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Forbes
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Nirvana's Blockbuster Blows All Of The Band's Other Albums Away
Nirvana's Nevermind hits 350 weeks on the Official Albums Sales chart — longer than all the band's ... More other charting successes combined. GERMANY - NOVEMBER 12: Photo of NIRVANA; L-R: Dave Grohl, Kurt Coabin, Krist Novoselic - posed, group shot (Photo by Paul Bergen/Redferns) Nirvana's Nevermind is enjoying yet another big week on the charts in the United Kingdom. The collection, widely regarded as one of the most important in rock history, reaches major milestones on two of the three tallies on which it appears. The project pushes the long-defunct band to numbers it has never hit before — and may never hit again. Nevermind continues to not just survive, but thrive, thanks almost entirely to ongoing purchases by fans around the world, particularly in the U.K. As it earns yet another stay on a sales-focused ranking, the title once again asserts itself as the bestselling album by Nirvana. As of this frame, Nevermind has now spent 350 weeks on the Official Albums Sales chart. That U.K.-based list tracks all forms of purchases — digital and physical — of both albums and EPs. At the moment, Nevermind sits at No. 61, down nine spots from the previous period. Nirvana has never seen a project reach such an impressive milestone before. In fact, no other effort by the group has come even close. Nevermind outpaces Nirvana's second-longest-charting title on the Official Albums Sales chart, Unplugged in New York, more than 10 times over. That set has only managed 31 appearances on the tally as one of the country's bestselling releases. Nevermind has sold so well for so long that it has outpaced all of the band's other charting releases combined – by a factor of seven. The group's self-titled compilation, Live and Loud, Bleach, and In Utero have never cracked double-digit frames on this ranking. Despite having appeared on the Official Albums Sales chart for years, Nevermind has never reached No. 1. In fact, it has never even broken into the top 10. The title is tied with Nirvana, the group's hits-packed compilation, as its highest-charting effort, as both peaked at No. 14. This week, Nevermind is also present on both the Official Physical Albums chart and the Official Rock & Metal Albums list. It recently passed a decade of appearances among the top-selling titles in the physical format. In this frame, it reaches its 1,450 stays on the rock-only roster.
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
People are only just realising what the name of iconic band Nirvana actually means
One band that continues to captivate fans nearly four decades on is Nirvana. Originating in Washington in 1987, the American rock group was established by frontman Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic. The band cycled through several drummers, most notably Chad Channing, before the iconic Dave Grohl took over the drums in 1990. Nirvana carved a niche in alternative rock and came to be seen as the emblematic face of Generation X. Although they were only active for a brief period of a few years, their influence endures, leaving an indelible mark on the rock genre and inspiring countless artists. Back in the late '80s, Nirvana began building their reputation within the Seattle grunge movement. After signing with independent label Sub Pop, they released their debut album, Bleach, which cultivated a style marked by strong shifts in dynamics—often alternating between serene verses and bombastic, raucous choruses. Their big break came after signing with major label DGC Records in 1990, when they achieved instant mainstream acclaim with "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the lead single from their second album, Nevermind, reports the Mirror US. Despite their fleeting presence on the rock scene, they remain one of the best-selling bands in history. Nirvana's fusion of catchy pop hooks with layers of dissonance, combined with lyrical explorations of societal marginalisation and personal angst, won them a dedicated global following. After extensive tours and the release of their 1992 compilation album 'Incesticide' and EP 'Hormoaning', the band released a third studio album titled 'In Utero' in 1993. The album rocketed to the top of both US and UK album charts and received praise from critics. However, following Cobain's death in 1994, the band ceased making music. Grohl is now renowned for leading the Foo Fighters. Yet, even after all these years, there are fans unaware of the true meaning behind Nirvana's name. The subject gained attention on Reddit when someone posed the query: "What does Nirvana mean to you?" One individual admitted, posting: "I'm going to be honest, they don't cure my depression or instantly lift my spirits. Their music is good, sends a powerful message, and I like them for it. Simple." Another expressed, saying: "Nirvana symbolizes freedom to me. Not being afraid to go against the grain and do what you want. The passion in their music also makes me love it so much, so much feeling and energy in many of their songs." Reflecting on their impact, a fan commented: "The way that they made it cool to be uncool is really awesome to me, I finally felt like there was music that represented how I felt. Nirvana and grunge as a whole has really filled a void in my life that I desperately needed filled." A third shared: "Nostalgia. It's what I heard my older brother listen to as a kid. Also, the music connects with me. I understand the struggles in the lyrics." Meanwhile, another fan also shared: "Nirvana is my favourite band. They