When Kurt Cobain was found dead by suicide on April 8, 1994, it was a generation-shattering tragedy comparable to the 1980 murder of John Lennon or the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. An era-defining band that enjoyed – or perhaps endured – critical acclaim and commercial success, Nirvana remade rock in their own sleazy image. The discovery of the group in 1991, Does not matterhas sold 10.3 million copies in the United States, according to Luminate, contributing to total album sales of 30.3 million, as well as Nirvana's legacy as the most important band of the '90s.
'Neverland
The band's 1989 indie debut, Bleachdidn't chart on the Billboard 200 when it was released, but Nirvana made a major impact when they switched to major label DGC for Does not matter. “Nirvana pulls off a stunning palace coup by dethroning King of Pop Michael Jackson from the top spot on the Billboard 200,” reported the January 11, 1992, Advertising signwhich also pointed to the album's success as “the most compelling argument that new artists can succeed” on the chart, which had switched to point-of-sale tracking less than a year earlier.
Fear of pregnancy
With success came control. While Nirvana's third album, In the womb, she was still pregnant Newsweek published a piece claiming that DGC was unhappy with it. In a full-page ad on May 22, 1993, Advertising signthe band blew it Newsweek piece as “gossip” with “invalid” reporting. “This is all crap,” said bassist Krist Novoselic in a September 25, 1993, article. Advertising sign. “The MTV Awards and all the fuss.” An article in the same issue said that DGC was planning a “low-key approach” to marketing.
Fest Stress
In 1994, Nirvana was invited to play Lollapalooza, but “due to Kurt Cobain's ill health we cannot confirm them,” a festival organizer said in an article on April 16, 1994, Advertising sign. (The issue was released before Cobain died.) The cancellation “was caused by singer/guitarist Cobain's accidental drug and alcohol overdose in Rome in March,” according to the article. “It's a shame Nirvana isn't in it,” said concert promotion giant Louis Messina Advertising sign at the time, “but it's sad the Beatles aren't together.”
The News Hits
On April 23, 1994, Advertising sign, carried the news of Cobain's death with headlines like “Cobain Mourned by Fans, Memorial Industries, Music Stores” and “Cobain Death Spurs Rush At Retail: Biz Talk Turns To Band's Unreleased Work.” In the next issue, Advertising sign blasted his “lifeless, mean-spirited comments”. 60 minutes Collaborator Andy Rooney, who dismissed Cobain's death by asking on-air, “What would all these young people do if they had real problems?” Advertising signHis take: “Doesn't CBS have a mandatory retirement policy?”
“Plug” Life
The November 19, 1994 issue saluted Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York as “another window into a tragic genius” that “promises as much satisfaction for the curiosity seeker as it does for the most avid Nirvana fanatic.” Two years later, the posthumous live set From the muddy banks of Wishkah became Nirvana's fourth Billboard 200 chart topper. “A few disabled bands,” he said on October 12, 1996. Advertising sign“could get away with releasing two live albums of old material after only three full-length studio releases.”
This story originally appeared on March 30, 2024, issue of Billboard.
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