PICS: These previously unseen images of Nirvana playing in Cork are wonderful

"Here we are now, entertain us."

August 20th, 1991 - three days after they record the video for Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana play a pub venue in Cork.

Almost immediately after finishing their set at Sir Henry's, the lives of Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic would change forever.

Nevermind was released shortly after the band left Leeside and with that came instant fame and, tragically for Cobain, the trappings associated with it.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of that famous night in Cork and after getting the true story of that gig from Sean O'Neill, the manager of the pub at the time, we're delighted to say that Nirvana fan Rory Wales has also shared his stories and memories of that night.

Take a look at these wonderful images.

Rory also has a lovely story to share about the moment that Kurt Cobain posed for an amazing photo (included below). In his own words, "Like most people going to Sir Henrys that night, I was mainly going to see Sonic Youth, I really loved their album Goo which had come out a year earlier". (Here's Sonic Youth playing)

Rory continues, "I didn't know any Nirvana stuff but my friend Kevin had a tape of their album Bleach which we played a few times earlier that day so we'd at least know what they would sound like. I was always very enthusiastic about going to gigs so I'd always queue up early and get right up at the front of the stage".

(We love the cans of Carling that are scattered around the stage as well as Krist Novoselic's Dinosaur Jr. t-shirt)

"Nirvana played a really good set I thought, really loud and lively. I basically stood directly in front (about 1 metre away) of Kurt during the whole gig. In between one of the songs I shouted 'Kurt! Kurt! Kurt!' and he came up to me and said 'Yeeaaay??' and I asked him for a smile for the camera and he said 'Okay', put both hands in front of his face in a prayer posture, and slowly drew his hands apart revealing his face."

"I couldn't take the photo on time because the flash on my camera was taking 10 seconds to charge so I missed the moment but got the other close up of Kurt instead (above). Sonic Youth were amazing as I recall, Thurston Moore and Lee Renaldo were sliding screwdrivers up and down the fretboards of their guitars at one stage (see photos).

(Check out the Brendan Behan t-shirt)



Rory says that over the years, his musical education was well served by the iconic Cork venue.

"Other bands I saw in Sir Henrys - My Bloody Valentine, Babes In Toyland, Therapy?, and of course local Cork heroes Frank & Walters and Sultans of Ping. I was a teenage indie kid during all this time so all this music was all so new and exciting for me."

If you've any other famous concert stories, pictures, clips or anything else then feel free to get in touch with JOE.

Cheers to Rory Wales for sending this images our way. If you have something you would like to share with us, send it to our WhatsApp number 087-4001102, editorial@JOE.ie or hit us up on Facebook or Twitter