15 Crazy But True Stories About Nirvana

Nirvana showed their fun side playing Twister with the Smashing Pumpkins at an MTV event.1991Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl eagerly engaged.Krist Novoselic got greased up.He smeared Crisco on his body before his turn on the game mat.

Novoselic is not in the video.Novoselic used an American flag.He used the grease to remove it. Some onlookers did not like the move, he recalled:

"These jocks came up and really bad-vibed me. They said, 'Hey, you don’t do that to our American flag.' So I got a bodyguard with me to the club."

Before Nirvana became huge, they toured in a van. They often could not afford hotels, food, or gas. They made rules to save money, like driving under 70 mph and never using the air conditioner. Sometimes the band slept in the van or camped outside. One time they accidentallyslept on a median.Occasionally, they stayed at the homes of people they met.while on tour.Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain"But I remember one time in Texas on our first tour we slept at the edge of a lake where there were signs all over saying beware of alligators. We all slept with baseball bats by our sides, or we tried to sleep. In the middle of the night we thought we saw one so we bagged out."

"In Texas on our first tour, we slept near a lake. Signs warned: beware of alligators. We slept with baseball bats nearby, or we tried to sleep. One night, we thought we saw one, so we left fast."

Neverminderupted into a food fight after Kurt Cobain started throwing dip at people. Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl were all asked to leave.Kurt Cobain started flinging dip at people. Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl erupted into a full food fight.Nirvana ended up at a friend's loft, but the party ended when Cobain shot a fire extinguisher. Everyone moved elsewhere—until Cobain stuck a Nelson gold record plaque smeared in lipstick in a microwave, put on a host's dress, and everyone passed out. The next morning, Cobain bought a rump roast, shot at it, and then ate it."We were laughing," Novoselic recalls. "Oh my God, we got kicked out of our own record release party!" Many guests missed the honored people leaving, but the fun continued.

Nirvana ended up at a friend's loft. The party stopped when Cobain shot a fire extinguisher. People moved elsewhere. Then, Cobain smeared a Nelson gold record plaque in lipstick on a microwave, put on a host's dress, and everyone passed out. The next morning, Cobain bought a rump roast, shot at it, and ate it.

Kurt Cobain had a small tattoo on one arm. He inked the image of the K Records logo, an independent music company in Olympia, WA.Dave GrohlDave Grohl taught him how: "You can do it with a regular sewing needle, string, and India ink. Wrap the thread around the needle, dip it in the ink, and jab it in."

Dave Grohl's art skills did not transfer to Cobain easily. "But when I did it, the thread unraveled. So I ended up jabbing in the needle and pouring ink all over my arm," he said.

Warning: this video contains strong language.

BecauseNevermindNirvana became a hit album fast. Bands still booked smaller venues that couldn't handle the sudden ticket demand. Kurt Cobain felt stardom's pressure and was moody. On stage one night at an oversold venue, Cobain dove into the crowd. He mistook a large bouncer trying to help him for someone else.Kurt Cobain hit the man over the head with his guitar.The blow drew blood. The bouncer hit him back. Cobain ran and hid in a closet. A concert promoter convinced Cobain the bouncer was gone, and the band finished the show.

Leaving the venue, the band waited in a taxi. The bouncer reappeared and smashed the car windows. They escaped unharmed but rode in a backseat covered in broken glass.

Before "Smells Like Teen Spirit" made them stars in 1991, Nirvana played at Graffiti, a club in Pittsburgh.The concert promoter argued with Krist Novoselic's girlfriend/crew member, claiming she was cheating the club with t-shirt sales money.She claimed she cheated the club out of money from t-shirt sales with Krist Novoselic's girlfriend/crew member.

Nirvana members prepared to celebrate downstairs after the show. The situation grew tense. Kurt Cobain lit a couch on fire to stop anger and avoid a fight. No one got hurt, and the damage was minor. Nirvana's road manager was arrested.

MTV's Kurt Loder interviewed Nirvana in 1993 at a Minnesota hotel. Afterward, Kurt Cobain chose to retire to his room. Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic ended up getting very drunk with Loder.Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic got very drunk with Loder.Loder recalled:

Krist took a picture off the wall, broke it against the wall, and they started destroying everything in the room. It was 4 AM, and they heard hotel security approaching. I told them, 'It's time for me to leave.' I left, going to the elevator. They followed, wanting to go to my room; they did not want trouble.

