Everyone knows that Kurt Cobain passed away in April of 1994. But what this presupposes is (once again), maybe he didn’t. What if we didn’t tragically lose Kurt Cobain on that rainy (I’m assuming) Seattle Spring day, at the frankly cliche and obvious age of 27. THIS is that history. The entirely fabricated story of Nirvana that we never knew.
March 31, 1994: Having sprung himself from an LA detox facility, Kurt Cobain fortuitously finds himself seated next to Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan on a flight to Seattle (on the now-defunct Northwest Airlines; Business Class, given the last-minute ticket purchase). Duff suggests they go jam when they land. Kurt initially demurs, but McKagan, sensing Cobain’s despair, catches up with him at the airport Starbucks and insists he join, refusing to take no for answer. At McKagan’s mother’s house in the University District, they’re joined by Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard and Mark Arm of Mudhoney, and they play until the morning. Feeling something perhaps akin to divine intervention, Kurt leaves a changed man, and would enter an unprecedented stretch of sobriety.
May 18, 1994: Nirvana re-enters Robert Lang Studios in Seattle to complete the track “You Know You’re Right” (only needing Pat Smear’s guitar and some backing vocals), as well as recording a new song, “Airplane Toilet.” Despite the productive and generally positive session, the group agrees to take an indefinite hiatus, confirming their fans’ worst fears that their previously postponed European tour would, indeed, not be rescheduled.
Summer 1994: After Courtney Love completes her own rehab stint in Los Angeles, Kurt reunites with Love and their daughter Frances Bean, spending the summer in the Hollywood Hills. It’s said to be a mostly pleasant time, although the cracks in their relationship remain. Meanwhile, Dave Grohl schedules studio time at Robert Lang Studios and quickly records an 8-track demo. Despite being satisfied with the tracks, Grohl fears disrupting band relations during the hiatus and decides not to share the songs. Krist Novoselic summers in Zadar, Croatia, returning to the states at the end of August to campaign for Libertarian Richard Rider, who ran unsuccessfully for the California Governorship.
November 1, 1994: Verse Chorus Verse is released in the United States. The double album consists of a set of live performances on one disc and the band’s MTV Unplugged performance on the other, plus the two new songs from the Robert Lang Sessions. Grohl later recalls that choosing the songs for the live album was somewhat acrimonious, but “reminded us of what we do best, and, more importantly, why we do it.” Critics especially appreciated how Side A captures the bands unique energy and rawness, and while they praised the band for branching out on MTV Unplugged, many found their acoustic sound inauthentic and strained, especially the cover songs. This half of the album, however, would later grow to become a cult classic.
Nov 19, 1994: Grohl joins Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers behind the drum kit for their SNL appearance (with host John Turturro). With Cobain insistent on taking time away from the road, Grohl subsequently accepts an invitation from Petty to join the Heartbreakers on their upcoming Dogs with Wings tour, set to run through most of 1995.
March 1, 1995: Nirvana makes their only televised performance of the year at the 37th Grammys, presenting Green Day with the award for Best Alternative Music Performance for their breakthrough album Dookie. Backstage Kurt would tell Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong that while he “fucking hated” the record, he loved the title and was jealous he didn’t think of it first. Similarly, Tony Bennett -who later that night would win Album of the Year for his own MTV Unplugged – would confide to Cobain that he actually preferred their Unplugged performance (the band was also slated to pre-tape a comedy sketch with host Paul Reiser, as Cobain had a strange affection for Mad About You and often made the band watch it on the tour bus, but plans fell apart when the band refused to tuck in their shirts, with Grohl snorting “who the fuck do you think we are? Weezer?”)
Summer 1995: Cobain continues to focus on family time, while also devoting himself to his art. His sketches and sculptures, which had historically been grotesque and macabre, softened, incorporating significantly less body horror, blood and fecal matter. Meanwhile Grohl winds down his time as a Heartbreaker (although he would continue to record with the band as Tom’s preferred session drummer for years to come). Revitalized by the road experience and the band camaraderie, Grohl privately resolves to hold off on pursuing a solo career and fully commits to Nirvana.
