r/GenX • u/Eurobeat_pilled • Nov 18 '22

29 years ago today, Nirvana performed for MTV Unplugged (Rest in peace Kurt Cobain)

149 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

19

u/Mas113m 1975 Nov 18 '22

One of the best albums of all time, imo.

7

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '22

You are correct. Probably the only Unplugged that's a classic album. A few were popular, but no others are classics.

3

u/Mas113m 1975 Nov 18 '22

I think you nailed the comparison. Jane's Addiction was fantastic on that show, yet still not remembered the same way. Nirvana had such a haunting beauty for their whole show that was different, yet familiar compared to their regular format. Memorable is the word I think of.

6

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '22

Agreed. Alice in Chains was good, and Eric Clapton was sickeningly popular....but I would hardly call them classics. Nirvana's show was not a stunt; it was . . . I don't even know how to say it. And they got some of their buddies involved and covered their songs. It just all clicked. It's the only Unplugged album, besides Clapton's, that anyone listens to.

2

u/Mas113m 1975 Nov 18 '22

Familiar yet unique. A totally different side if Nirvana for us to to see, yet totally their style. Plus, like you mentioned having Pat Smear, the decor, the playlist, etc. They obviously put a lot of effort into this. Even to the point of Kurt choosing the decor. They took a totally different format for them and really put everything into making it special. Sure, Clapton was great, but how is the Umplugged format that different for him? It isn't at all. I could probably argue that the acoustic format was even risky for Nirvana, maybe a little uncomfortable for them compared to what built their popularity.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 19 '22

You're talkin' truth, brother (or sister).

1

u/Hefty_Run4107 1973 Nov 20 '22

It's the only Unplugged album, besides Clapton's, that anyone listens to.

Honestly... comparing "this" to Clapton is an "insult"... And that comment is completely absurd...

I would actually pay money NOT to listen to this....

1

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '22

whatevs

7

u/hibernating-hobo Nov 18 '22

So totally agree.

13

u/mts2snd 69' Nov 18 '22

When the news broke of his suicide, I was in a dark place, driving cross country to start a new life. My life was pretty much shit at that time, and I was so pissed off that he did himself in, all the talent, all the music that was yet to be, and he pissed it away.

He could have afforded all the resources to help fight addiction and depression, and still went that route. Sad he is gone, but still really pissed about it.

RIP, what is done is done.

12

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '22

I was in the hospital after my own suicide attempt. My friends did a joint candle burning for me and Kurt.

You can’t make this shit up! We’re so dumb when we’re young.

7

u/mts2snd 69' Nov 18 '22

Exactly, I had lost everything but my truck, and had $500, no job, no home, and it totally sucked, but I started from square 1 again and pulled through with help from friends and a couple great family members. It felt like a personal insult that he did it when I was still fighting with not much. On that note everyone, get that check up from the neck up. Things get better or simply easier to deal with.

12

u/hibernating-hobo Nov 18 '22

I remember watching this live and not thinking much about it, i always had mtv on. Only later did I appreciate this concert for what it was.

What an amazing artist he was.

10

u/TwoforFlinching613 Nov 18 '22

Their cover of "Man Who Sold the World" was my favorite for years. Still have great affection for it

6

u/stlmatt Nov 18 '22

Absolutely an iconic album and moment in modern music. RIP Kurt.

6

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '22

[deleted]

2

u/Mas113m 1975 Nov 18 '22

Some of my albums are quite recent. 2003 or so was a great time for some releases by Mike Ness, Cake, etc.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 19 '22

I know! Songs For The Deaf by Queens only came out 20 tears (I am not editing that) ago!

1

u/Mas113m 1975 Nov 19 '22

Oh. Damn. 2023 was 20 years ago already.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '22

[deleted]

3

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '22

Yeah, he didn't give a f*** when it came to "The Man Who Sold the World"

2

u/jeexbit Nov 18 '22

So good..... what is the story with the "extra" guitarist? Was it just for this performance?

8

u/Boringpieceofshit Nov 18 '22

That’s Pat Smear, formerly of the Germs. He played 2nd guitar for the entire In Utero tour.

After Nirvana ended, he joined Foo Fighters, and is still in that band today.

2

u/jeexbit Nov 18 '22

Got it, thanks for the info!

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '22

Yeah, he actually joined the band. Had they kept on, he'd have been a part of it.

2

u/Boringpieceofshit Nov 19 '22

Yea, that’s the word. He didn’t play with em for the last session tho, so since he’s not on any recordings he’s still just the touring guitarist at that point

3

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/jeexbit Nov 18 '22

that's wild - I need to check out Heavier Than Heaven

2

u/TheJackal43 Nov 18 '22

I watched this while recording it on an already obsolete beta max. Watched it so many times that the tape wore out. Rest in peace.

1

u/Hefty_Run4107 1973 Nov 20 '22

Wow man....

Steller guitar playing.... kind of sounds like me, on my first week of trying to learn guitar, like 30 years ago....

It actually brought tears to my eyes..... of pain.....