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While it seemed an incredible stroke of good luck that this Washington trio became the first underground grunge band to break through the underground to mainstream acceptance, the self-inflicted, gun-blasted brain of Kurt Cobain less than three years after their initial success, suggests that even if you get what you want, you might find out it's more than you need.
Forming in Aberdeen, Wash., in the mid-'80s with Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic, Nirvana played slightly above average riff-rock that bonded a select group of misfits in the great Northwest. By the time of their first album, Bleach, Cobain sounded torn between the angry teenage angst of his upbringing and the pretty pop melodies of his even earlier childhood of listening to the Beatles. Their timing was impeccable. Picking up drummer Dave Grohl from Washington D.C.'s Scream, the band went in the studio with producer Butch Vig to record Nevermind. Vig disciplined the band and gave them what became the industry standard for alternative releases. After the meteoric success of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," the album's first single, Cobain began having second thoughts about pop stardom. He had grown up in a world of Sonic Youth and the Melvins, bands that accrued respect, not massive royalty statements. He rejected the adulation as the album's four videos received endless rotation on MTV.
In Utero came as expected. A rougher production, courtesy of Chicago knob-twiddler Steve Albini, the album's singles were remixed by Scott Litt to slightly prettify what was essentially a basement production. The album's pledge to punk ethos gained the band considerable credibility even as it hurt the songs. Cobain grew frustrated with his role and alluded to an undissolvable case of writer's block. They taped an episode of MTV's MTV Unplugged In New York, which, though unspectacular, has in light of Cobain's suicide become a much heralded acoustic performance.
This Biography was written by Rob O'Connor
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Nirvana Timeline
05/16/65 Krist Novoselic is born
01/31/67 Chad Channing is born
02/20/67 Kurt Cobain is born
01/14/69 David Eric Grohl is born
02/20/81 Kurt gets his first guitar
01/23/88 Nirvana records a demo with Dale Crover
10/30/88 Kurt smashes his first guitar
11/??/88 Love Buzz/Big Cheese single released
06/??/89 Bleach is released
10/20/89 Nirvana plays first European show, Newcastle, England
12/30/89 Krist and Shelli get married in Tacoma
04/17/91 Nirvana first plays Smells Like Teen Spirit
04/30/91 Nirvana formally signs with Geffen Records
05/??/91 Started recording Nevermind
08/??/91 The video for Smells Like Teen Spirit is made
09/13/91 The release party for Nevermind
09/20/91 Tour for Nevermind begins in Toronto
09/24/91 Nevermind is released, debuted at #144 on Billboard
01/11/92 Nirvana plays Saturday Night Live, Nevermind hits #1
01/??/92 Hormoaning released in Australia and Japan
01/24/92 Nirvana begins a world tour
02/??/92 Come As You Are video is made
02/24/92 Kurt Cobain marries Courtney Love in Waikiki, Hawaii
08/18/92 Francis Bean Cobain is born
09/??/92 Nirvana plays Lithium at MTV music awards, wins 2 awards
11/??/92 In Bloom Video hits MTV
12/15/92 Incesticide released
03/??/93 In Utero recorded
05/??/93 Sliver video hits MTV
09/??/93 Nirvana wins Best Alternative Video award at MTV Video awards
09/14/93 In Utero released in UK
09/19/93 Heart Shaped Box video premieres
09/21/93 After a week delay, In Utero released in US
10/10/93 Nirvana begins tour supporting In Utero
11/18/93 Nirvana records Unplugged session for MTV
12/12/93 All Apologies video hits MTV
12/16/93 MTV Unplugged airs on MTV
03/01/94 The final Nirvana show is played in Munich
03/04/94 Kurt Cobain is hospitalized comatose
03/05/94 Kurt awakens from coma, asks for milkshake
03/08/94 Kurt leaves hospital under his own power
04/08/94 The body of Kurt Cobain is found. Kurt committed suicide 3 days before.
04/10/94 Memorial Service held in Seattle, Courtney reads from suicide note.
09/??/94 Nirvana wins Best Alternative Video for Heart/Shaped Box
11/01/94 Unplugged in New York is released
11/15/94 Live! Tonite! Sold Out! is released
12/??/94 Courtney Love's PI reports that he believes Kurt was murdered
30/09/96 "Muddy banks of Wishkah" is released
My Thoughts: My thoughts on this band is that it was cut short due to the death of Kurt Cobain. They will always be remembered due to their impact on many lives.
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