October 2, 1995: Oasis‘ second album(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is released worldwide and quickly goes to #1 on the charts in the UK, with the album’s success breathlessly covered by MTV. Cobain, who often flipped on the network in hopes of catching his favorite show Beavis & Butthead, was both appalled and mystified by the Gallagher brothers. By the end of the month Kurt dials up both Grohl and Novoselic, letting them know that the Nirvana hiatus is officially and emphatically over.
November 18, 1995: Just a few weeks after reconnecting the band enters the studio in Seattle to begin work on their fourth official effort. Cobain endeavors to make this a collaboration between all three members, but this, ultimately, is overridden by his desire to prove Nirvana’s preeminence in the grunge and contemporary rock scene. The rest of the band, however, welcomes this newfound passion and focus, willingly and gladly following Cobain into the breach once more. Pat Smear would later recall the six-week recording session as the most prolific, efficient and joyful of the band’s long career.
March 15, 1996: Nirvana’s Berth Control is released worldwide and immediately goes to #1, edging Alanis Morristte’s Jagged Little Pill out of the top spot and pushing Oasis out of the top 10 (notably: sales of Bush’s Sixteen Stone also dropped precipitously this week, leading the band to cancel their tour dates and break up before recording their follow-up album. Lead singer Gavin Rossdale would then turn to modeling and, later, become one of Britain’s most popular adult film stars, most memorably in his directorial debut Swallowed.)
August 1996: After a more than two year absence the band heads back out on the road, touring to support Berth Control. The first stop? Munich, picking up where they left off on 1994’s In Utero tour. This time, however, they make it through Europe without a hitch (or a single trip to the ER).
December 31, 1997: Nirvana returns home for a sold-out New Year’s Eve show at the Seattle Center Coliseum (now known as the Climate Pledge Arena). The setlist includes appearances from Seattle luminaries like Ken Griffey Jr., SuperSonics star Shawn Kemp and the voice of KACL himself, Kelsey Grammer (Kelsey and Krist would subsequently develop a close friendship).
March 15, 1998: Dave Grohl finally releases his solo album under the moniker “Late!” The album is largely a disappointment, critically and commercially, with the track “Big Me” and its accompanying video the object of particular derision. Instead of pursuing a follow-up, Grohl offers his remaining songs for inclusion on the next Nirvana album.
April 1, 1998: After more than 6 years of marriage and over a dozen combined trips to rehab and marriage counseling, Kurt and Courtney officially announce their divorce. It’s a blow that Kurt takes personally, but instead of resorting to drugs to cope with the separation, he resolves to be the kind of father to Frances Bean that he never had. He would later joke to Rolling Stone that the divorce was “the most I ever committed to anything.” Soon after he would begin an on-again, off-again relationship with No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani, who for years had been telling friends she was into the “Kurt Cobain-type.” Sometime later Courtney would have a fling with another front man, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, relaying to him during their brief courtship that she and Kurt had “consciously uncoupled.” The phrase stuck with Martin long beyond his time with Love (and many people have speculated the song “All My Love” from the latest Coldplay album Moon Music is, indeed, about Courtney). As a side note: Dave Grohl witnessed the fallout from Kurt & Courtney’s marriage and sweared to remain a bachelor, a promise he has kept to this day.
June 5, 1998: The band returns to the studio to record their next LP. Looking to get out of the Pacific Northwest, the band – largely at Grohl’s behest – chooses the famed Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, CA. Cobain would fall in love with the space and, much later, would help save it from closure. The process was a great distraction from Cobain’s divorce, with Dave often taking Kurt out to Malibu for early morning surf sessions, contributing to the album’s more laid-back, almost Beach Boys vibe.
