Nirvana

Nirvana was the Seattle grunge trio that permanently changed the landscape of rock music. Formed in 1987 by Kurt Cobain (guitar, vocals), Krist Novoselic (bass) and Dave Grohl (drums), they released Bleach (1989) on Sub Pop before signing to DGC Records.

Nevermind (1991) opened with Smells Like Teen Spirit — a song whose first week of radio play knocked Michael Jackson from the number one spot and made alternative rock a mainstream category for the first time. The album sold over 30 million copies and ended the glam metal era. In Utero (1993), produced by Steve Albini, was a rawer, more abrasive response to the sudden weight of fame.

Kurt Cobain's death in April 1994, at 27, ended the band and cemented the mythology. MTV Unplugged in New York (1994), recorded two months before his death, is one of the most intimate and devastating live albums in rock history.