Nirvana was an American rock band formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. Founded by lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic, the band went through a succession of drummers before recruiting Dave Grohl in 1990. Nirvana established itself as part of the Seattle grunge scene, releasing its first album, Bleach, for the independent record label Sub Pop in 1989. In 1991, the band released its breakthrough album Nevermind, which brought them international fame. The lead single from the album, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, became a huge hit and propelled the band to the top of the charts. Nirvana’s third studio album, In Utero (1993), featured an abrasive, less mainstream sound and challenged the group’s audience. The band went through some lineup changes over the years, with Cobain being the sole consistent member.
| Name | Nirvana |
| Genre | Grunge, Alternative Rock |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Members | Kurt Cobain (vocals, guitar), Krist Novoselic (bass), Dave Grohl (drums) |
| Kurt Cobain Date of Birth | February 20, 1967 |
| Krist Novoselic Date of Birth | May 16, 1965 |
| Dave Grohl Date of Birth | January 14, 1969 |
| Label | DGC, Sub Pop |
| Years Active | 1987-1994 |
10 Best Nirvana Quotes
“I’m not particularly proud of anything I’ve done musically.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“I think punk rock is a lot more accepting than religion.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“I’m a product of a lot of negative influences.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“I’m not interested in being a rock star, or a leader of a movement.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“We don’t have anything to say. We just want to make enough money to eat and buy a house.”
– Krist Novoselic, from Rolling Stone
“I don’t think any of us have any real philosophies and we’re just kind of stumbling around, hoping to make a good record.”
– Krist Novoselic, from Rolling Stone
“We are not trying to be leaders of a movement. We are just trying to provide our own little contribution.”
– Dave Grohl, from NME
“We’re not trying to be the best at anything… We just want to be the most sincere.”
– Dave Grohl, from NME
“We’re all just trying to get by and play some music. That’s all.”
– Kurt Cobain, from NME
“We weren’t trying to be role models. We were anti-role models.”
– Krist Novoselic, from The Guardian
6 Inspirational Nirvana Quotes
“I just hope it’s good. That’s all I care about.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“I have no idea how to even start making a record. I don’t even know what a mixing board does.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“I want to be a spokesman for my generation, that’s why I’m here.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“I’d rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Guitar World
“I’m the only songwriter, so I guess it’s all up to me. I just try to make music that I would be interested in listening to.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Guitar World
“The duty of youth is to challenge corruption.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Guitar World
7 Famous Nirvana Quotes
“I’d rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not”
– Kurt Cobain, from AZQuotes
“I think I have a really low threshold of innovation. I can appreciate a lot of different kinds of music, but most of it doesn’t make me want to go out and create”
– Kurt Cobain, from BrainyQuote
“I don’t have a gun, I don’t have a car, I don’t have a job, I don’t have any money, I don’t have any friends… but I have my guitar and that’s all I need”
– Kurt Cobain, from AZQuotes
“If one person cries when we play, then I know we’ve done our job”
– Kurt Cobain, from GoodReads
“It’s better to burn out than to fade away”
– Kurt Cobain, from AZQuotes
“I think that the worst thing you can do about a situation is nothing”
– Kurt Cobain, from AZQuotes
“Rather be dead than cool”
– Kurt Cobain, from AZQuotes
7 Nirvana Quotes About Love
“If you expect love you have to give it.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“I had to choose between the fear of being alone or the fear of being in an unfulfilling relationship…I chose the latter.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“I’m just a negative person by nature. I’ve always been that way. There’s a certain amount of joy in being able to express your negative feelings.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“It’s hard to feel love when you don’t have it at home.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“I think I was looking for a father and I created one in my head and looked for him in everybody I met.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“I’m not so sure I believe in love at first sight. I think it’s more of an infatuation.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“We don’t hate people. We just want to be loved.”
– Krist Novoselic, from Rolling Stone
7 Nirvana Quotes About Life
“Life is a mystery to me. I just want to get the most out of it.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“Punk rock should mean freedom, liking and respecting what you like, as opposed to what you’re told to like.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“I think the definition of a hippie is someone who’s trying to make the world a better place, who’s trying to be more open-minded and accepting of other people.”
– Kurt Cobain, from Rolling Stone
“The ability to feel boredom, sadness, anger and joy — all of these feelings are so important, and I think that’s what makes us human.”
– Kurt Cobain, from The Guardian
“When I’m not happy, I feel like I’m not living.”
– Kurt Cobain, from The Guardian
“I feel a responsibility to spread the word of joy and love and peace, but I have a negative attitude.”
– Kurt Cobain, from The Guardian
“Music is a form of expression, a release for people, a way to communicate.”
– Krist Novoselic, from Grammy.com
5 Quotes About Nirvana
“Nirvana’s music was an eruption of honesty, passion and creativity that changed the course of rock.”
– Dave Grohl, from Rolling Stone
“Kurt Cobain was an artist, who created music that spoke to a certain generation. His legacy continues to live on in the spirit of the music he created with Nirvana.”
– Krist Novoselic, from Grammy.com
“Nirvana was a revolution. It was loud, it was heavy, it was melodic and it changed the way people thought about rock music.”
– Eddie Vedder, from uDiscoverMusic
“Nirvana was a band that was so important to me and to so many people. They were truly revolutionary and changed the face of music forever.”
