As astonishing as it may seem to some, this month marks the 19th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death. In addition, September of this year will mark the 20th anniversary of the release of Nirvana's third and last studio album, 'In Utero'. In the space of just three albums and seven years, the band changed the face of mainstream music, gained widespread critical acclaim, sold over 75 million albums and became the defining sound of 'Generation X'. This retrospective look at Nirvana will outline their critical and commercial success and explore the legacy the band left behind...
1. In The Beginning...
Nirvana released their first single back in 1988; a cover of Dutch band Shocking Blue's track 'Love Buzz'. The single was well received by those music critics who heard it, but commercial success was still some way off. In fact, the single was released through Sub Pop, an independent record label based in Seattle which had been founded just a few years earlier. The band subsequently agreed to an extended contract with Sub Pop and Nirvana began work on their debut album, 'Bleach'. Although influenced by bands including Black Sabbath, the Melvins and their label mates, Mudhoney, Nirvana's sound was angry, raw and distinctive and the album generated positive reviews from critics around the world. It would subsequently be hailed as an album which defined the sound of the 1990s, but prior to the release of the band's second album, 'Bleach' had only sold around 40,000 copies and was primarily a hit with college radio stations and the underground grunge scene. Many of the more mainstream music publications liked the album and openly discussed the potential that the band had, but few could have predicted what would follow.