Grohl and Novoselic continued destroying much of Loder's hotel room. Loder said he was less drunk than the other two and only watched. The damage bill totaled $19,000.

Nirvana often destroyed their equipment on stage. Krist Novoselic once joked to Jimmy FallonShe joked to Jimmy Fallon.Before Nirvana became famous and stopped playing smaller venues, they used whatever equipment they could get. Dave Grohl wanted a new drum kit because Kurt Cobain kept putting holes in it, but the record label refused.

During a Chicago gig, Grohl got his bandmates to smash the drums after the show. This forced the record label to buy them new ones. Grohl told the audience they could stay and watch. Grohl got his new drums later, but the shop was closed the next day. Grohl's story begins at 2:39 in the video.

AfterBleachbut beforeNevermindNirvana's tours played small clubs with audiences not meant to see them. They got a chance toreplace another bandThey played a Portland, OR, gig and drove from Washington in a van. A young fan who saw all their shows joined them.

When they reached the club, they found only 12 people, none of whom wanted to see Nirvana. They took the stage. Instead of their songs, they sang covers chosen by their travel partner. Aside from one fan, the crowd seemed unimpressed but enjoyed a cover of Kiss' "Do You Love Me?"

Nirvana played at Mississippi Nights near St. Louis in 1991. There were more fans than tickets, so tension was already present. Then, theynoticed the venue's security teamacted rough, and Kurt Cobain threatened to stop playing if they continued.

Nirvana played more songs. The musicians stayed unhappy with security's treatment of the audience. They invited everyone on stage. The audience started rioting when they got up. Grohl saved the drum kit from the mob. Grohl's story starts at 2:06 in the video.

Nirvana supported all equality, demanding shows for all ages and speaking out against discrimination.liner notes forIncesticideKurt Cobain ended his note with a word for fans with different equality ideas:

"If any of you hate homosexuals, people of different color, or women, leave us alone! Don't come to our shows and don't buy our records."

When Nirvana played as guests onSaturday Night Livein 1992, they continued their message. As the cast gathered on stage, Krist Novoselickissed his bandmatesThey later said they wanted to use the chance toannoy those with different viewsabout sexuality and gender.

Steve Albini joined as an engineer to help Nirvana recordIn UteroIn 1993, Nirvana members found things to bond over, like goofing off. When Nirvana wasn't recording, they made prank calls to people they knew, including Eddie Vedder and Evan Dando, the lead singer for The Lemonheads.

They called Dando at his hotel pretending to beMadonna's personal assistant.The goal seemed to be keeping Dando on the line to rack up a high phone bill.

Kurt Cobain always disliked "Kurt Cobain smeared lipstick on his neck before a show to mock rednecks.Nirvana liked to poke fun at these people. At one show, Cobain took it further. Nirvana played with Attica, Aaron Burckhard's former Nirvana drummer. Burckhard saw Cobain with red lipstick smeared on the back of his neck.

On aReddit AMABurckard wrote, "One of my favorite memories is after I left the band, my new band opened for Nirvana and Kurt showed up with his neck all painted red with lipstick and he declared himself a red neck."

Dave Grohl was often not recognized. He said, "I was just the drummer."he saidPeople wouldn't recognize him at a Nirvana show. So he experienced it from the outside.

Security at the 1993 Live and Loud concert treated him poorly.Security doubted his identityAmy Finnerty, MTV's talent relations director, was with him then.

Dave stood there, claiming he was in the band. He sounded like a jerk saying that, so he told the guard, 'I play this song; dun-dun-dun...' He played the opening chords to 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' and the guard said, 'Oh, you're that guy!' Then he let them in. It was funny.

This is shown later by the feud between Guns N' Roses and Nirvana members.Guns N' Roses and NirvanaAt the 1992 MTV Music Video Awards, the Nirvana boys disliked the mainstream metal scene. Kurt Cobain called it "corporate rock." Thus, it seemed strange that Nirvana played in 1991.appear as guests onHeadbanger's BallDave Grohl did not attend the MTV interview show focused on metal. However, Cobain's yellow ball gown choice became an MTV legend. Cobain showed he was out of place and knew it.

Host Riki Rachtman recalled how awkward it was:

"I don't watch that show, even though it was historic. I got to interview Nirvana; it was one of the worst interviews I ever did. You can tell I did not want to be there the whole time, because they did not want to be there either."