In October 1991, just as Nirvana were tearing up the rock'n'roll rule book with their major label debut Nevermind, Austin photographer Kirk Weddle was commissioned to shoot the band for photos to promote the impending blitz. His idea? Toss the band into a swimming pool to mimic the album's infamous naked baby cover image he’d shot a few months earlier.
But when the band showed up for the session at a Los Angeles pool in North Hollywood, they were hardly in the mood. It was first time Kirk met the band members, and they were exhausted from a string of West Coast gigs. The weather was unseasonably cold for an outdoor swim, so cold that Kirk wore a wetsuit. He recalls, "The guys were like, 'Wow, we've got to swim in this?'"
However Kirk, known as one of the industry's best underwater photographers, was able to convince the band to take the plunge and captured an extraordinary collection of photographs. Kirk Weddle creates enticing imagery for advertising and editorial andcorporate clients all over the world, including Logitech, Coca-Cola, Toshiba, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Time, Rolling Stone and Newsweek.Kirk shoots on location, in the studio and underwater.
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
Anthony Kiedis comes alive when you aim a camera at him, John Frusciante was stoned and subdued, a perfect combo!
Pink Floyd in Abbey Road making a new album that became 'Wish You Were Here'. Jill Furmanovsky was asked to drop in and shoot some stills
Fats Domino performing at the Texas Opry House, Houston in November 1975
David Bowie was a leading figure in popular music for over five decades & regarded by critics & musicians as a true innovator.
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band who were in the vanguard of the British music Invasion that became popular in the US in 1964–65.
Referred to as rock music's 'Prince of Darkness', Nick Cave's music is characterised by emotional intensity & a wide variety of influences.
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk.
Our latest exhibition 'The Main Stage' is now on at the Royal Albert Hall. Don't miss our iconic photographs of rock's greatest performers
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
The Rolling Stones have been entertaining audiences for more than 50 years. Our collections share the best images spanning their career
Edition 100 was created to give fans & collectors a chance to own classic, historical pictures of their favorite bands.