sparked my passion for music. Through his lyrics I see Kurt Cobain as a good friend. He's always been there for me, through Nirvana. They helped me through so much s**t I went through and honestly, without their music, I'm not sure where I'd be." Despite millions connecting with their music, it appears there's a more precise explanation of what Nirvana actually signifies. Before his passing, Cobain clarified it in an interview, which recently re-emerged on Facebook. What does Nirvana mean? In a chat with MTV, Cobain once admitted: "It was nine o'clock in the morning, and I was hungover, so I don't know what I said - I don't even remember." When questioned if the name implies "freedom from pain and suffering from the external world", he responded: "That's just the Webster's Dictionary. I mean, that's just straight out of the Webster's Dictionary." The interviewer then asked him if this was his interpretation of punk, and if that's why he selected the name, to which he replied: "Now I remember, yeah, that's why, sure." While the star's response was somewhat vague, he had previously shed some light on the thought process behind the name. According to Far Out, he once revealed: "I wanted a name that was kind of beautiful or nice and pretty instead of a mean, raunchy punk name like the Angry Samoans." The name also seemed particularly apt for Cobain, as it suggested an alignment with his interest in Buddhist teachings, as well as his broader artistic and philosophical tendencies. In Buddhism, "Nirvana" denotes a state of profound freedom and enlightenment. Cobain did express himself to MTV, but many think the frontman was captivated by the word's significant connotations, resonating with ideas of transcending and escaping anguish. The chosen name is considered to encapsulate the band's ethos succinctly, mirroring Cobain's own perspective on life and art. Additionally, the name contributed to the band's enigmatic presence. Set apart from contemporaneous groups, Nirvana's moniker stood out, dissimilar to their peers'. Cobain seemed driven to present his artistic vision distinctively, with a nuance and candour that was scarce in the music scene at that time.
CBC
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Bootleg tape uncovered from Nirvana's sole Calgary tour stop in 1991 – months before they skyrocketed to fame
Band performed for a small crowd at the Westward Club during a snowstorm Caption: A photograph of the 1991 Nirvana concert at Calgary's Westward Club. The original photographer is unknown. (Submitted by Geoff McFetridge) On March 4, 1991, a young Calgarian with his dad's Dictaphone (a small cassette recorder) in hand headed to the Westward Club, now the location of Hotel Arts, where a Seattle grunge band was scheduled to play. Jason (Jay) Pay who had just turned 18, had no way of knowing that the band — Nirvana — was only months away from skyrocketing to fame with one of the best-selling albums of all time, Nevermind. In the middle of a Calgary snowstorm, Pay and his group of friends made up much of the small crowd there to see Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl. Pay recorded the show on his device. "I think it was probably one of the last shows where they had to pack up their own gear," Pay said. Little more was publicly known about that Calgary concert — until now. A copy of that tape was recently uncovered, 34 years later, by Nirvana enthusiast Mike Jenkins, who was on a mission to find evidence of the now historic concert. He found it at a recent Calgary Music Collectors Show. "It's amazing to hear it," Jenkins told the Calgary Eyeopener. "You can really hear that tension building and that intensity of Nirvana." Media Video | Rare recording uncovered? This could be Nirvana's only Calgary concert Caption: In 1991, the upstart grunge band Nirvana performed a small show at the Westward Club in Calgary. A devoted fan recently discovered what he believes is a recording of the show. He joined the Eyeopener to share more about it. Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. The set list included: Love Buzz, Sliver, Dive, Floyd the Barber, Breed, Scoff, About a Girl, School, Swap Meet, Been a Son, Negative Creep, Blew, Lithium, Molly's Lips, Territorial Pissings, Spank Thru and Mr. Moustache. As Pay recorded the concert on his Dictaphone, the red light on the device gave him away to the bassist, Krist Novoselic, who kept yelling at Pay from the stage. He was swearing and telling him to stop recording, Pay recalled. Wanting to get permission, Pay approached Cobain after the show. "Krist was kind of pissed, but I went to Kurt Cobain and he was like, 'you're pretty cool.'" "He said: 'We didn't play any new songs. It's OK, but please just don't sell this.… I don't want to see this in stores." Now 34 years on, Pay has kept his promise. Nothing in the way of a good time Friends Geoff McFetridge and Silas Kaufman were with Pay that night and can be seen in a photograph of the concert that has resurfaced on social media. The photo looks like it was shot from the stage, but who took it remains a mystery. However, it has brought back fond memories for the group. "It was like a blizzard, like it was pounding snow … and it was a Monday night," said McFetridge, who was in college at the time. "I got in my pickup truck and drove down to the show in a snowstorm." Image | Kurt Cobain Caption: A photograph of Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, supposedly from the March 4, 1991, show in Calgary. The photographer is unknown. (Submitted by Mike Jenkins) Open Image in New Tab He said the "full emotional theatrics of Kurt Cobain" were on display. Despite the small crowd size, the