September 11, 1998: Just a few hours before their 2nd sold-out night at Madison Square Garden, fellow grunge rockers Pearl Jam abruptly announce their break up, citing the stress of trying to mount the Yield tour without the employ of Ticketmaster. As it happens, Nirvana is in town prepping for the upcoming SNL season premiere (their first appearance since 1992). With 25,000 Seattle music fans already on their way to the World’s Most Famous Arena, the band makes the decision to step in for Pearl Jam, taking Lorne Michaels personal stretched limo the fifteen blocks from 30 Rock. Playing mostly borrowed equipment and without a soundcheck, the band belts out a blistering 2-hour set, including their own cover of “Crazy Mary.” MTV VJ Matt Pinfield would later say that this was the night that Nirvana went from stars to legends.
September 26, 1998: The band appears as the musical guest on the Season 24 premiere of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Cameron Diaz. They debut their new single “Flagellated,” complete with Kurt dressed as 80s comedian Gallagher, smashing a watermelon with his guitar during the final notes of the song (what many people surmise was a thinly veiled shot at Oasis’ Gallagher brothers). The band also appears in SNL’s wildly popular “Roxbury Guys” sketch as fellow club-goers, and – alongside former cast member Dana Carvey – Kurt pops up again as “Barth Algar,” brother to Garth. The episode is notable as the first appearance of cast member Jimmy Fallon, who can be seen laughing in the background of The Roxbury Guys. Many years later, Nirvana would be the first musical guest on Fallon’s edition of the The Tonight Show.
November 18, 1998: Nirvana’s 5th album, Al E. Moany, is released. Critical reception was mixed, but the record eventually will go platinum nonetheless. The album includes the Grohl-penned track “Everlong,” which Cobain initially felt was over-sentimental, but Pat Smear convinced him it was too good to leave off the album. While not a lead single, the song would go on to become a fan favorite and a staple of the band’s encore set.
February 23, 1999: Kurt, Chris Cornell, Axl Rose, Bono and Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees announce the formation of their supergroup, “The New Willburys”, as well as an upcoming album produced by Rick Rubin. The seeds of the group began when Kurt’s now close friend Duff McKagan brokered a peace between Cobain and his longtime nemesis Rose. Cornell joined quickly (after Eddie Vedder declined the invitation), with Bono the last to join. The other members initially believed that the legendary frontman would say no immediately, but instead signed up without hesitation, looking for a diversion after U2’s ill-fated PopMart Tour.
July 24, 1999: Five years after rebuffing repeated overtures to perform at Woodstock ’94, the band makes a surprise appearance at its sequel, Woodstock ’99 (Grohl was already on-hand to back Alanis Morissette and invited the rest of the band to join him at the festival). The last minute booking forces some changes to the Saturday night lineup, pushing the nascent rap-rock outfit Limp Bizkit from a primetime slot to the side stage on Sunday afternoon. The jubilant set, and Cobain’s instructions to the crowd to “chill the fuck out,” would later be cited in several documentaries as critical in stemming the violent, sexist and angry tide that had been permeating through the festival. Limp Bizkit would remain in semi-regular rotation on MTV for the next year, but without any Woodstock buzz they quickly fell out of favor with their fans and quietly disbanded. Lead singer Fred Durst is now better known as a celebrity chef and frequent Guy Fieri collaborator.
December 1999: Leading up to the new millennium the band releases the EP, Y2Gay, a collection of b-sides, covers and two tossed off new tracks (including one penned by Pat Smear). The record was hastily put together to fulfill their contract with Universal Music Group, and that tangible lack of care was noted by fans and critics alike. Cobain would later apologize for both the record and its sophomoric title, “What can I say? We were dumb. I mean, we’re still dumb, but we were dumb then too.” The cover of Sammy Hagar’s “I Can’t Drive 55” kinda rocks though.
March 2001: In honor to celebrate that year’s release of Shamrock Shakes, Kurt appears in a series of McDonaldland promos as alter-ego Kirk O’Bain, alongside Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar and – Cobain’s personal favorite – Grimace. Cobain declined payment, instead requesting free Chicken McNuggets for life. Of the deal Kurt gleefully explained “Anything is a step-up from 99-cent corn dogs.” He would later get a full color Grimace tattoo on his right shoulder.
