock history, and Kramer Guitars’ early take on the design now belongs to a wealthy new owner. The three instruments sold for a combined $422,050 ($231,250 for the customized Kramer built with guitar tech Matt Bruck at the guitarist’s home studio, $140,800 for his 2004 EVH Charvel Art Series guitar, and $50,000 for a prop guitar from the “Hot for Teacher” video) at the Icons & Idols Trilogy: Rock ‘n’ Roll Auction held by Julien’s Auctions on Wednesday. It was the highest-priced seller out of the nearly 900 available items from a who’s who of music history featuring everyone from Elvis to Lady Gaga, while two of Kurt Cobain’s smashed Fenders sold for a combined $281,600 and Bob Marley’s first gui...
The 35 Greatest Concerts of the Last 35 Years
We know, we know — the best concert of all-time is your friend’s obscure indie-punk band playing a sweaty neighborhood basement back in ‘94. We admit that one slipped through the cracks. Maybe it’s a fool’s errand, but this list is our attempt to narrow down three and a half decades of worthy live music events — legendary festivals, headlining tours from major artists, one-off stage collaborations, multimedia spectacles — into an eclectic and satisfying blend. – Ryan Reed 35. Heilung at Castlefest (8/5/2017) CREDIT: Gonzales Photo/PYMCA/Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Music-related viral clips tend to be silly and easily digestible, like the dude riding a skateboard to Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” while sipping on Ocean Spray. So it’s heartening that Heilung’s debut l...
The 35 Best Videos of the Last 35 Years
SPIN launched in the peak MTV era, when an innovative — or even just salacious — music video could make or break an artist. Thirty five years later, YouTube is an obligatory part of any promotional push, but no one’s counting on a mind-blowing clip to sell a record. (The views do often matter — just not always the creativity.) A sizable chunk of the best videos came out during the ‘90s alternative bloom, when directors like Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry and Hype Williams experimented with the style and substance of this malleable medium. But the format hasn’t died with MTV: artists like Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar and Miley Cyrus all made this list for a reason — and it wasn’t to meet a decade quota. Here are the top 35 from the last 35. Ready or not, here we go again. – Ryan Reed 3...
Krist Novoselic’s Giants in the Trees Perform ‘Sasquatch’ to Promote The Dark Divide Film
After months of lockdown and separation, Giants in the Trees (featuring Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic on bass, Jillian Raye on vocals/banjo and Jennifer Johnson on vocals) met up to perform their song ‘”Sasquatch.” The video clip is to promote the new film The Dark Divide. It finds the band collaborating with Dr. Robert Michael Pyle as part of a virtual panel presentation about Southern Washington state’s Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Check out the video and song below. [embedded content] The film The Dark Divide, starring David Cross and Debra Messing, is out Nov. 10. It’s based on the true story of butterfly expert Dr. Pyle’s (David Cross) perilous 1995 journey across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. On his epic journey, he makes a discovery that challenges everyth...
Butch Vig Says Nevermind ‘Would Not Have the Same Cultural Impact’ Today
Nirvana’s Nevermind continues to endure nearly 30 years, but would its legend be what it is if it was released today? Butch Vig isn’t so sure. The album’s producer observed that if Nirvana’s culture-shifting album was released now, “despite being a great record, it would not have the same cultural impact” today. In an interview with NME, Vig, who is also the longtime drummer for Garbage, said that the iconic Nirvana record, if released today, would have a different trajectory. “I think it would be tough to repeat that zeitgeist moment. It was perfect timing coming out when there was a shift in music and it felt like a revolution. I can see that happening again, but not in the same way.” The producer/musician continued: “I saw something similar with Billie Eilish. I’m fr...
Eddie Vedder and Dave Grohl Join Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Letter to You Radio’
When Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You Radio was first announced by Apple Music, it was effectively guaranteed that the show’s guests would be a who’s who of rock history. Today, that lineup happened to feature Eddie Vedder and Dave Grohl to chat about Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and a whole lot more. The conversation jumped flowed through topics like personal and musical growth, the art of the demo, rising to musical fame, and the brotherhood among bands. “What was the difference between making that journey with Nirvana and making it with the Foo Fighters?” Springsteen asked Grohl at one point. “Well, probably just like you, I would imagine, you start playing music when you’re young, because something catches your heart, right?” Grohl answered. “And for me personally, it was the Bea...
