Monday 2 January 2012

Article

Nirvana, who are they you ask? They are the Seattle born rock legends who changed the ‘rock’ scene forever. Their heavy sound refreshed the charts in the early ‘90s and completely re-wrote music history. This band comprised of Kurt Cobain, front man, guitar and vocals, The Bass player, Kirst Novoselic, who was the intro vocals for ’territorial pissing’. And the friendliest man in rock, Dave Grohl. However he’s not been singing all his life, oh no, he is one of the greatest drummers of all time. If you know nothing about Nirvana, then where have you been all your life? Press pause on your Miley Cyrus record and take a second to learn about one of the most influential bands of our time.

Anyone can make a great album; it takes effort passion and dedication. Also talent, but we all have that, right? Nevermind, no pun intended. The fact is Nirvana had all of these qualities. In 1991 nirvana were pretty much unknown. They had little hope for their second album, Nevermind, however they weren’t looking for an album to change the world, and their record company, Geffen Records, were hoping to shift 250, 000 copies of ‘Nevermind’. However, Nirvana’s second album went to sell 10 times that amount.

How long have you been a Nirvana fan? “I have been a Nirvana fan for years, since about the age of 13 I think. I first started listening to them when I realised Dave Grohl was the drummer. I loved ‘My Hero’ by the Foo Fighters and once I knew Dave was a part of Nirvana, i started listening to them. Also, my dad would play their LP in the house. He was a massive fan, although my Mum was not.

This album was to shape the whole of music history - like when the Beatles moved into the yellow submarine, or when Britney spears discovered hair clippers. However you look at it, Nevermind is undoubtedly brilliant.

How did ‘Nevermind’ change your perspective on the ‘grunge’ music scene? “I listened to bands like Pearl Jam and Blood Circus which both had that sort of Seattle sound. However once I listened to ‘Nevermind’ my whole outlook on the genre changed. The music seemed to break through the mainstream barrier which was holding back grunge. ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ was the song that made everyone realise this.

What is your favourite song on the ‘Nevermind’ album? “My favourite song is ‘Come as You Are’. It like this song because it has a slow tempo for all of the verses then once the chorus comes, the beat really kicks in and Dave smashes the drums.
We ask ourselves, how did this happen? Was it drummer, Chad Channing leaving Nirvana to be replaced by the astounding Dave Grohl? Was it producer, Buch Vig, leading lead singer, Kurt Cobain, bass player Kurt Novoselic and Drummer Dave Grohl into his Devonshire Studios in the spring of 1991? Or was it simply by chance? A question never answered, but a question to forever be asked.

How did Kurt Cobain’s death affect your life at the time? “Kurt Cobain was my idol. I felt a sense of disaster and confusion when the devastating news was announced. He changed my perspective of music and at the time, he was the only music I would listen to. It really changed my life at the time because I knew they would never tour and I thought it would be the end for the grunge music scene.

A sound of ‘60s garage pop and ‘70s punk and metal fused together to get a rough around the edges, controversial and gripping genre we know today as, ‘grunge’. Kurt wanted to break out of the ‘Seattle grunge scene’ and hit the mainstream like his idols, ‘Pixies’.

What do you like about Nirvana? “I love their energetic, rough around the edges style which captures the audience’s attention and really speaks to the audience. They have a way on stage which seems quite intimidating, yet inviting at the same time.

We all love Nevermind. Even the hip hop scene loved it, for example, Lil’ Wayne’s ‘Rebirth’ album was inspired by Nirvana. It cannot be faulted. Everything about it made everyone’s life so pleasurable, so indulging. It took you out of reality, into a heavy yet delicate trance which everyone could relate to, right? You must be thinking, what is he talking about, we already know this? Well, you’re wrong. Kurt had a completely different perspective than all of us, even fellow band members Grohl and Novoselic. In July ’92, following ‘Nevermind’’s success, Kurt was depressed. Rumours of a heroin addiction and in an interview with Everett True he told her his ‘struggle’ with fame.

Dave Grohl has a band, Foo Fighters. Do you think the success of Nirvana has got them where they are today? “Well it definitely taught Dave something. He learnt how to write songs, how to be a front man, and how to compose music in a way which captures originality.  However I believe the only thing that Nirvana gave Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters, was confidence and determination to be better than Nirvana.

In comparison with Nirvana, do you believe Foo Fighters capture alternative rock in a way which can change people’s perspective on the genre? In comparison with Nirvana I believe that Foo Fighters have the potential to capture alternative rock in the way Nirvana did and change the audience’s perspective on the genre. I think this because all of their music is bold and creative, much like Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ album.

Nevermind changed the music world that is a solid fact; in ways that no albums have in the proceeding two decades after. Will any other album in the future have an affect like Nevermind did? We will have to wait and see.

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