Nirvana Biography | Oh! Jeans Record

Nirvana is an American rock band, founded in 1987 by vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Kurt Cobain (lead vocals), bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl.

In a faraway land, a small group of people lived in peace. They were happy, but not everyone was happy. One man was very angry because he had no friends. He decided to start a band. He wrote a song called "Nirvana" about his life. No matter what anyone thought, he didn't care. 

Singing the song was as simple as letting it out. His friends told him he was nuts. "You'll never make it," they said. But the man was undeterred. He sang, "Nirvana, Nirvana, Nirvana!" and the words took off. Word spread. People liked the song and started calling it "Nirvana."

Nirvana, the most influential band of the 1980s, was a band of misfits who never fit in anywhere, but they became one of the biggest bands of all time. It started with the first album, Nevermind, in 1991, when a young Kurt Cobain found a home for himself and his band.

Formation of Nirvana

The World's Most Famous Rock Band, Nirvana, is a Seattle-based rock band formed in 1987 by Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl. Their music is best known for its heavy grunge style and its combination of a bluesy rock sound with alternative elements, particularly those of psychedelia, progressive rock, and hard rock. It was formed in the wake of the disbandment of the seminal Seattle band, band Soundgarden, which had formed in 1984.

Originally coming from Aberdeen, Washington, Kurt Cobain was born on February 20, 1967. At the age of four, his parents divorced. They both remarried, and the family moved to Lake Washington, in Mercer Island, Washington. Kurt began writing songs at age 12. He played bass guitar, and his band, Tad, played in clubs in the Seattle area. In 1990, Cobain left Tad to form Nirvana with his school friend, bassist Krist Novoselic.

Before Nirvana formed, Grohl and Cobain played in a band called Tad, which was a side project for them. After Tad disbanded, Grohl joined Nirvana and Cobain became the singer of the new group. The band began recording and playing concerts. 

By the end of 1990, Nirvana had signed a record deal with DGC Records and released their debut album, Bleach, in 1991. There were more than two million copies sold in the US alone. It is widely known that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is one of the biggest singles of the album.

With the release of their 1989 debut album Bleach, Nirvana became an underground sensation, signing with the independent record label Sub Pop.

The band Nirvana has been influential for decades. There was no genre, culture, or generation that they did not transcend with their music. They’ve inspired millions of people to follow their example and find happiness in life and love.

Early Years

In February 1992, Nirvana recorded the EP Come as You Are, which was released on 7 March 1992. After gaining a cult following, the band's popularity grew. Nirvana went on to release their second album, Nevermind, on 8 September 1991. In the UK, U.S., and other countries, it topped the Billboard 200 charts for thirteen weeks. 

Nevermind won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the Brit Award for Best Album, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

The album was extremely popular. It went multi-platinum and has sold over six million copies in the United States alone. In June 1993, they released the single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and played their first headline shows, headlining the Lollapalooza tour.  

A few problems with Kurt Cobain's personal life plagued Nirvana early on. He began to think that he wasn't going to make it as a musician. Therefore, he felt compelled to start over. It was important to him not to disappoint his parents and he did not wish to stay with Tracy Marander, his girlfriend. His dreams were important to him, but he realized he could not continue to pursue them. He quit the band and left her.

As he contemplated what he wanted to do next, he decided to leave the band. It would be helpful for him to have some time to himself in order to figure out what he wanted to do.

Their self-titled debut album was released on 7 April 1989, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart. In November 1991, they released their follow-up album, Bleach, and in December 1991 they released their third album, Nevermind. In January 1993, they released their last album, Incesticide.

Nirvana broke into the mainstream after they gained popularity by performing at the 1992 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' music festival and had their third album, In Utero, released in 1993. Nirvana broke up in April 1994 after Kurt Cobain committed suicide. Cobain's death resulted in the release of his fourth and final studio album, With the Lights Out, in 2004. 2011 marked the induction of Nirvana into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On 8 April 1994, Kurt Cobain died in Seattle, Washington. In 1990, he began dating singer and songwriter Courtney Love. His death prompted a series of controversies surrounding allegations that he had abused drugs and alcohol. This became known as the "Cobain controversy".

Music Style

Nirvana's sound has a very unique style. It is heavy metal, alternative rock, grunge, and other musical genres. Their debut album, Bleach, made them popular.

Nirvana's songs are often used as antidotes to depression and loneliness. Many fans believe that they can relate to the stories and emotions that Kurt Cobain expressed in his songs. There are several songs with strong influences in the band, including "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Come as You Are", "In Bloom", "Lithium" and "Endless, Nameless". 

Nirvana is a rock band that is known for its alternative sound and its lyrics dealing with themes of angst and isolation, such as “Aneurysm” and “Lithium”. Nirvana was formed in Aberdeen, Washington in 1986 by frontman Kurt Cobain. The band would later achieve mainstream success in 1990, after releasing their breakthrough album, Nevermind. 

Conclusion

It would be impossible to write an entire book about Nirvana but in this case, I have taken it upon myself to cover as much of their history and the story behind the music. I've compiled all of the information you need to be able to listen to every Nirvana song, understand what made the band so great and influential, and enjoy the music for the first time! I hope you enjoy Nirvana Biography - World's Most Famous Rock Band as much as I enjoyed writing it!