Nirvana << nihr VAH nuh >> was an American group that changed rock music in the 1990’s. Nirvana played a forceful style of music called grunge. Grunge had a raw, fiery sound and an angry, rebellious attitude. Nirvana was the first grunge group to reach a wide audience.
Nirvana was formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987 by singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) and bassist Krist Novoselic (1965-…). Drummer Chad Channing (1967-…) joined the band in 1988. The group’s first single, “Love Buzz,” was released in 1988. In 1989, guitarist Jason Everman (1967-…) joined the group. Nirvana released its first album, Bleach, in 1989. That year, Dave Grohl (1969-…) joined the group as drummer. In 1990, Channing and Everman left Nirvana.
Nirvana’s second album, Nevermind, was released in 1991 and became a best seller. A hit video for the album’s single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” helped Nirvana gain a huge following. Many rock fans and critics consider the song and album to be among rock’s greatest. In 1992, the band issued Incesticide, a collection of previously recorded material. That album was followed by another hit album, In Utero, in 1993.
Nirvana broke up in 1994 after Cobain committed suicide. Two popular albums of live Nirvana performances were issued after Cobain’s death, MTV Unplugged in New York (1994) and From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah (1996). Later in 1994, Grohl formed the rock band the Foo Fighters. Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
See also Rock music (Alternative rock) .
