Nirvana—A Tour Diary: My Life on the Road with One of the Greatest Bands of All Time

by Andy Bollen

Afforded the kind of access a journalist can only dream of, Andy Bollen gives fans a new story focusing on the real Kurt Cobain—not the angst-ridden, troubled rock star of folklore, the kind and humorous Kurt the world seldom saw When Nirvana first exploded onto the music scene in 1991, few people could have predicted their subsequent global impact, or that the band's lead singer Kurt Cobain would be transformed into one of music's most enduring and iconic figures. As drummer for the British group Captain America, one of the two support bands on Nirvana's Nevermind UK tour, Andy Bollen had a ringside seat at the exact moment that Nirvana went massive. Afforded intimate access, Bollen wrote his own personal diary in Nirvana's dressing room, where he spoke candidly to Cobain—from his fears of losing original fans to his love of the Bay City Rollers. He saw firsthand how Nirvana worked, the relationships that made them tick, and the dynamic that made them one of the great bands. This is a warm, affectionate, funny, and, at times, brutally honest account, written by a guy on the periphery, perfectly positioned to observe. Drawing on the diaries he kept at the time, the book brings to life a pivotal moment in rock history, making it a must-read for Nirvana fans and lovers of iconic rock stories. The author also includes his own photographs which have never been seen before.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Elizabeth Judd Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5. Enjoyable, but a bit repetitive, and the final 2 chapters feel tacked on. Still, I recommend it for Nirvana fans and especially for 90’s indie rock fans.

[emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

so heartbreaking but also some incredible memories shared and a different side of Kurt shown

[Lynnette Polson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
Really enjoyed this book, I love when a book goes beyond your expectations.

[gabrys ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

KOCHAM TO JAPPP

[Elena Woontner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andy Bollen's story leads us in the dressing rooms and stages of Nirvana's fall-winter of 1991 British tour. Andy was drumming for the second opening band, Captain America, founded and disbanded by Eugene Kelly, leader of the Scottish group the Vaselines, beloved by Kurt. I found Andy's story very endearing and authentic, without being nostalgic or self-important. His point of view lets us see Kurt not as the worldwide phenom and grunge icon, but as a talented, mostly approachable, mercurial young indie musician on the verge of superstardom. There is almost no indication of the turn that Kurt's life will take not much later. Andy brilliantly leads us through his own experiences, the highs and lows of being a support band member - he recognizes Kurt's and Dave's special brilliance - less is said about Krist - and effort to maintain their punk ethics and credibility while events rolled at a fast pace towards world superstardom despite their best efforts.
You can see the impact that his experience with the Nirvana tour will have on his life and his writing - even many years later, his diary and his vivid memories lets us see Nirvana and Kurt in particular in a very unique light. For this, and for how unique is this vision, I am very grateful.

[Harriet · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Almost Famous” if it was set in the 90s U.K...

Enjoyed this a lot. It was a fascinating glimpse into a lost time for music. The author is very funny and gives a more down-to-earth take on Nirvana’s success and in particular Kurt Cobain.

[Victoria Cota · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2 stars is a little harsh. I tried to enjoy it more than I did because I love Nirvana, but the story telling felt a little boring, I had a hard time paying attention to it.
It was interesting but it’s not a book I’m going to go recommend to my friends who are Nirvana fans.

[Jonny Brick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary time capsule with plenty of Scottish wit and well-rounded portraits of three men who became the centre of rock'n'roll while touring Europe. It's like Ishmael talking about Moby Dick, or Nick Carraway on Gatsby. Add this to your music library.

[Adam Symonds · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a hard read, I really struggled to get into it. At points it became interesting but it wasn’t what I expected.

I thought it would contain more behind the scenes information but it felt very much more like a review of each gig which wasn’t the most thrilling read.

[Cam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shit book won’t read ever again

[Slow Culture Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written, rich, entertaining account of someone who seems to really have lived his best life at the moment of the action.