Nirvana Once Botched a Live Performance on Purpose for This Hilarious Reason

The band Nirvana rocketed to fame in the early ’90s, becoming a global phenomenon. They elevated grunge to the forefront of the mainstream music scene. Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and guitarist, had a vibe that came straight out of the garages of Seattle.

He collided metal with punk rock to create a sound like no other. He was one of the most influential artists in alternative music. Nirvana became the voice of Generation X.

Cobain could fill a listener’s soul with angst with his deep-felt lyrics and iconic wails. He lived, and died, on his own terms and no one was going to tell him what to do. He was determined to “put the balls back into rock’n’roll.” That became evident when Nirvana botched a live performance ON PURPOSE. There really was quite a hilarious reason behind it all.

Who was Nirvana?

Kurt Cobain, bassist Krist Novoselic, and drummer Aaron Burckhard formed the band Nirvana in 1987. David Grohl replaced Burckhard in 1990.

The band experienced a short-lived career and broke up in 1994 as a result of Cobain’s tragic suicide. Nirvana only released three studio albums – Bleach, Nevermind, and In Utero. Despite their short time on the music scene, Nirvana has a devoted fan base that continues to grow to this day.

Their breakthrough album, Nevermind, sold 30 million copies worldwide. It became one of the best-selling albums of all time. In 2014, Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Here we are now, entertain us…”

It’s been more than 25 years since “Smells Like Teen Spirit” hit the radio airwaves. The music video, featuring moshing teens and edgy cheerleaders, epitomized the ’90s grunge era generation.

The song became Nirvana’s greatest hit, topping Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, the top favorite Nirvana songs of all time include:  

1. “Lithium”
2. “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
3. “Heart-Shaped Box”
4. “Come as You Are”
5. “Drain You”