NIRVANA

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Nirvana, formed in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987, was an American rock band that significantly impacted the music scene. The band, led by Kurt Cobain, achieved mainstream success by popularizing alternative rock and ending the dominance of hair metal. Their sound, described as grunge, alternative rock, and punk rock, fused pop melodies with noise. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" propelled their album Nevermind to diamond certification. Despite a short mainstream career, Nirvana sold over 75 million records worldwide and received numerous awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. The band's legacy continues to influence modern rock culture.

CURIOUS FACT SAMPLES:

Nirvana went through several names before settling on their final one, including Skid Row, Pen Cap Chew, Bliss, and Ted Ed Fred. The band chose the name Nirvana because Kurt Cobain wanted a name that was "kind of beautiful or nice and pretty instead of a mean, raunchy punk name."

Nirvana's first single was a cover of Shocking Blue's "Love Buzz," released on the independent label Sub Pop. Their first interview was with John Robb in Sounds magazine, which made their release its single of the week.

The recording sessions for Nirvana's first album, Bleach, cost $606.17, which was supplied by Jason Everman. Everman didn't actually play on the album, but was given a credit to make him feel more at home in the band.

Although Bleach was a favorite of college radio stations, Kurt Cobain was upset with Sub Pop's lack of promotion and distribution of the album. The band's music was also changing, with songs becoming "poppier" and about emotional conflicts, rather than anger.