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.
Get your NIRVANA stuff here (for Austrian customer):
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 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.
Get your Nirvana stuff here (for Austrian customer):
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 11th October!
Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters)
On the 11th October 1990 Drummer Dave Grohl played his first gig with Nirvana. The show took place at the North Shore Surf Club in Olympia, Washington. And the performance was not that easy for the Seattle Grunge rockers and also the fans, because the power went out a few times. So the songs „Molly’s Lips“ (Vaselines cover) and „D-7“ (Wipers cover) could not been finished. Also during „Blew“ the power went out, but Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave played the track to its end, when the power came back.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 24th September!
On the 24th September 1991 an album was released in the USA, which became a big milestone in Rock and Grunge history: Nirvana’s „Nevermind„. The chart entering was anything but suprising – after the first week the LP was on position No. 144. But this changed, when the Single „Smells Like Teen Spirit“ was played all over the world. So in January 1992 „Nevermind“ peaked the No. 1 place and until now over 30 millions copies were sold world wide.
Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 8th September!
Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain live in Hollywood (Club Lingerie – Rock Against Rape Benefit) (8th September 1993)
In 1993, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love played a special set for the „Rock Against Rape Benefit“ at the Club Lingerie in Hollywood. As a duet they performed the two songs „Pennyroyal Tea“ and „Where did you sleep last Night„. Before Kurt came on stage, Cortney introduced him lovely with the words: „My husband, Yoko!“
About the song:
Originally, „Pennyroyal Tea“ is one of the oldest Nirvana songs. The first demo was recorded in Winter 1990 by Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl. After that the recording was forgotten in the archives. During the sessions for „In Utero“ Cobain remembered the tune again and recorded it with his band. It became one of the best known Nirvana songs.
When I worked for the Austrian independent radio station B138 I invited several musicians for special radio performances – here you can stream some of the wonderful shows – enjoy!
In November 2009 Andrea Schroeder was our live guest for the radio show „Unerhört Spezial“ – stream it here:
The Songs:
„Blackbird“ (Studio)
„Blackbird“ (live)
„Rainlight“ (live)
„Farmen“ (from the Farmen album „Farmen“)
„Ghost Ship“ (live)
„Bebop Blues“ (Studio)
„Dark Nightingales“ (live)
„My Heart is just a Song“ (live)
„Then“ (live)
„Fly me to the Sky“ (Studio)
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In February 2010 Austrian musician Manuel Normal was our live guest – stream this very special unplugged show here:
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In 2010 Jazz singer Marina Zettl was our live guest – stream this very special unplugged show here:
The Songs:
1. Wonderful Day (live)
2. Too close (from „Fikus„)
3. Almost written (live)
4. Ride the Tide (from „Fikus„)
5. Fikus (live)
6. Love on a Landline (live)
7. Goodbye (from „Fikus„)
Line Up: Marina Zettl – Vocals
Thomas Mauerhofer – Guitar
Christian Bakanic – Accordion
ACHTUNG: The interview is in German!
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Also in 2010 the Austrian band Dealer performed in the studio of the radio b138 – stream this unplugged session here:
The Songs:
1. Dig a Hole (Studio Version)
2. Dig a Hole (live Unplugged at Radio B138)
3. Ain’t getting better (Studio Version)
4. Ain’t getting better (live Unplugged at Radio B138)
5. Desperately united (Studio Version)
6. Cocain Woman (live Unplugged at Radio B138)
7. Remedy (THE BLACK CROWES)
8. This is not California (live Unplugged at Radio B138)
9. The Weight (The Band Cover) (live Unplugged at Radio B138)
10. Coming ‚round again (live)
ACHTUNG: The interview is in German!
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In August 2010 Austrian musician Agnès Milewski was our live guest – stream this very special unplugged show here:
The Songs:
1. Ready steady go (Studio Version)
2. Chasing the Wind (live)
3. One God for me (Studio Version)
4. Learn to swim (live)
5. Falling from Grace (live)
6. Ugly duckling (live)
7. Not Andrea (Studio Version)
8. For Lucifer, the fallen (live)
Shortly after this show singer Medina Rekic was our guest and we did an interview, Medina played some of her favorite songs and also did a very fine unplugged solo performance!
For the Austrian independent radio station B138 I hosted the programme called „Unerhört„. It was a weekly feature and broadcasted 72 times. Here is a small selection of my personal favorites and for your streaming pleasure – enjoy 😉
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Follow this link to stream/download my radio show called “Die musikalische Buchstabensupe eines Melomanen”, which I hosted also for the Austrian independent radio station B138. It’s a series through my private music collection from A (like AC/DC) until Z (like ZZ Top). Also I recorded some other broadcasts, like a special about the release of Johnny Cash’s album “American Recordings VI – Ain’t No Grave” (ed. 2010) which features also some speeches of John Carter Cash, the son of the Man in Black. Also I did two broadcasts which features my personal favorites of the year 2010 – like Woven Hand, Munly & The Lupercalians, Clan Edison or Murder By Death. Tune in and enjoy!
On the 18th November 1993, the legendary recording sessions by 
Melomane Blog 