Nirvana's "Nevermind" at 20: Bands remember the classic album
Nirvana’s Nevermind turns 20 September 24, 2011. In honor of this anniversary, a deluxe version of Nevermind–featuring a fully remastered version of the record, b-sides, live cuts and more–is being released on September 27. This reissue is well-deserved: The seminal album famously wiped away the lingering gloss and glam from the 1980s, put a new face on popular music and set the scene for almost every genre covered by this website. But don’t take our word for it: Some of AP’s favorite artists recently revealed what the album and the band mean to them. Whether you lived through the ensuing alternative revolution or grew up in the world Nirvana made, you’ll learn something new about Nevermind and its legacy.
Anthony Raneri of Bayside
What's your favorite song from Nevermind?
It's hard to choose one, because every song is completely perfect to me. Over the last 20 years different songs have popped up as my favorite. If I had to pick one, I would have to go with “Lithium.”
Why?
Mainly because of the significance it has for me at that moment in my life. It was the first song that I heard off of the record. I went out and got the single on cassette and shortly after got the whole record, which launched me on to the course that my life has been on ever since. I got my first guitar so I could learn to play “Lithium.”
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
The music has obvious influences in general on a lot of bands musically—especially now, as people in my age group and a little older are becoming the new breed of professional musicians. Having all grown up on Nirvana, I think that that influence will only become more apparent.
I would have to say that the biggest impact that the album had, though, is not musical, but more in the music business. It was one of the first records where a band who was truly from the underground and was truly writing songs from the heart—not striving necessarily for commercial success—was able to make a massive impact in the mainstream world. It gave hope, and still does to this day, to punk bands, hardcore bands or any kind of experimental band who starts from the ground up that you don't have to look or sound or act a certain way to make a living playing music. It put a swift end to the plastic hair metal scene and introduced the world to something real. That impact is still felt right now.
Beau Bokan of blessthefall
What's your favorite song from Nevermind?
“Something In The Way”
Why?
This song has to be one of the creepiest songs they've ever written. Kurt's vocals are simply haunting.His high harmonies over the chorus give me chills every time. You can just feel the somberness in your bones when you listen to this song and wonder what he could have been feeling when he wrote it.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
Nirvana changed music without trying to change music. They were raw and real and didn't care if anyone liked them or if any of their songs were played on the radio. I think that punk rock mentality has been instilled in many of us musicians that grew up listening to them—the idea of playing music because you love it or just rocking out without a care in the world. Because there's no way you would ever work behind a desk with a shirt and tie on. I'll always love and respect this band.
AJ Perdomo of the Dangerous Summer
What's your favorite song from Nevermind?
“Lithium”
Why?
I think it’s a revolutionary song. The dynamics opened up the ’90s.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
I think everything you hear on alternative radio is influenced by that album. It opened up a world that wasn’t punk and wasn’t classic rock.
Kevin Devine
(Photo: Ninelle Efremova)
What’s your favorite song from Nevermind?
For reasons that will become clearer in a couple weeks, I've been spending a lot of time with Nevermind this past month. Right now, my favorite song is either “On A Plain” or “Drain You,” but it changes all the time.
Why?
I love the melodies and openness of both of those songs. They're sweet, vulnerable, funny [and] layered, and they still manage to rock, especially live. For a little while there before he got too far afield, they were just a relentless and ferocious force live.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
I think Nirvana's influence is sort of everywhere and nowhere today. They are kind of broadly recognized above ground as the last truly significant rock ’n’ roll band, that genre's last moment of cultural relevance as an above-ground market presence, and he was its last real icon for sure.
Any other thoughts?
Their last two records don't feel especially dated to me, particularly in context of their peers and the time, which speaks to the timelessness and trend-unconsciousness of the songwriting. At the same time, they're a deeply misunderstood band, reduced to some ill-fitting tag words and imitated and lionized by a bunch of bands they would have totally fucking hated.
Matt Ridenour of Hawthorne Heights
What’s your favorite song from Nevermind?
“Territorial Pissings”
Why?
It is my favorite song from Nevermind because I feel that it was one of the only songs on the record that had a raw energy to it. It didn’t sound like it was recorded to a metronome, and [it] just embodied a pissed-off feel from the instant the drum fill starts. I also love that as soon as the song starts, I know exactly what it is. Kurt's voice alone, then feedback, then bam! The energy doesn't stop once that first verse hits. To me, it sounds like the song that the record label didn't like, or wanted to slow down. And, in my head, Kurt told them to fuck off. Whether or not that actually happened, who knows?
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
Nevermind had a huge influence on every facet of music. Nirvana didn't have stage moves, cool haircuts, or pyro. They were just three dudes with their instruments, shitty clothes, great energy and great songs. They didn't play the industry games that everyone had to play at that time, and ironically enough, it only made them more popular. Nirvana had the “fuck you” attitude of punk rock and radio hits—a very weird combination that will probably only work for them. They opened a door for bands to sound however they wanted to and get noticed by labels that wouldn't have looked their way otherwise. Nevermind was a punk rock album that spanned all genres, and it was undeniable for anyone who let the record into their lives.