April 2001: – After the departure of longtime Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, Krist Novoselic fills in during the heavy metal band’s recording of St. Anger, a process that was documented in the film Some Kind of Monster. Novoselic appears prominently in the documentary, mostly fiddling with his bass while Lars Ulrich complains about Napster, and also provides a key line in the film’s trailer “…and I thought Nirvana was a fucked up band.” Eventually Novoselic would hand over the reins to Robert Trujillo, but not before contributing the memorable bass line to album track “Invisible Kid.”
May 18, 2001: Dreamworks’ Shrek is released nationwide, and the smash-hit animated film includes a Nirvana cover of “I’m a Believer.” Cobain initially agreed to record the song as a favor to his friend, the late Chris Farley. However, after Farley passed away and Mike Meyers took over the role, the track had already been completed and it was too late to pull from the soundtrack. Cobain would routinely grouse about the song in interviews, but would admit that “I guess there were some positives. I named my boat ‘Donkey.'”
Summer 2001: With the band on another break, Grohl signs up with Alanis Morissette for her summer tour, replacing drummer Taylor Hawkins who had recently departed to begin his now wildly successful solo career. At Grohl’s urging, Dave Coulier appears on stage during the show at LA’s Greek Theatre, joining Alanis for “You Oughta Know.” Their supposed feud? Cut it out.
October 20, 2001: In the wake of the attacks of September 11th, the band appears at the “Concert for New York City,” performing a slowed down acoustic version of “Something in the Way” (years later director Matt Reeves would nearly include this arrangement on the soundtrack to his film The Batman, but felt that the song was too intrinsically connected to the benefit performance). Cobain would also join Paul McCartney on his mournful performance of “Yesterday,” beginning their long-lasting, very famous friendship.
August 3, 2002: Cobain finally releases his long-rumored and long-delayed solo effort, Evergreen. The folk-rock inflected album confuses longtime Nirvana fans, but is largely heralded by critics as a mature, introspective departure. The album debuts at Number 2 on the Billboard charts, just behind Dave Matthews Band’s Busted Stuff, a designation that Cobain considers a great personal ignominy and embarrassment. That same month The Queens of the Stone Age release Songs for the Deaf, on which an uncredited Dave Grohl performs the drums.
February 10, 2003: Johnny Cash releases his cover of “Rape Me,” the lead single from American IV: The Man Comes Around. The performance takes on special meaning when Cash dies soon after and it quickly becomes one of his essential recordings.
March 19, 2003: In the wake of the garage rock revival, the band releases the quasi-eponymous album THE NIRVANAS, re-asserting their position as the music world’s preeminent rock band. Of the record Pitchfork would proclaim “The Strokes wish they could.”
September 2003: Cobain appears as himself in Jim Jarmusch’s Coffee and Cigarettes, smoking and drinking coffee alongside Iggy Pop. The film premieres at the Venice Film Festival and Cobain is singled out for his performance, kicking off his longtime side-career as an indie film actor.
May 17, 2004: Nirvana releases Starf*cks, another collection of b-sides, rarities and demos, which is sold exclusively at Borders Books & Music (which had become Kurt’s favorite tour stop, mostly because he liked to take the art books into the bathroom).
February 5, 2005: FCC censors are tested and conservative America is outraged during Janet Jackson’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” at the Super Bowl Half-Time show in February 2004. Embarrassed by the incident, show organizers would look to return to a safer, back to basics, rock ‘n’ roll performance, persuading Nirvana to headline the Super Bowl XXXIX show in Jacksonville. The straight ahead, controversy-free, set is an unqualified success, overshadowing Bill Belichick and Tom Brady’s second Super Bowl victory (although Cobain would still close the set by diving headfirst into Grohl’s drum kit).
March 13, 2006: After a chance meeting with Billy Joel at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction of The Sex Pistols, Cobain finally overcomes the perceived failure of Evergreen and decides to return to the studio for his sophomore solo effort (when asked about the interaction later, Joel would say “I just told him ‘who gives a shit?'”). Released that summer, Paperwait, is a critical darling and commercial hit, and, to Cobain’s immense surprise, is nominated for several Country Music Awards.
