Nirvana was an American rock music band formed by singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting being Dave Grohl, who joined the band in 1990. Despite releasing only three full-length studio albums in their seven-year career, Nirvana has come to be regarded as one of the most influential and important rock bands of the modern era. Though the band dissolved in 1994, their music continues to maintain a popular following and to inspire and influence modern rock and roll culture.
In the late 1980s, Nirvana established itself as part of the Seattle grunge scene, releasing its first album, Bleach, for the independent record label Sub Pop in 1989. The band eventually came to develop a sound that relied on dynamic contrasts, often between quiet verses and loud, heavy choruses. After signing to major label DGC Records, Nirvana found unexpected success with "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the first single from the band's second album Nevermind (1991). Nirvana's sudden success widely popularized alternative rock as a whole, and the band's frontman Cobain found himself referred to in the media as the "spokesman of a generation", with Nirvana being considered the "flagship band" of Generation X. In response, Nirvana's third studio album, In Utero (1993), released to critical acclaim, featured an abrasive, less mainstream sound and challenged the group's audience.
Nirvana's active career ended following the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994, but various posthumous releases have been issued since, overseen by Novoselic, Grohl, and Cobain's widow Courtney Love. Since its debut, the band has sold over 25 million records in the United States alone, and over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time.
Browse our unique collection of Nirvana photos and prints below
Outtake image of Kurt Cobain from a Nirvana publicity photo shoot to promote 'Nevermind', following their famous baby album cover
Nirvana captured during a publicity photo shoot for their pivotal album 'Nevermind', taken in a Los Angeles swimming pool.
Kirk Weddle photograph of Nirvana playing instruments underwater in a Californian swimming pool in October 1991.
Kurt Cobain captured in a cold LA swimming pool during a publicity photo shoot for Nirvana in 1991.
Dave Grohl messing around during his Nirvana days whilst on a publicity photo shoot, taken in Los Angeles in 1991
Kurt Cobain sleeping on a poolside whilst on Nirvana publicity shoot for 'Nevermind' in 1991
Underwater photos of Nirvana shot to complement the iconic album cover image from 'Nevermind'.
Outake image of Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl & Krist Novoselic jamming underwater on a Nirvana photo shoot
Undewater outtake from a Nirvana publicity shoot to promote their iconic album 'Nevermind'
Kurt Cobain's guitar, gently floating at the end of the famous Nevermind cover shoot by photographer Kirk Weddle.
Underwater photo of Krist Novoselic in a LA swimming pool whilst on a Nirvana publicty shoot
Taken on the set for a Nirvana publicity shoot for their album 'Nevermind'
Contact sheet of 1991 color film slides laid out on a light box from Kirk Weddle's historic Nevermind photo shoot with Nirvana
Nirvana photographed in a stairwell at the Astoria, London in November 1991.
Nirvana photographed outside the Dalmacia Hotel in Shepherd's Bush, London on a cold October morning in 1990.
Kurt Cobain, from Nirvana, photographed in October 1990 outside the Dalmacia Hotel, Shepherd's Bush, London
Nirvana in Madrid during their European Tour of In Utero in July 1992
U2 on top of a hotel roof in Cork, Ireland on a cold February morning in 1980
Contact sheet of The Jam's photo shoot for the cover of their debut album 'In The City'
Exclusive David Bowie print specially created by The Postman for Rockarchive, based on a photograph taken by Dave Hogan at Live Aid in 1985
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