Any other thoughts?
In my opinion, there will never be another Nirvana. [They were a] band that tried to do all the wrong things, and these turned out to be all the right things. They had an energy and sound that will never be matched. Bands try to do what Nirvana just did naturally. And I will always appreciate them for what they did for music, as well as the idea that anyone can be in a band that could possibly change the world.
JR Wasilewski of Less Than Jake
(Photo: Dennis Ho)
What’s your favorite song from Nevermind?
“Territorial Pissings”
Why?
There really is no finer definition of “teen angst” than this song. I was an actual teenager when I heard this song, [and] it made me want to break everything in my room. When Kurt is screaming “gotta find a way, a better way, I better wait!” I didn't even care what he was saying, I just wanted to scream along with him.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
It's influenced music enough that every time a band in punk/emo/rock puts out a record with “high expectations” someone in the press inevitably will say, “…it could be the next Nevermind.” Yet there has never been a next Nevermind…has there?
Any other thoughts?
I think the world needs more bands like Nirvana. Not so much musically speaking, [but] aesthetically. There are so many musicians concerned with trying to keep up with the Joneses, staying relevant and being modern that they forget to be honest to who they are (or, in some cases, who they were). That's why Nirvana worked. They never tried to be something that they weren't. And they never wanted to fit in. They were themselves and success found them, which is how most successes seem to occur. It's not forced; it just happens. I hope it happens again—and fast!
Derek Sanders of Mayday Parade
What’s your favorite song from Nevermind?
“Breed”
Why?
All of the songs on Nevermind are great, but that one has the most energy, and I've always loved that.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
I don't think what's left of rock ’n’ roll would be the same without Nevermind. It's such a legendary album.
Any other thoughts?
When I was in elementary school, I remember showing my dad the song “Rape Me” from In Utero before I knew what rape meant. He gave me the weirdest look.
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Andrew Cook of A Rocket To The Moon
What’s your favorite song from Nevermind?
“Breed”
Why?
It was the first song of its kind I'd ever heard. The combination of the drum beat and the bass line in that song got me so excited I could hardly handle it. I also think it's the catchiest chorus Kurt ever wrote.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
I think it set the bar high during a time when bands weren't Auto-Tuning and Beat Detective-ing the crap out of everything. You can hear the raw talent and passion in the performances, and that is completely lost from a lot of current music, sadly. While it may be the most obvious answer, Nevermind influenced music by killing hair metal (thank God) and opening the door for rock bands that weren't leather-clad with teased hair to have mainstream success. It's hard to find as powerful a three-piece to this day.
Anything you’d like to add?
Dave Grohl is the first name out of my mouth when I'm asked about idols, drumming or otherwise. This record is what introduced me to his playing. The first song I ever learned on drums was “In Bloom.” Years later, he continues to impress and succeed with Foo Fighters, and has written my favorite rock song of all time, “Everlong.” He's done all this while remaining a righteous, down-to-earth guy that I feel like (and wish) I could sit down with and talk to over a beer.
Sergie Loobkoff of Samiam
What’s your favorite song from Nevermind?
I really loved Bleach—still do—but Nevermind just isn't my favorite. Maybe it's a timing thing, but I was predisposed to view this record in a bad light. I saw the band open for Dinosaur Jr. just before Nevermind was released. It was months before Nirvana-mania, but people in this big theater in SF went apeshit for them.
Okay, they were a great band, fair enough—but then my absolute favorite band (Dino Jr.) came on, and an appreciable segment of the audience filed out, and the rest were less than enthused. Being in a band that had been upstaged by others before (repeatedly), well, I took it personally as if I was J Mascis. So when Nevermind came out and everyone jumped on the bandwagon, I resisted liking it on principle! With that said, how can I argue that Nevermind isn't one of the classic masterpieces of rock music? Every single song is a hit and would be a career-defining achievement for mere mortal-led band. Yeah, it's totally amazing, and now, 20 years later, that Dinosaur sting doesn't hurt.
Oh, should I answer your question? Um, It’s so hard. Maybe “Come As You Are.”
Why?
Musically, I was confused initially because the bass line is the hook, and it was the hook of a Killing Joke song. But once you forgive that, it's so perfect. Simple [and] repetitive but great and engaging. The warbly tone sounds underwater—that ties into the album cover too. The lyrics and melody are fantastic; that's what gets you. Plus, the quality of his voice is so amazing. You know, I love lots of singers, but a voice like that is one in a trillion American Idol winners. Ha.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
I think popular music is so fickle that it didn't influence much of what is going on today to the average person. I don't hear it in Rihanna or the latest Disney soundtrack, the things that fill up the charts. But when you talk about guitar-driven rock music, from punk to metal and things in between, you can't deny that it reinforced the blueprint that everyone takes from. Like Hendrix or Beatles or Chuck Berry or Ramones and whoever. Nirvana is one of those icons.
