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The Killers Bassist Inspired by Nirvana

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Alternative, Rock

Mark Stoermer of The KillersThe Killers wouldn't have started if it wasn't for Nirvana.

The "Somebody Told Me" band's bassist, Mark Stoermer, didn't get into rock music until he heard the grunge group, and spent his formative years as a musician trying to teach himself how to play their songs.

"Nirvana are definitely the band that got me into rock and 'Come as You Are' is the first song I learned how to play. I remember sitting down and trying to figure it out. I don't even know if I would have tried to play the bass or guitar if it wasn't for Nirvana, because I spent a lot of time just learning by ear."

Mark was a huge fan of the whole grunge scene - centered around Seattle - and his first ever live show was seeing a rather surreal experience at a Pearl Jam concert: "I was really into the grunge movement which was happening when I was 16. The Pearl Jam show was a totally different experience for me, because I'd never seen a band with guitars live on stage. I remember Eddie Vedder sang 'My Way' with an Elvis impersonator."


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Taylor Momsen Inspired by Nirvana

Taylor MomsenTaylor Momsen became a rock musician after growing up listening to AC/DC and Nirvana.

The Pretty Reckless frontwoman - currently working on a follow-up to the group's 2010 debut Light Me Up - was inspired to start making heavy rock 'n' roll music by her father's albums.

"My dad has a massive record collection. So I grew up listening to vinyl, you know all the classics, Beatles, Zeppelin, Who, Pink Floyd, you know AC/DC, Soundgarden, Nirvana. So I just, I kind of grew up with it, and it just stuck," she said.

The 18-year-old singer-and-actress was "so excited" when the "Miss Nothing" hitmakers completed their debut album, but she thinks it's the "most incredible feeling in the world" when fans sing her own songs back to her during live performances: "Finishing the record was the first thing. When it was actually done, you know, I was so excited. But then, you know writing any type of song - any time you finish something that's like the best feeling in the world. And then what comes after that is playing it live, and then from, translating from playing it live to having the fans sing every word to every song back to you is just the most incredible feeling in the world."


Courtney Love Blasts The Muppets’ Nirvana Cover

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Alternative, Covers, Rock

Kermit and Courtney Love

Courtney Love has accused The Muppets of "raping" the memory of Kurt Cobain.

The Hole singer feels the puppet group was disrespectful to her former husband - who committed suicide in 1994 - with their cover of his song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in their recent comedy film.

She told website TMZ she thought the version of the Nirvana track, performed in the style of a barbershop quartet, was "raping" Kurt's legacy.

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Courtney Love Offended By Kurt Picture

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gossip, Performances, Alternative, Rock

Courtney Love performing in Sao PauloCourtney Love stormed off stage in Brazil after a fan showed her a picture of Kurt Cobain.

The Hole singer stopped her band's set and threatened to "beat the f**k" out of the offending crowd member for holding up the picture of her husband - lead singer of Nirvana, who killed himself in 1994 - as she played at the SWU festival in Sao Paulo this weekend. Upon seeing the picture, Courtney yelled, "I don't need to see a picture of Kurt, a******, and I'm going to have you f***ing removed if you keep holding that up."

Referring to her daughter with Kurt, Frances Bean, 19, she added, "I'm not Kurt, I have to live with his s**t and his ghost and his kid every day and throwing that up is stupid and rude and I'm going to beat the f**k out of you if you do it again. You weren't f***ing married to him, I f***ing was."

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Nirvana Exhibition to Open in London

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Rock

NirvanaA Nirvana exhibition is set to open in London on September 13. The In Bloom: The Nirvana Nevermind Exhibition will mark 20 years since the band's Nevermind album was released and will run from September 13 to September 25 at The Loading Bay Gallery in Brick Lane.

The exhibition will feature a hoody worn by the band's lead singer Kurt Cobain - who committed suicide in April 1994 - for a Melody Maker magazine photo shoot, a piece of fret board from one of his guitars, as well as a replica of the vocalist's Fender guitar and a copy of band member Krist Novoselic's Gibson bass guitar.

Rarely-seen photographs of the group - who were also made up of current Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl, who played drums - captured by Steve Gullick, Steven Double and Martyn Goodacre will be on display, along with lyrics, tour posters and a collection of fan memorabilia. The event - which is to commemorate Nirvana's second album, which has sold more than 30 million copies and features singles "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Come As You Are" and "Lithium" - will be free to enter and run from 1pm to 7pm daily.

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Krist Novoselic to Perform Nevermind

Present-day Krist NovoselicNirvana bassist Krist Novoselic will perform the band's classic Nevermind album in full. The 46-year-old rocker will join forces with the likes of Seattle bands Campfire OK, the Long Winters, Visqueen, the Fastbacks, and Vaporland for a tribute show which will pay homage to the 20th anniversary of the legendary 1991 album.

According to radio station 107.7 The End, Krist will perform the record in full on September 20 at the Sky Church at Seattle's Experience Music Project. Former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl - who now fronts the Foo Fighters - recently admitted he thinks that Krist is the "soul" of their previous group, and hanging out with him stirs up strong memories.

"He hasn't changed a bit, so to hear him speak or to hear him tell stories or to hear him talk about Nirvana - it really brings back the feeling of being in the band because it's just part of his soul," he said.

Dave also explained the dynamic of the grunge band - which disbanded after the suicide of singer Kurt Cobain in 1994 - was created by the fine balance in drive and personality between Kurt and Krist:

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VIDEO: Miley Cyrus Performs Nirvana in Concert

Miley Cyrus delighted her concert-going fans when she announced during her Ecuador show that she’d be doing a special song. “I want to be able to do the music that inspired me and made me want to be here on this stage tonight,” she announced.

“This song is something I always sing with my little brother… so this song is also for him.” And the crowd went wild, screaming with hysteria in anticipation of…perhaps some light country music fare? Maybe something from Miley’s childhood (such as it was), a ditty from the Jewel or Sheryl Crow songbook? Or perhaps a country standard by a legend like Patsy Cline?

Nope. Miley’s band began playing the opening strains of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” instead, a grunge rock anthem that was released in 1991, one year before Cyrus was born. Watch the performance in the video above.

Read More | CNN

Mashing Up Lady Gaga and Nirvana

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Collaborations, Gossip, Pop, Rock


If Kurt Cobain were alive today, would he enjoy being associated with ? Or will this mashup have him rolling in his grave?

Listen to this combo of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Poker Face” and decide how the former singer would react to the song. When you’re done, then guess how long it will take Courtney Love to ask for her share.

Read More | Mashable

Jimi Hendrix: The Guitar Riff Champ

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Rock

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” has been voted as having the best guitar riff of all time.

The 1970 track beat Guns N’ Roses classic “Sweet Child O’Mine” - which topped the poll five years ago - to the top spot in the poll by website MusicRadar.com, with “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin coming third.

Just two songs from the past decade made the list; Muse’s 2001 hit “Plug In Baby” came in at #11 while ’ “Seven Nation Army,” which was released in 2003, landed at #15.

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Read More | MusicRadar.com

Paul McCartney’s Son Forges Own Musical Career

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gossip

James and Paul McCartney

Sir inspired his own son to make music.

The Beatles legend is a massive influence on James, 32, who has formed The Light with pals Bryan Johnson on drums and bassist Charlie Turner, who grew up in Allerton, the same area of Liverpool where Paul spent his childhood and inspired many of the group’s later hits.

James - who plays a cherry-red Fender Stratocaster guitar given to him by the international star - said: “I have been playing music since I was nine and writing along the way. I met my band about a year ago. Producer David Kahne introduced us and my dad helped.”

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