band didn't hold back. "I've mentioned the show to my kids," he said. "It's probably one of the more, like, maybe the greatest show I ever saw, but definitely memorable because, you know, I didn't know who Nirvana was." Kaufman, who was in the front row, remembered getting his head stepped on by Cobain. "Better than an autograph," he told Eyeopener host Loren McGinnis. Pay recalled drummer David Grohl performing with the flu that night, "so he was opening the door in between songs and puking into the parking lot," he said. McFetridge remembered Cobain smashing his guitar at the end of the night — likely a copy of a Fender Jaguar. "It was like a weird guitar, but like, imagine … he had to find one of those guitars and then he smashed it to pieces in Calgary and there's like 40 people there or whatever," McFetridge said. "It's really dedication." Looking back on the photo, McFetridge, who is now a graphic artist and painter in Los Angeles, said he feels so grateful for his friends — Pay, who now lives in Vancouver, Kaufman, an illustrator and teacher at the Alberta University of the Arts, and their other friends there that night. Uncovering the tape more than 30 years later So how did Jenkins find a copy of Pay's bootleg recording? A die-hard fan of the band, Jenkins made a flyer to increase his chances of finding this coveted tape he'd only heard rumours about before. After sharing the flyer and talking to different vendors at the Calgary Music Collectors Show in April, he connected with Heather Smith, daughter of Larry (Legs) Smith, who used to own a record store called The Attic. "My dad was really well known for his love of bootleg recordings," she said, noting he was fascinated by the lore of those concerts. "When Mike approached our table kind of inquiring about this show … my sister and I both were like, wait, I've seen that," Smith said. "And then we kind of dug around in the items that we brought and just happened to find one. "I thought Mike was the perfect owner." The tape came with a letter written by Larry, who died last year. In it, he said: "If one listens closely, the rage and frustrated urgency of Kurt's vocals are enough to warrant a listen. I felt the intensity and musical chemistry of something special happening when I was there that night. It is hard to describe" Larry got a copy of the original recording from Pay a couple of days after the concert, when Pay traded him for a record. Preserving a piece of music and Calgary history As for the original tape, Pay still has it, and doesn't intend to sell it. Jenkins said he's working with the Calgary Cassette Preservation Society to arrange a celebration for the found tape. "It's a show that is legendary for, you know, a lot of people claiming to have been there. But you know, not that many people actually were. For it to actually (be) recorded is pretty fantastic and unique and spectacular," said the society's Arif Ansari. "It's a great kind of snapshot of the band just before they got really, really big, and a really unique thing that they came through Calgary and played a club that size.... I think that's really exciting."
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nirvana's Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear Reunite for Surprise Performance at FireAid: Watch
The post Nirvana's Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear Reunite for Surprise Performance at FireAid: Watch appeared first on Consequence. Nirvana's Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear reunited at the FireAid benefit concert, where they were joined by St. Vincent, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett, and Violet Grohl for a number of Nirvana songs. Watch clips of the performances below. The reunion was a highlight of the evening, and came as a surprise amidst the two-venue benefit show's already-stacked lineup. St. Vincent started things off, playing a rendition of 'Breed' with Novoselic on bass and Grohl on drums — marking the latter's first public musical performance since his extramarital scandal last year. Gordon was next to fill in for the late Kurt Cobain, taking center stage to perform 'School.' After her, Novoselic introduced Jett, who led a rocking version of 'Territorial Pissings.' Then, with Novoselic on accordion and Gordon on bass, Grohl's daughter, Violet, took the stage for the final song, 'All Apologies.' Last month, it was announced that she was working on her debut album, after touring with Foo Fighters for several years. Earlier this month, her dad was seen making chili for families displaced by the wildfires. FireAid was organized to raise for relief efforts in Los Angeles after the city was hit with devastating wildfires earlier this month. In addition to Nirvana's moment, there were performances by Billie Eilish, Green Day, Lady Gaga, Joni Mitchell, Anderson .Paak and Dr. Dre, Olivia Rodrigo, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, P!NK, Sting, Stephen Stills, John Mayer, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Lil Baby, Gracie Abrams, Tate McRae, Katy Perry, Rod Stewart, and more. Nirvana's Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear Reunite for Surprise Performance at FireAid: Watch Jo Vito Popular Posts Paul Reubens Comes Out as Gay in Posthumous Documentary Tom Morello: Rage Against the Machine Were Locked Down by Secret Service After SNL Performance Former MTV Host Matt Pinfield Recently Suffered Massive Stroke Bob Dylan to Play Small Towns on 2025 Tour Nine Inch Nails Announce 2025 "Peel It Back World Tour" [Updated] Björk Says Spotify Is the "Worst Thing That Has Happened to Musicians" Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
