Nevermind turns 25: How Nirvana is still changing the world A quarter of a century ago, alternative rock hit the mainstream. Nirvana’s seminal album Nevermind was released. It would send the band […]

A quarter of a century ago, alternative rock hit the mainstream. Nirvana’s seminal album Nevermind was released.

It would send the band stratospheric, selling more than 24 million copies and capturing the imagination of fans worldwide.

Its influence can still be felt today. We talked to those it touched.

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Frank Turner

One of British music’s leading alternative musicians, Turner has made his love for Nirvana clear in the past, regularly covering their songs.

Nevermind made a big impression on him as a curious 11-year-old.

“I have a vague memory of listening to it on a car journey with my mum, and she hated it, but I listened to it about four times through before she banned me from playing it.

“I loved it straight away.

“Nirvana were huge for me in terms of how I thought about and made music. My s*** bedroom band could do half-decent versions of their songs, which was initially extremely empowering; then it made us think about why they were good and we sucked.”

It’s an album which is still having an impact on Turner, a quarter of a century on.

“It’s one of those records which has become such a cultural landmark that it’s almost part of the scenery,” he notes. “It’s worth re-listening from time to time, with as open a mind as you can manage.

“There are some amazing and weird songs on there. It’s not perfect – the guitar tone is pretty horrible in places – but you can still feel the impact it had, I think.

“I also like the way that I can listen to it now, knowing a lot more about the bands hinterland and influences. It’s the culmination of American indie music of the 80s, in a way.”

Sam Forrest

The guitarist and vocalist with grunge band Nine Black Alps, as well as new act Sewage Farm, remembers a wave of grunge flooding into his school.

“I first heard ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ on Top of the Pops, and thought it sounded like slowed down thrash metal with a lot more melody – which was something completely new.

“Then the album started to be played everywhere at my school, even by people who just a year previously were listening to Michael Jackson.

“I was reluctant to like Nevermind as it was so popular, but the songs were so good and energetic that there was no resisting.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0MzeMfcGxA

The album had a profound effect on the future rock frontman.

“I was raised on The Beatles so could identify with the melodies, but I was also into hard rock at the time and it had the aggression I could relate with. It opened up an entire world of underground music like Sonic Youth, Sebadoh and Bikini Kill.

“It’s still the unique songwriting, amazing singing and incredible performances that mark it out. It’s been weird to watch it gradually become a ‘classic album’, but I guess that’s what it deserves.”

Rick Lennox

Rick is the Live Music Events Manager at Norwich’s OPEN gig venue, and has worked in the music industry in many different forms.

It was while working as an A&R person for indie label One Little Indian that he first laid ears on Nirvana.

“The first time I ever heard [them] was in a meeting with a band that wanted me to manage them. I asked them to play me stuff that they liked and they played Nirvana’s ‘Sliver’.

“By the time the first chorus kicked in, I was in love with it.

“A few days later I was at a nightclub on Oxford Street and the track was played. I went nuts on the dance floor. The following day I found myself in front of the Main Stage at Reading Festival. It was 4.45 on a Friday afternoon and Nirvana stole the show. I had a new favourite band.”

Music industry connections ultimately fostered an acquaintance with Kurt Cobain, and ample opportunities to see them live.

“I had a good connection with them as their booking agent was also the bloke who looked after the band I was managing at the time – Daisy Chainsaw. Better still, Kurt was a fan of them.

“I was invited to see Nirvana play at the Astoria in November 1991, and the following month I saw them again at the Kilburn National Ballroom in London. Daisy Chainsaw went on a UK tour with Hole, and in Newport, I was finally introduced to Kurt.

“He told me he was a fan and blagged two Daisy Chainsaw T-shirts off me.

“The following year I saw them again at Reading, [and] this time they were headlining. I got to see Nirvana one last time on February 14 1994 in Paris, where I was invited backstage to help them drink their rider.”

Matt Hi

The Norfolk musician has played in his fair share of bands, including Bear and My Kid Robot – the latter particularly influenced by the thrashy grunge sounds of Nevermind.

“I first heard the album on a school trip in middle school – long coach journeys to Yorkshire were the big time for listening to music.

“I was armed with my Walkman and tapes of Parklife and Definitely Maybe.

“I remember someone giving me the cassette of Nevermind on the outbound trip. I listened to it, then listened to it again, and it completely blew my mind.”

@KristNovoselic demonstrates early use of the "selfie" photographic technique. Nirvana Live, Finland 1992. pic.twitter.com/u2wPBsp2RX — Nirvana (@Nirvana) July 13, 2016

“I’d not heard anything like it. It completely changed my ideas of music, and the first day we were let loose on a town I spent my lunch break tracking down a music shop so I could buy my own version.

“That tape has long since been absolutely played to death, to the point where it just doesn’t sound of anything anymore. But I’ve always remembered how that album made me feel.”

Stefania Bochicchio



London-based Bochicchio is a company director, new media strategist, author, and TV producer.

She recalls seeing the band live as they headlined the Reading Festival in 1992 – the last ever UK gig from the band.

“It is all true: Kurt was pushed on stage in a wheelchair, in a dress, pretending to be Courtney Love, then somehow ‘justifying’ his move saying that the UK music press had been nasty towards her.

“It was mayhem in front of the stage. A lot of bodies being carried overhead.

Her love of the band started long before that, when she caught the band’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ video on MTV.

“My ears pricked up immediately. The sound was raw and ‘punky’, but the video was sleek and professional.

“I remember thinking that the record company must have believed in this band to assign such a budget to the video.”

It started an obsession with the grunge genre that seeped into all aspects of her life.

“Grunge was punk for my generation. For the people who regretted missing London circa 1976.

“A sense of freedom and rebellion. A sense that music was a viable instrument of change.

“I went to clubs playing grunge music, read as many articles as possible on the Seattle scene, bought CDs and bootlegs. Still play them in fact.

“Nevermind was an instant, undeniable rock classic. It is amazing to see how little it has aged.”