Nirvana: Taking Punk To The Masses

Nirvana: Taking Punk To The Masses is the name of exhibition by Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum that will exhibit Nirvana's memorabilia and "rare and unseen pieces from the band, their crews and families".

The exhibition runs from April 16, 2011- April 23, 2013.

As stated in the press release, the exhibition will include, but not limited to:

• Kurt Cobain’s never-before exhibited, high school painting of two aging, Reagan-era punks in the post-apocalypse, informally known as “punk American gothic.”
• The Teac reel-to-reel tape machine owned by Mari Earl, Cobain’s aunt, on which a young Kurt recorded material for his early bands, Organized Confusion and Fecal Matter.
• Cobain’s handwritten lyrics for Nirvana songs including “Spank Thru” and “Floyd the Barber.”
• Numerous instruments, including pieces of the first guitar Cobain destroyed onstage (a Univox Hi-Flyer); Dave Grohl’s Tama Rockstar-Pro drum kit; and Krist Novoselic’s Guild acoustic bass guitar and Buck Owens American acoustic guitar used during the recording of “MTV Unplugged.”
• The yellow cardigan worn often by Cobain between 1991 and 1994.
• The winged angel stage prop featured on Nirvana’s In Utero tour.
• Scores of candid snapshots capturing the band’s early years, from their beginnings in Aberdeen, Washington to the media frenzy that erupted after Nevermind.

As we know, Kurt Cobain died this week, 17 years ago from an alleged suicide, although some people think he was murdered.

You can't separate Kurt from Nirvana and vice versa. Speaking as a die-hard fan, Nirvana had split the world into before and after Nevermind, a status not even U2 or Pearl Jam can achieve (sorry for both band's fans, but that's the truth, man!)

Kurt Cobain. You have to either hate or love this guy. The hair metals, Axl Rose in particular, hated him because he killed their careers with his music. Teenagers love and idolize him to this day for who he was and what he'd done to music. No one would consider your rock band seriously if you don't know Nirvana in some extent and Dave Grohl's drumming in "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is still the most simple-sounded yet most difficult drumming in the history of rock n roll.

Even the most prominent Nirvana haters have to admit that no band with so troubled front man and so short of career span can last these long and  bring so massive a change the world will never be the same again.

Therefore, I guess it is safe to say that Nirvana: Taking Punk To The Masses is a long-awaited homage to Nirvana, to Kurt and to the undying spirit of punk rock and rock n roll.

Tony The Interpretive Dancer

Tony The Interpretive Dancer is a nickname for the guy who dance onstage during Nirvana's Reading Festival performance. Some say that Nirvana (Kurt, suspiciously) invite him to do so, while other suggested that it was Tony's own idea (being intoxicated and all).

The fact that Kurt had done something like that in Nirvana's previous gig (he once invited two of his Olympian neighbors to dance using pom-poms) and that none of the show's bouncers shove Tony's ass off the stage tend to prove the former, in my opinion.

As if his luck to be the one who once DANCE onstage on Nirvana's greatest gig (in my opinion) wasn't enough, Tony The Interpretive Dancer and his intoxicated acts are now eternally etched in the official Nirvana's Reading Festival DVD, launched last Monday (November 2nd, 2009). 

Nirvana At Reading Festival Revisited

08/30/92. Nirvana At Reading Festival.

Update: As of today, November 5th, 2009, I found out that the guy who dance onstage is called, "Tony The Interpretive Dancer". I'll keep you updated.

There are at least some reasons behind this post. First, because this is probably Nirvana's best live performance caught on tape (trust me). Second, because this is their only footage I never seen in complete (poor me). The third reason is because I've read reviews about this gig before in almost all Nirvana's/Kurt's biographies, including the one I helped to translate (to Bahasa Indonesia). The last reason is that the official DVD of  Nirvana's "Live At Reading Festival" is due to release in November 2, 2009.
So, think it is as a warm up.

I  thank Nirvana, that allowed me to have ill-channeled angst back then. And for Kurt, for being around as long as you were...

I also want to thank BBBwagggan for uploading these videos. Thanks, man.
This post is dedicated to Mr.C.A.T who are really kind to mention me in his post. I know you'll like it, man.

For the rest of you, Nirvana fans and haters alike, I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.
Although, I've placed each songs chronologically ( I'm not sure. Do tell me if I disorder it) here some advices so that you can enjoy it more:

• Keep in mind that the gig taken place after a long delay that was caused by, but not limited to, the rumor that Kurt had died. Lol! So imagine how the crowds felt when finally Kurt, Krist and Dave had showed on stage and pulled a little play on the rumor before they blast them off literally to ... Nirvana.
  
• Try not to be distracted by the guy who was dancing on stage continuously (anyone knows who that w****  is?). He can be really annoying.

'Nuff said... here they come...