Paul McCartney will perform a new song he has been working on with Grohl and Novoselic (Picture: EPA)

Sir Paul McCartney is to front Nirvana for one night only, it has been reported, when surviving members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic reunite for the first time in 20 years.

The former Beatle, not exactly known for his gravelly voice and brooding on-stage persona, is a choice of front-man that is likely to bewilder many Nirvana fans.

McCartney will reportedly perform a new song with the pair at Hurricane Sandy charity concert 121212, which will also feature The Rolling Stones and takes place in New York tonight.

He has been secretly working in the studio with Grohl and Novoselic, who formed the main line-up of the iconic grunge band along with singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain who committed suicide in 1994.



As if to further irk fans, Macca admitted that when he first started playing with the band he had no idea who they were.

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Kurt Cobain was killed by a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head in 1994 (Picture: AP)

The 70-year-old said he received a phone call from Grohl, who currently plays with the Foo Fighters, asking him to come and ‘jam with some mates’.

He found himself playing alongside Novoselic and unofficial fourth Nirvana member Pat Smear, but confessed: ‘I didn’t really know who they were. They are saying how good it is to be back together. I said “Whoa? You guys haven’t played together for all that time?”

‘And somebody whispered to me “That’s Nirvana. You’re Kurt.” I couldn’t believe it.’

A spokesperson for McCartney confirmed the singer’s performance at the concert but said that the details of the set will be kept a surprise.

Nirvana released three platinum-selling albums during their career, Bleach, Nevermind and In Utero, with Nevermind having consistently made all-time top album lists.

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