February 4, 2007: During what many have hailed as the greatest Super Bowl Half-Time Show of all-time, Prince uncorks a cover of Nevermind’s “Breed” just as the skies open up and rain pours down on Dolphin Stadium. The performance would be the highlight in what was otherwise a forgettable game. Years later Kurt would return the favor by performing “Purple Rain” at Prince’s funeral. This time, however, the sun would be shining.
June 5, 2009: Cobain takes the then 16 year-old Frances Bean to see the new Pixar film Up. He openly weeps.
September 9, 2014 – Nirvana’s latest album Vivisection is automatically downloaded into the iTunes library of Apple consumers. The gambit is met with intense anger by the public, and both the band and the tech company issue an apology for the abuse of power. Novoselic nearly quits the band in protest of the download scheme, but relents in order to keep his Apple stock. Beyond the controversy and privacy concerns, most people would agree: the album kinda sucks.
Summer/Fall 2016: Having gone on indefinite hiatus after the embarrassment of the Vivisection fiasco, the band’s members find themselves in the firestorm of the upcoming Presidential Election. Novoselic establishes himself as one of the most notable and outspoken Bernie Bros, while Dave Grohl champions first lady Hillary Clinton, accompanying Bruce Springsteen at several Clinton campaign events. Meanwhile, Cobain, a gun enthusiast, gets into hot water when he comes out in support of Republican candidate Donald Trump. He would later recant his endorsement, but the damage was done in the eyes of many Nirvana fans, putting an even greater strain on band relations.
June 2018: With the band still dormant, they receive their own SiriusXM station, taking over Garth Brooks’ “The Garth Channel. “Nirvana Radio” would run for two years, before giving way to “Life with John Mayer;” although Nirvana tracks remain in regular rotation on the 90s Alternative & Grunge station, “Prozac.”
March 2020: The band announces a “reunion” tour, but all shows are later canceled due to the Coronavirus outbreak. They later do several “Quarantine Concerts” over Zoom, but both the band and fans knew it was pretty lame.
April 2023: The band turns down a multi-million dollar offer to be the first band to perform at Las Vegas’ mega-venue The Sphere. Novoselic would say “we’re a band, not a fucking IMAX experience.” The venue would quickly pivot and offer the opportunity to U2, who accept immediately.
October 7, 2023: Cobain walks Frances Bean down the aisle at her wedding to Tony Hawk’s son Riley. Frances Bean’s Godfather Michael Stipe (still) officiates, and Courtney Love’s adopted son with Billy Corgan serves as the Ring Bearer. At the reception Cobain gives a teary speech, remarking “I’m not losing a daughter, I’m gaining a Tony Hawk.” Their wedding song? Nirvana’s cover of “I’m a Believer” from Frances Bean’s favorite movie.
August 20, 2024: Just over thirty-five years after the release of their debut studio album Bleach, the band surprises fans by announcing their first world tour in ten years. Beginning at Seattle’s Lumen Field in June 2025, the 35-city tour will take the band across North America and Europe. Just a few days later, Oasis announces a reunion tour of their own, to much, much less fanfare. Billy Joel sees the news and realizes that world tours are a younger man’s game, and decides to revive his MSG residency, explaining “There are some people who live in NY that like to see me perform every year on their birthday and I need to honor that.”
Today: Nirvana remains the gold standard of American rock bands. Kurt Cobain is widely regarded as the most influential singer-songwriter of his generation, with many people considering him the American McCartney. While his solo career never quite took off the way he hoped, Dave Grohl has been Nirvana’s reliable backbeat for over three decades, and is one of the most respected session drummers in the industry. Krist Novoselic served as a Washington State Senator for two terms, focusing on environmental rights and expanding access to experimental pharmaceuticals. He now has a popular podcast where he “just asks questions.” Pat Smear is still in the band, we’re pretty sure. Rising from Seattle’s grunge scene, Nirvana has outlasted their peers, transcending the ripped jeans and flannel of their youth and finding music immortality. But there’s still one achievement that eludes them: an appearance on Hot Ones.
Jumped The Snark 