Nirvana, composed of drummer Dave Grohl, bassist Krist Novoselic, and the late singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain, shook the music industry and audiences everywhere with their second album, “Nevermind.”
The words from the songs that defined a generation still speak to music lovers everywhere. The album was groundbreaking when it released Sept. 24, 1991.
Placed at No. 17 of Rolling Stone's “500 Greatest Albums of All Time,” “Nevermind” spoke for an entire generation and integrated two seemingly opposite genres of music — pop and punk rock. The fusion of these genres created a melodically pleasing album, while still maintaining the loudness and forcefulness of punk rock.
There is no denying the potency of the album. Cobain’s voice aches and mourns over the loss of innocence of his generation through every track. Each song puts order to the chaotic world of the '90s. With Grohl’s thrashing drums and Novoselic’s inspiring basslines, the album unfolds into a story of the wounded and the utterly lost.
If an album such as “Nevermind” were to be released today, it would still have the same effects on the youth of America as it did two decades ago. A timeless album should be celebrated appropriately, and this particular record is getting the attention it deserves when it will be re-released on Sept. 27 in a special edition box set. The box set will include four discs that include the original album, rare B-sides, outtakes, demos, rehearsals and a DVD of the band’s performance at the Paramount concert. The box set is available at Best Buy, Amazon, iTunes and through the band's official website.
Not only are Nirvana fanatics getting the box set, but VH1 will be honoring the album by showing the rare, never-before aired Paramount concert from the band’s home town of Seattle, Wash. on Halloween in 1991. The 11-song set will be aired on VH1 Classic on Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. The special airing alone reminds music fans of all ages why Nirvana is still so influential to the music world today.
On Tuesday, Sept. 20, punk-rock bands came together to perform a benefit concert for Sub Pop public relations goddess, Susie Tennant, who is currently battling ovarian cancer. Tennant was a mother to the grudge scene in Seattle in the early '90s and was a personal friend of Cobain's.
To help support Tennant and to pay homage to the anniversary of “Nevermind,” bands from all over the Seattle area covered Nirvana songs for a 3-hour long set.
The event included The Presidents of the United States, The Young Fresh Fellows, Vendetta Red, The Crypts, Seacats, Campfire OK, Nirvana producer Jack Endino with his band, Valis, and others. Dave Grohl also made a video appearance during the show and gave praises to Cobain's legacy.
The show was truly punk rock with a purpose as proceeds went to Tennant and her family to help contribute to her medical expenses.
It has been a long 20 years since the band’s aggressive and revolutionary vibrations originally soared through the airwaves. Some of us in college were not even comprehending words at the time of the album's release, let alone the painfully angsty lyrics from Cobain's pen. However, this does not mean the broken teen spirit found in “Nevermind” does not still live in the youth of today.
The media is still celebrating the existence of such an era-altering band and “Nevermind” serves as a musical heirloom for musicians and fans to pass on from one generation to the next.
Reach the reporter at jocelyn.gee@asu.edu
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