Band Hub · 005
Nirvana
Formed Aberdeen, Washington, 1987
Lineup Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl
Status Ended 1994, following Kurt Cobain's death
Personnel
The classic lineup
Kurt CobainVocals, guitar, songwriter · 1967–1994
Krist NovoselicBass · founding member
Dave GrohlDrums · joined September 1990
The Catalog
Eras & discography
Three studio albums in five years, from Sub Pop sludge to the record that's widely credited with breaking alternative rock into the mainstream, to a deliberately abrasive rebuttal — a career cut short by Kurt Cobain's death in April 1994.
| Album | Year | The era, in one line |
|---|---|---|
| Bleach | 1989 | The Sub Pop debut — Melvins-indebted sludge and hardcore. |
| Nevermind | 1991 | The mainstream breakthrough — “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and a No. 1 album. |
| In Utero | 1993 | The deliberate rebuttal to Nevermind's polish — the final studio album. |
The Making Of
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Deep dives
Page history: Published Aug 7 2026 · Created alongside the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Making Of entry · No corrections to date