Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 1st March!
On the 1st March 1994, Nirvana played their last concert. Kurt Cobain and his band performed in Munich at Terminal Eins. And there were some power difficulties during the show – so the Grunge rockers had to restart „Come as you are“ after a two minute break.
The setlist of this historic show:
My Best Friend’s Girl (Cars Cover)
Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
Drain You
Breed
Serve The Servants
Come As You Are
Sliver
Dumb
In Bloom
About A Girl
Lithium
Pennyroyal Tea
School
Polly
Very Ape
Lounge Act
Rape Me
Territorial Pissings
The Man Who Sold The World (David Bowie Cover)
All Apologies
On A Plain
Blew
Heart-Shaped Box
You can relisten to this show here:
Three days later, Kurt’s wife Courtney Love, found Cobain unconscious in their hotel suite. The singer and guitarist had reacted to a combination of Rohynol and alcohol and so the rest of the tour has to be canceled. On the 8th April 1994, Kurt Cobain was found dead. He comitted suicide by shooting himself. The body had been lying there for days – the coroner’s report said, that Kurt’s died on 5th April 1994. He was only 27 years old.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 20th February!
Happy birthday to Kurt Donald Cobain, who was born on the 20th February 1967 in Aberdeen, Washington (USA)!
Kurt already started playing the piano and singing when he was two years old. At the age of seven, his parents divorced – and this was very defining, as he said in an interview:
„I remember feeling ashamed, for some reason. I was ashamed of my parents. I couldn’t face some of my friends at school anymore, because I desperately wanted to have the classic, you know, typical family. Mother, father. I wanted that security, so I resented my parents for quite a few years because of that.“
On his 14th birthday, Kurt received from his uncle a guitar – and the young boy started to play over and over again. And he also crossed paths with bassist Krist Novoselic and the duo rehearsed together and formed the band Fecal Matter – which became very soon Nirvana.
During his second year at Aberdeen High School, Kurt was dropped out. And as he had no job, he was also kicked out of his mother’s home. In 1986, Cobain worked at „The Polynesian Resort“ and lived in an apartment. He spent his money mainly for travelling to Olympia (Washington) attending several Rock concerts. At the end of 1987, Cobain and Novoselic recruited drummer Aaron Burckhard. Due to the fact, that Kurt and Krist moved to Olympia, they lost contact to Aaron and so they had to look for a replacement. Finally Chad Channing became the new drummer in the band, which was now called Nirvana. In May 1988, the first concert took place and in November the single debut „Love Buzz“ was released, followed by the debut album „Bleach„, which hit the stores in June 1989. The LP had initial sales of 40,000 copies.
During the recording sessions for the follow-up „Nevermind„, Channing left the band and Dave Grohl completed the new line up. And they also changed the label and left Sub Pop for signing the major record company DGC Records in 1990. And with producer Butch Vig (who was also a member of Garbage), they put twelve songs togehter for the new release. DGC was hoping to sell 250,000 copies, but it was not like that. The single outtake „Smells Like Teen Spirit“ (released two weeks before the album on 10th September 1991) became a huge hit and so in the first week of the release, 400,000 copies of „Nevermind“ were sold in the US. Until today, over 30 million copies have been sold worldwide. The other singles „Come as you are„, „Lithium“ and „In Bloom“ ensured, that „Nevermind“ was still a megaseller in 1992.
In December 1992, the compilation album (with some rarities from the Sub Pop era) „Incesticide“ hit the market. The long anticipated follow up „In Utero“ was finally released in September 1993. Christopher John Farley from „Time Magazine“ wrote in his review:
„Despite the fears of some alternative-music fans, Nirvana hasn’t gone mainstream, though this potent new album may once again force the mainstream to go Nirvana.“ And two months later, on the 18th November 1993, the legendary MTV Unplugged Session happened in New York.
On 1st March 1994, Nirvana played their last concert in Munich. Three days later, Kurt’s wife Courtney Love, found Cobain unconscious in their hotel suite. The singer and guitarist had reacted to a combination of Rohynol and alcohol and so the rest of the tour has to be canceled. And also Cobain’s heroin addiction resurfaced during that period. Kurt started a rehab, but he broke off. He climbed over the wall of the rehabilitation facility and flew to his home in Seattle. One week later, on the 8th April 1994, Kurt Cobain was found dead. He comitted suicide by shooting himself. The body had been lying there for days – the coroner’s report said, that Kurt’s died on 5th April 1994. He was only 27 years old.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 14th February!
On the 14th February 1970, The Who recorded their legendary show in Leeds. The band performed at the local University. „Live At Leeds“ was released three months later on the 16th May 1970 and it’s still considered as one of the best live albums ever.
Beside the outstanding recording, the packaging was also a real eyecatcher. Issued as a bootleg LP, the gatefold sleeve housed a package with12 facsimiles of various memorabilia. Also two photos, a poster and handwritten notes was enclosed.