– Dave Grohl, from uDiscoverMusic
“Nirvana was a band that had a huge influence on my life. They were a reminder that music doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be honest.”
– Taylor Hawkins, from uDiscoverMusic
Interview with Nirvana
Frequently Asked Questions About Nirvana
1. What is the most famous Nirvana Quote?
Nirvana is a household name today, and the band has left a lasting legacy in the music industry. As one of the most iconic and influential bands of the 1990s, Nirvana and its members Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, have become synonymous with grunge and alternative rock.
The band’s lyrics and music are often quoted and many of their songs are still popular today. Some of the most memorable Nirvana quotes come from their biggest hits, such as “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are”. Here are some of the most famous Nirvana quotes:
- “Load up on guns, bring your friends / It’s fun to lose and to pretend” (Smells Like Teen Spirit)
- “With the lights out, it’s less dangerous / Here we are now, entertain us” (Smells Like Teen Spirit)
- “Come as you are, as you were / As I want you to be” (Come As You Are)
- “I’m worse at what I do best / And for this gift I feel blessed” (About a Girl)
- “Dumb, I’m not very happy / I’m not so bright, I’m not very wise” (Dumb)
- “Oh well, whatever, nevermind” (Smells Like Teen Spirit)
The most famous Nirvana quote is probably “Oh well, whatever, nevermind” from their hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. This quote has become an iconic phrase and is often used as an expression of apathy or resignation. It is also a reflection of the band’s attitude towards fame and their music, which was often a form of rebellion against the mainstream.
2. What is the origin of the phrase “Smells Like Teen Spirit”?
The phrase “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was first used in a deodorant commercial by the company Teen Spirit. Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana, picked up on the phrase and incorporated it into a song of the same name.
The official lyrics to the song are as follows:
- Load up on guns and bring your friends
- It’s fun to lose and to pretend
- She’s over bored and self-assured
- Oh no, I know a dirty word
- Hello, hello, hello, how low?
- With the lights out, it’s less dangerous
- Here we are now, entertain us
- I feel stupid and contagious
- Here we are now, entertain us
- A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
- Yeah, hey, yay
The song has come to represent a generation of disaffected youth and has become an anthem for the alternative music scene of the 1990s.
3. How many albums did Nirvana release?
Nirvana, the iconic American rock band from the 90s, released three studio albums during their career. They were:
- Bleach (1989)
- Nevermind (1991)
- In Utero (1993)
Nirvana also released a number of other albums, including Incesticide (1992), a compilation of previously unreleased tracks and b-sides; MTV Unplugged in New York (1994), a live album featuring acoustic performances of the band’s songs; and From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah (1996), a live album recorded between 1989 and 1994.
4. Who wrote the lyrics for Nirvana songs?
Nirvana was an American rock band that achieved success in the early to mid-1990s. Led by frontman and songwriter Kurt Cobain, the band released three studio albums and various other recordings which featured some of the most iconic songs of the grunge genre. As with many bands, the lyrics for Nirvana’s songs were primarily written by Cobain, with occasional contributions from bassist Krist Novoselic.
Songs Written Entirely by Kurt Cobain:
- Smells Like Teen Spirit
- Come As You Are
- Lithium
- Heart-Shaped Box
- All Apologies
- About a Girl
- In Bloom
- Pennyroyal Tea
- Rape Me
- Dumb
- Polly
- On a Plain
Songs Written by Kurt Cobain with Contributions from Krist Novoselic:
- Breed
- Drain You
- Serve the Servants
- Aneurysm
- Scentless Apprentice
- Sliver
- Lounge Act
- Stay Away
- On a Mountain
- Very Ape
5. What other bands was Kurt Cobain involved with?
Kurt Cobain was famously a part of the grunge rock band Nirvana, but he was also involved in various other projects over the years. Here is a list of some of the other bands and projects he was involved with:
- Fecal Matter – Cobain formed Fecal Matter in 1985 with Dale Crover and Greg Hokanson, producing an album’s worth of material that was never officially released.
- The Sellouts – Cobain joined this punk rock band in early 1987, replacing the guitarist who had just quit.
- The Melvins – Cobain became close with the Seattle-based band in the late 1980s, joining them on tour and helping out on their recordings.
- The Germs – Cobain and Krist Novoselic joined The Germs in Los Angeles in 1989, performing on stage with the band.
- Dale Crover Band – Cobain joined Dale Crover Band, a side project of the Melvins’ drummer, for a short period in 1989.
- The Jury – Cobain joined this Seattle-based band in late 1989.
- HellCats – Cobain, Novoselic and Grohl formed the short-lived HellCats in late 1991.
- TAD – Cobain and Novoselic joined grunge band TAD on stage in Seattle in 1992.
- Thermidor – Cobain, Novoselic and Grohl formed this side project in late 1992.
Kurt Cobain’s involvement with other bands and projects in addition to Nirvana clearly demonstrates his dedication to music and his passion for collaboration.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Nirvana is remembered as one of the most influential bands of the 20th century. Their lyrics, combined with the raw energy of their music, continue to resonate with fans of all ages. The band’s quotes provide insight into the minds of their members and the impact their music has had on the world. It’s clear that Nirvana’s legacy will live on for many years to come.
