SOMETHING STUPID AND CONTAGIOUS

Nirvana perform "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on Top of the Pops. This four chord blitzkrieg attacked the world the year I moved to Seattle. In an instant, alternative rock was commercial, predatory A and R men descended upon Puget Sound, and sleek Paris runway models were sporting "Le Grunge." A screwed up Aberdeen kid from the muddy banks of the Wishkaw was suddenly a reluctant hero. He couldn't just "play the hit." As you can see, he did it his way. Punk or die.


This performance smells more like teen spirit than the official MTV-ready video. Ironic, right? In spite of the artifice, this is the real deal. A total refusal to simply entertain, to surrender, to just be stupid and contagious. We screened this clip during our underground garage party and people screamed and threw folding chairs. It was happy and kind of sad, and yet I guess it makes me smile. I found it hard--it's hard to find. Oh, well, whatever. Nevermind.

NIRVANA UNPLUGGED REHEARSAL

Nirvana Unplugged worried the MTV mucky-mucks who feared the band wouldn't smile nicely and play their hits. They didn't -- there was no "Teen Spirit" unplugged -- but as usual, the mucky-mucks missed the point. Nirvana played a brilliant set. With help from touring guitarist Pat Smear of the Germs, they covered a wide range of songs including covers of David Bowie, Leadbelly, the Meat Puppets, and the Vaselines. The kid from Aberdeen poured his heart out.
Finally, a two-disc DVD set has been released that does this show justice. What follows is a previously unreleased outtake of Nirvana rehearsing "Pennyroyal Tea."