On Sept. 10, 1991, Nirvana released the first single from Nevermind, "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Representing Nirvana’s new sound, MTV played the music video daily and the album sold 400,000 copies per week in the U.S. Here, the band relaxes before a Nov. 1991 gig in Frankfurt, Germany.
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Famous for its sound as much as the temperament of its lead singer, Kurt Cobain, Nirvana's energetic, loud performances often ended with smashed instruments. Nirvana led the Grunge movement in the 1990s, and here, the band performs on Oct. 4, 1991 at The Palace in Hollywood, California.
The Artist At Work
Nirvana recorded and finished Nevermind in May and June 1991 with hopes to expand on their success in the Seattle grunge scene. The sessions were often dependent on Cobain’s mood; the band is pictured here in Nov. 25, 1991 during a directionless session while on tour in the Netherlands.
In Bloom
The global fame brought by Nevermind was at odds with Nirvana’s original, organic image, and Cobain became increasingly withdrawn from the band as a result. Here, Cobain stares at the camera during the Netherlands session, in which he refused the setlist and played cover songs instead.
Come As You Are
Dave Grohl joined Nirvana weeks before the Nevermind sessions. Original drummer Chad Channing quit in 1990 and Grohl's band split the same year. Bassist Krist Novoselic had seen Grohl drumming and liked his aggressive style, and after a both talked by phone, Grohl joined at age 22.
Drain You
As Nirvana’s grueling tour schedule continued, Cobain's behavior became more erratic. Though his volatile personality became an iconic part of the band, by the spring of 1992 rumors of Cobain's drug use, depression, and tensions in the band led to concerns about the band's stability.
Loud And Live
In response to sold-out venues and television crews filming on stage, eccentricity began to define the band's shows, with Cobain dressing in drag and band members joining in on the provocative displays. Here, Cobain surfs the crowd during a Nov. 12, 1991 performance in Frankfurt, Germany.
Grunge Hits The Mainstream
Cobain belts his lyrics at a Nov. 25, 1991 performance at the Paradiso Club in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. While on break after touring Europe, Nevermind was certified triple platinum and knocked Michael Jackson's Dangerous from the top of the Billboard rankings in February 1992.
Unplugged
In Utero, Nirvana’s 1993 album, debuted at the top of the charts but sold weaker than expected. Cobain was hospitalized after a Feb. 1994 suicide attempt, but was found dead on April 8 in his Seattle home. Here, Cobain sits backstage in 1990 before the Nevermind sessions began.
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