Nirvana was an American rock band formed in Aberdeen Washington in 1987. Founded by lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic, the band went through a succession of drummers before recruiting Dave Grohl in 1990. Nirvana’s success popularized alternative rock, and they were often referenced as the figurehead band of Generation X. Nirvana released its first single, a cover of Shocking Blue’s “Love Buzz”, in November 1988 on the Seattle independent record label Sub Pop. The following month, the band began recording its debut album, Bleach. Bleach was influenced by the heavy dirge-rock of the Melvins, the 1980s punk rock of Mudhoney, and the 1970s heavy metal of Black Sabbath.
Disenchanted with Sub Pop and with the Smart Studios sessions generating interest, Nirvana decided to look for a deal with a major record label since no indie label could buy the group out of its contract. Following repeated recommendations by Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, Nirvana signed to DGC Records in 1990. After signing, the band began recording its first major label album, Nevermind. Initially, DGC Records was hoping to sell 250,000 copies of Nevermind. However, the first single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” quickly gained momentum, boosted by major airplay of the music video on MTV. As it toured Europe during late 1991, the band found that its shows were dangerously oversold, that television crews were becoming a constant presence onstage, and that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was almost omnipresent on radio and music television.
Nevermind became Nirvana’s first number-one album in January 1992, replacing Michael Jackson’s Dangerous at the top of the Billboard charts. By this time, Nevermind was selling approximately 300,000 copies a week. “Come as You Are” was released as the second single in March 1992; it peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart and at number 32 on the Billboard singles chart. Two more singles, “Lithium” and “In Bloom”, peaked at number 11 and 28 in the UK respectively.
Citing exhaustion, Nirvana decided not to undertake another American tour in support of Nevermind, instead opting to make only a handful of performances later that year. Amid rumors that the band was disbanding due to Cobain’s health, Nirvana headlined the closing night of England’s 1992 Reading Festival. Nirvana’s performance at Reading is often regarded by the press as one of the most memorable of the group’s career.
For their third album, Nirvana chose producer Steve Albini, who had a reputation as principled and opinionated in the American indie music scene. While some speculated that Nirvana chose Albini for his underground credentials, Cobain said they chose him for his “natural” recording style, without layers of studio trickery. Albini and Nirvana recorded the album in two weeks that February for $25,000.
In Utero topped the American and British album charts. Time critic Christopher Farley wrote in his review, “Despite the fears of some alternative-music fans, Nirvana hasn’t gone mainstream, though this potent new album may once again force the mainstream to go Nirvana.” In Utero went on to sell over 5 million copies in the United States. That October, Nirvana embarked on its first tour of the United States in two years. For the tour, the band added Pat Smear of the punk rock band Germs as second guitarist. In Utero was a major commercial and critical success, reaching number one on both the US Billboard and UK Albums Chart. Reviewers praised the change in sound and Cobain’s lyrics. “Heart-Shaped Box” and “All Apologies” reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. The album has been certified 5x platinum and has sold 15 million copies worldwide.
In November, Nirvana recorded a performance for the television program MTV Unplugged. Augmented by Smear and cellist Lori Goldston, they broke convention for the show by choosing not to play their best known songs. Instead, they performed several covers. In early 1994, Nirvana embarked on a European tour. Their final concert took place in unich, Germany, in March In Rome, on the morning of March 4, Cobain’s wife, Courtney Love, found Cobain unconscious in their hotel room and he was rushed to the hospital. Cobain had reacted to a combination of prescribed Rohypnol and alcohol. The rest of the tour was cancelled. In the ensuing weeks, Cobain’s heroin addiction resurfaced. Following an intervention, Cobain was persuaded to enter drug rehab. After less than a week, he left the facility and returned to Seattle. One week later, on April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead of a self-inflicted shotgun wound at his home.