Welcomte to my Music Diary – today for the 7th February!
On the 7th February 1969, The Who recorded one of their signature songs at Morgan Studio’s in London, UK: „Pinball Wizard„, which was produced by Kit Lambert. Written by guitarist Pete Townshend, this track was also featured on the legendary Rock opera double album „Tommy„. Released on the 7th March, the single reached No. 4 in the UK and No. 19 in the USA.
For the flip side, The Who recorded an instrumental called „Dogs (Part Two)“, which was written by drummer Keith Moon.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 15th January!
On the 15th January 1965, the very first single by The Who was released in the UK. „I can’t explain“ (with „Bald Headed Woman“ on the flip side). The song, written by guitarist Pete Townshend, went on No. 8 on the UK chart. The recording session was produced by Shel Talmy and beside The Who, some guest appearences are featured on the single: The British vocal trio The Ivy League and Perry Ford on piano can be also heard on „I can’t explain“. It was also the rumour, that Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page added some rhythm guitar parts, but this is still not really proved.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 25th December!
David Noel Redding (25th December 1945 – 11th May 2003)
On the 25th December 1945, David Noel Redding was born in Folkestone, UK. Redding became in 1966 the bass player for Hendrix‘ band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. At the age of 9 years, David Noel started playing violin, mandolin and guitar. Before joining Jimi Hendrix as the bassist, he played guitar for The Strangers, The Lonely Ones, Neil Landon & The Burnettes and The Loving Kind. In 1969 he left the Jimi Hendrix Experience. His bass lines can be heard on the masterpieces „Are You Experienced„, „Axis: Bold as Love“ (both 1967) and „Electric Ladyland“ (1968).
In 1972 Noel Redding moved to Ireland and formed The Noel Redding Band with Eric Bell from Thin Lizzy, Dave Clarke, Les Sampson and Robbie Walsh.They recorded two studio albums and broke up in 1976. Redding kept up recording and touring over the years. On the 11th May 2003 Noel Redding passed away at the age of 57. He was found dead in his home in Clonakilty. It was reported that Redding died from „shock haemorrhage due to oesophageal varices in reaction to cirrhosis of the liver“.
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In 1969 Hendrix headlined the festival in Woodstock and one year later at the Isle of Wight. On the 18th September 1970, Jimi Hendrix died from barbiturate-related asphyxia at the age of only 27 years.
Although his very short career spanned only over four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in Rock history. The Jimi Hendrix Experience was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and Jimi was appropriately described as „arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music“.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 20th November!
Keith Moon (The Who)
On the 20th November 1973 the Who drummer Keith Moon collapsed during a concert at the Cow Palace in Dale City, near to San Francisco. After approximately one hour, Moon began to falter during „Won’t Get Fooled Again„, slumped over his drum kit and passed finally out. He was carried offstage by the roadies.
Backstage the drummer received a special treatment and meanwhile guitarist Pete Townshend asked the crowd: „Can anybody play the drums? I mean somebody good!“ Scot Halpin, also a drummer, and his friend Mike Danese watched the scene, while Danese told the security staff, that the 19 years old Scot can play. Bill Graham, the concert promoter, asked: „Can you do it?“. After Halpin’s „Yes“, he filled in for Keith and played. After a Brandy he started while Townshend instructed him: „I’m going to lead you. I’m going to cue you.“ So the Who had a new member for three songs. They played the Blues standards Smokestack Lightning“ and „Spoonful“ before going into the Who song „Naked Eye„. So after approximately thirty minutes of absence, Keith Moon came back on stage to finish the show.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 18th November!
On the 18th November 1993, the legendary recording sessions by Nirvana for the MTV Unplugged show happened. The performance took place at the Sony Studios in New York. The setlist consisted of rare material and cover versions of tracks by The Vaselines, David Bowie, Meat Puppets (during which they were joined by the two members Cris and Curt Kirkwood) and Lead Belly. The TV show was first broadcasted on the 16th December 1993.
The album „MTV Unplugged in New York“ was released seven months after the tragic death of Kurt Cobain and hit the stores on the 1st November 1994. The LP/CD won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 1996. And thirteen years later, on the 20th November 2007, the DVD featuring the whole performance was finally released.
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Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 23rd October!
Hey Joe (UK Single)
On the 23rd October 1966, the Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded their first single. Jimi, Mitch Mitchell (drums) and Noel Redding (bass) choosed the traditional „Hey Joe„, which the trio recorded in London at De Lane Lea studios.The single was produced by Chas Chandler and hit the stores on the 16th December 1966 in the UK with „Stone Free“ on the flip side. And it was the first top ten hit for Jimi Hendrix and his band – the song reached No. 6 on the UK Single Charts. US fans had to wait for the single release until 1st May 1967 – with „51st Anniversary“ on the B-side. Contrary to the British market the song failed to chart in the USA.
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On the 18th November 1993, the legendary recording sessions by 
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