Nirvana

Spawned in the intensely fertile music scene that blossomed in and around Seattle in the late 1980s, Nirvana instantly distinguished itself from the bulk of its peers by virtue of the singular passion that drove its leader, Kurt Cobain. Few were prepared for worldwide Nirvana-mania set off by the 1991 release of Nevermind. With the instantaneous success of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' the album stormed the charts. Their next album, In Utero, was the last studio recording released by Nirvana: the demons that made Cobain's writing so powerful took their toll: he took his own life less than a year later.

Although the band released just five albums, Nirvana's influence is certain to be felt for many years to come: Nirvana, an unofficial publication, shows the multiple reasons behind that impact through the words of the band, their friends and their colleagues. Through interviews with those close to the band coupled with intensive archive research, the unique status this band occupies-as representatives of the time, and as timeless songwriters-will be revealed.

About the Author

Gillian G. Gaar is the author of She's A Rebel: The History Of Women In Rock & Roll; Green Day: Rebels With A Cause; Nirvana: In Utero; The Rough Guide To Nirvana; and Return of the King: Elvis Presley's Great Comeback. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies, including Trouble Girls: The Rolling Stone Book Of Women In Rock; Goldmine: The Beatles Digest; and The Nirvana Companion.

She has also written for Mojo, Rolling Stone, Goldmine, and the Seattle Experience Music Project museum, among others, and served as a project consultant on Nirvana's With The Lights Out boxed set. She lives in Seattle, Washington State, USA.