Vinnie Fiorello of Less Than Jake
(Photo: Dennis Ho)
What’s your favorite song from Nevermind?
“Come As You Are”
Why?
Lyrically, for me it took that ugly sensibility of ’80s punk and spun it for the modern outcast. My favorite lines: “Dowsed in mud / Soaked in bleach / As I want you to be / As a trend / As a friend / As an old memory.”
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
Nevermind taught the high school band that they can take every ounce of aggression and angst, and it could be respected in pop music.
Any other thoughts?
Nevermind was the record [that proved] punk rock can explode into mainstream music. I know Green Day gets cited for opening those doors, but they were already pop music. Nirvana was filthy and unstable, noisy and dangerous.
Chris Conley of Saves The Day
What's your favorite song from Nevermind?
“In Bloom”
Why?
It's a twisted pop song with a heavy groove and great lyrics dripping with alienation and cynicism.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
The chord patterns on Nevermind are atypical, but the melodies are as sugary as they come, while the lyrics are sarcastic and witty in a dark way. In the same way the Beatles brought sunshine to the masses, Nirvana ushered in the age of gloom.
Any other thoughts?
Without Nirvana, emo music would never have been a viable format for rock radio. Their generation's angst and frustration gave way to our generation's longing for a better world.
Nick Diener of the Swellers
What’s your favorite song from Nevermind?
“Lithium”
Why?
That was the song that made me want to learn to play guitar, after I saw them perform it on the MTV VMAs. It's just so pissed. Came across even better live than on CD, too.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
It's obvious that tons of bands were influenced by the sound of Nevermind, but what is even more astronomical is how much it changed the game forever. It reintroduced the loud guitars/big drums/punk attitude from before the hair-band era to a mainstream audience, and it flourished throughout the ’90s. Unfortunately, we fell victim to a new type of hair band in the 2000s, but music is cyclical, and once again bands are thinking, “What would Kurt Cobain do?”
Any other thoughts?
For awhile I mourned the loss of Kurt and how there would be no more new Nirvana records. We're very lucky to have the Foo Fighters now, though. Especially the earlier Foo albums, you can hear a bit of Nirvana creeping in, and it feels good. It retrospect, those records came out very soon after Nirvana disbanded, and you can tell Dave really learned a lot from Kurt about songwriting and really shared the same love for big, loud, honest music.
Frank Turner
What’s your favorite song from Nevermind?
Tough question. Probably “Territorial Pissings.”
Why?
Nirvana are a band who cover a lot of ground, musically and emotionally, and I love it all. But at the end of the day, it’s the visceral rage side of things, the Black Flag-influenced part, that really gets me going. That song tore my face off when I was 13.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
Immeasurably. It basically revived punk in the mainstream consciousness.
Any other thoughts?
In Utero is, in my opinion, a better album, although not as influential.
Blake Harnage of VersaEmerge
(Photo by: Brandon Aviram)
What’s your favorite song from Nevermind?
“Lithium”
Why?
With a mellow, fragile verse, it's almost like the song is teasing you before the chorus blows up. Plus, I'm a fan of bands that can pull off having an entire chorus with one word in it.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
Until Nirvana, hard rock and vulnerable, emotional lyrics seldom met. Cobain and Nirvana played a big part in joining opposite ends of the spectrum and erased musical boundaries. I think it would be interesting to see if he would still be making music and if it would sound at all like old Nirvana. Whether or not he’d be here now, it wouldn’t change the existing recordings and the impact they had.
Ryan Key of Yellowcard
What’s your favorite song from Nevermind?
“Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Why?
You're probably thinking, “Wow. Real original, Ryan.” But let me say this: I was 11 years old when Nevermind came out. The way I first experienced it was hearing this song on the radio. I grew up listening to mostly mainstream pop music that was played on the radio, as I didn't have much exposure to anything else. So the opening riff followed by Dave Grohl's famous ba doo de ba doo de ba doo de ba drum intro absolutely blew my mind. It was like nothing I'd ever heard before. It was the perfect thing to show me what rock 'n' roll really was for the first time. All I wanted to do after that was learn how to play the guitar and write songs of my own. So I have to credit the most obvious choice on the record for kickstarting every musical moment in my life since.
How do you think Nevermind has influenced music?
They changed everything for my generation. They opened the door for so many different kinds of rock music to reach a larger audience. I wish it was the same now. Its hard to imagine a band like Nirvana having a No. 1 single on Top 40 radio in 2011.
Any other thoughts?
If it weren't for Nirvana, I wouldn't be in a band today. They truly opened me up to music in a way that no other artist had before them. I wish I could say thanks in person. alt
