Latest news with #SubPop
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.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Metallica Are All in Their 60s — But Kirk Hammett Says There's No Retirement Anywhere in Sight
Metallica's members are all in their 60s, and their music is way more physically demanding than anything their classic-rock forebears have had to tackle onstage — but lead guitarist Kirk Hammett tells our Rolling Stone Music Now podcast that he doesn't see retirement on the horizon. More from Rolling Stone Kirk Hammett Has a Solo Album Coming - and 767 Riffs Ready for the Next Metallica Album Kirk Hammett to Share Stories Behind His Legendary Guitars in New Book From Nirvana to Mariah Carey, Here's How to Stream 'MTV Unplugged' Performances Online 'As long as we have our health and our mind, I think we can just keep on going,' says Hammett, whose new coffee-table book, The Collection: Kirk Hammett, dives into his world-class arsenal of vintage guitars. 'Sometimes I forget how old I am, because I don't feel like I'm 62 years old. I feel like I'm still somewhere in my thirties. I go out and surf, I bike, I run, I walk, I do all sorts of fucking crazy stuff, physically. And I'm still able to do everything I do. I do yoga every day, I meditate every day.' (To hear the whole episode, go here for the podcast provider of your choice, listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or just press play above.) Drummer Lars Ulrich, the member with the most punishing job, 'is in really great shape too,' Hammett continues. 'As long as we're all healthy, I think we can keep going. Rob Trujillo doesn't even have gray hair! I don't know what it is — maybe playing this music, maybe just being in this band — it's a fountain of youth for us. I have no plans to give up anything. This is my life.' In the wide-ranging interview, Hammett explained how 1991's Black Album ended up fitting in so well with the grunge explosion around its release: He had discovered the scene early, and the riff to 'Enter Sandman' was directly inspired by early Soundgarden. 'I remember getting the first Sub Pop singles in like 1987, bro,' he says. 'I still have all those single-of-the-month records — Nirvana, Mudhoney, Tad, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Green River. James [Hetfield] was listening to a lot of it too. I knew things were happening. A couple of years later, I started seeing guys with hairdos that reminded me of what the Sub Pop guys looked like on all these singles. Then all those albums started coming out, and then we were full-on in the grunge era.' Kurt Cobain, in particular, loved Metallica — when he attended one show, standing at the side of the stage, he asked Hammett if they were going to play 1983's 'Whiplash.' 'Kurt [also] told me that he freaking loved 'Ride the Lightning,'' Hammett says. 'There's a riff on Bleach that reminds me of 'Ride the Lightning.'' Hammett's authorship of the 'Enter Sandman' riff has long been clear, but fans have struggled to figure out who wrote what in many of Metallica's other songs — Hammett says online lists of which riffs are his are 'always wrong.' 'It's literally a crowd of riffs and people trying to randomly pick out which ones I wrote,' he adds. 2008's Death Magnetic is 'chock full' of Hammett riffs, he says, while also declaring the bridge riff of 'The Thing That Should Not be' a favorite composition: 'To this day, I still think it's one of the heaviest things we ever did. And I've been chasing that heaviness ever since, trying to write a riff that hits that same way.' Unlike the apparently cutthroat world of horror movie poster collecting, Hammett has found a certain code of honor among guitar-seekers over the years he's spent assembling the collection spotlighted in his new book. He prefers trading guitars rather than buying them outright: 'When you trade, everyone's happy, man. When cash is involved, there's something empty-feeling about it,' he says. A fellow super-collector, blues-guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa, even alerted Hammett to a black 1959 Les Paul Standard that the Metallica guitarist had been chasing for a decade. 'I have to thank Joe for that opportunity, for not buying it, 'cause he already has one, and just for being really cool and calling me first,' Hammett says. As a gesture of thanks, Hammett sent Bonamassa a replica of Hammett's most prized guitar, Greeny — another 1959 Les Paul Standard formerly owned by original Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green. Download and subscribe to Rolling Stone's weekly podcast, Rolling Stone Music Now hosted by Brian Hiatt, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts). Check out eight years' worth of episodes in the archive, including in-depth interviews with Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen, SZA, Questlove, Halsey, Neil Young, Snoop Dogg, Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, Rick Ross, Alicia Keys, the National, Ice Cube, Taylor Hawkins, Willow, Keith Richards, Robert Plant, Dua Lipa, Killer Mike, Julian Casablancas, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Marr, Scott Weiland, Liam Gallagher, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Costello, John Legend, Donald Fagen, Charlie Puth, Phil Collins, Justin Townes Earle, Stephen Malkmus, Sebastian Bach, Tom Petty, Eddie Van Halen, Kelly Clarkson, Pete Townshend, Bob Seger, the Zombies, and Gary Clark Jr. And look for dozens of episodes featuring genre-spanning discussions, debates, and explainers with Rolling Stone's critics and reporters. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
