LIVE NIRVANA INTERVIEW ARCHIVE February 11, 1992 - Singapore, SG
Personnel
- Interviewer(s)
- Paul Zach
- Interviewee(s)
- Kurt Cobain
- Krist Novoselic
- Dave Grohl
Sources
| Publisher | Title | Transcript |
|---|---|---|
| The New Paper | Any music is good for Nirvana | Yes |
Transcript
Even as the New Kids on the Block were leaving Singapore, the new kings of the rock music world — Nirvana — were arriving here to promote their current album. And, true to their advance publicity, the American group made some noise yesterday. PAUL ZACH reports
NEVER mind that a fan lost a front tooth, then went into shock and convulsions when Nirvana destroyed its instruments at a concert in Belgium.
Never mind that bassist Chris Novoselic stripped naked on stage at the same show.
Never mind that the New York Times called them “grungy punks” who show an “astounding lack of musicianship”.
Never mind that at a press conference yesterday the three members of Nirvana said they did not set out to be rock stars.
Novoselic, leader Kurt Cobain and drummer Dave Grohl have become instant celebrities anyhow.
Nevermind, their second album, has topped music charts the world over. It manages an odd coupling — marrying the melodic pop sound of Sweden's Abba with the harsh punk rock of the Sex Pistols.
Novoselic said the group's influences ranged from Sonic Youth and the Dead Kennedys to the Beatles, Patsy Cline. Johnny Cash and Dean Martin.
Basically we're game for anything that sounds good. There are too many borders which people are fencing themselves in with with regard to music. — Bassist Chris Novoselic
But what lyrics can be heard on Nevermind are as caustic as the group occasionally came across. Grohl, 22, posed the first question at the press conference.
“Anyone got any gum?” he asked, in a jibe at the recent ban on chewing gum.
Novoselic, the shrieking vocalist on the group's hit single, Smells Like Teen Spirit, walked in midway.
Cobain, 24, looked genuinely — not fashionably — scruffy in jeans that were beyond the aid of a laundry.
He said he felt bad that someone had been hurt in the Belgium incident, but admitted that Nirvana's “aggressive” stage antics were partly to blame.
‘We're the cause of it but it's still scary. I can't dive into the audience anymore like I used to because the fans get so worked up.
“Now they're clawing at my flesh, sticking their hands into my pockets, stealing my wallet, pulling out my hair...”
Radio Heart deejay Laura Tender also sounded ready to claw at Nirvana's flesh after an interview yesterday. She got fed up trying to get straight answers to their questions.
But never mind. She plans to air the interview on her It's Chillin' Time show at 3.15 pm today.
© Paul Zach, 1992