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Nirvana: A Detailed Guide to the Band that Changed Everything
After Nirvana, everything changed. Kurt Cobain and his band ushered in a new era in music, bringing the authenticity of US underground punk to mainstream rock audiences. Award-winning biographer and music critic Marc Burrows dives into the world of Nirvana, providing an exhaustive day-by-day account of the lifespan of the band, from their early days touring the dive bars of the Pacific North-West through the release of ’Smells Like Teen Spirit' and Nevermind , the dark masterpiece of In Utero and Kurt Cobain’s tragic death in 1994. The timeline is augmented by hyper-detailed footnotes, diving deep into the songs and albums, the impact and the fascinating unexplored corners of one of the most exciting and impactful bands that have ever been.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published February 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 29, 2024
"The band were quite capable of pulling defeat from the jaws of victory; they had always been messy and on their worst days often felt on the verge of collapsing mid-set. They could also be stunning, however. When the stars aligned. When everything was in the right place. When everyone’s moods were good. When it mattered, Nirvana could be absolutely magnificent."
What would have happened if Kurt had lived? The question is asked over and over, the evidence examined, the speculations logged. But Kurt didn’t live. That’s the point. He didn’t want to. Living would have meant living clean, and Kurt couldn’t do that. If he couldn’t do that for his daughter, he certainly couldn’t do that for his band."
"His whole life had become incompatible, a mass of contradictions. It’s horrible. It’s unfair. It shouldn’t have been like that."
We’d have had lots more Kurt Cobain music. Frances Bean would have had a father. But that’s another reality. That’s not the timeline we live in. In this reality, Kurt Cobain had given up. You could argue that he’d fallen out of love with music years earlier , when Nevermind hit big. "
💭(Years later, hearing Frances singing the song 'Angel' to his father is soul-crashing and heart-breaking)
This was an awesome read. I'm sort of a latecomer when it comes to appreciating Nirvana more and this book serves as a wonderful guide and eye-opener into knowing and understanding more about the band and not just Kurt Cobain. Unbiased and well-researched. I've always been curious not only with Kurt Cobain's life but also with the band as a whole and their dynamics. I would also like to read other biographies mentioned and recommended in the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. (Expected publishing date: Nov. 30, 2024)
4.45✨
What would have happened if Kurt had lived? The question is asked over and over, the evidence examined, the speculations logged. But Kurt didn’t live. That’s the point. He didn’t want to. Living would have meant living clean, and Kurt couldn’t do that. If he couldn’t do that for his daughter, he certainly couldn’t do that for his band."
"His whole life had become incompatible, a mass of contradictions. It’s horrible. It’s unfair. It shouldn’t have been like that."
We’d have had lots more Kurt Cobain music. Frances Bean would have had a father. But that’s another reality. That’s not the timeline we live in. In this reality, Kurt Cobain had given up. You could argue that he’d fallen out of love with music years earlier , when Nevermind hit big. "
💭(Years later, hearing Frances singing the song 'Angel' to his father is soul-crashing and heart-breaking)
This was an awesome read. I'm sort of a latecomer when it comes to appreciating Nirvana more and this book serves as a wonderful guide and eye-opener into knowing and understanding more about the band and not just Kurt Cobain. Unbiased and well-researched. I've always been curious not only with Kurt Cobain's life but also with the band as a whole and their dynamics. I would also like to read other biographies mentioned and recommended in the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. (Expected publishing date: Nov. 30, 2024)
4.45✨
December 4, 2024
Nirvana by Marc Burrows was excellent book and a must have, if you are an old or fan - which my Hubby is and I had to purchase it for his Christmas pressie for this year - Shame it will be a late one! lol.
This book is a great detailed guide to the Band that Changed Everything and a wonderful book, written by an excellent author Marc Burrows who provides an exhaustive day-by-day account of the lifespan of this great band. Ir starts from their early days touring the dive bars of the Pacific North-West. Marc wrote about all their albums and
especially the famous album "Nevermind"which is still excellent to this day, I can't believe it came out in 1991 and played to death in this house! lol and so many other great albums they produced.
Marc also covers the tragic death of Kurt Cobain’s in 1994, which seems like yesterday.
Overall, Marc Burrows has written a 5 star book and a great book for new or old fan of Nirvana.
The cover to this book was excellent as well.
Big Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the arc.
This book is a great detailed guide to the Band that Changed Everything and a wonderful book, written by an excellent author Marc Burrows who provides an exhaustive day-by-day account of the lifespan of this great band. Ir starts from their early days touring the dive bars of the Pacific North-West. Marc wrote about all their albums and
especially the famous album "Nevermind"which is still excellent to this day, I can't believe it came out in 1991 and played to death in this house! lol and so many other great albums they produced.
Marc also covers the tragic death of Kurt Cobain’s in 1994, which seems like yesterday.
Overall, Marc Burrows has written a 5 star book and a great book for new or old fan of Nirvana.
The cover to this book was excellent as well.
Big Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the arc.
February 9, 2025
As a huge, long time Nirvana fan, this was always going to end up on my bookshelf.
I bought it immediately, because I thoroughly enjoyed other works by this author.
This is beautifully written, not too heavy, with an attention to detail that draws you in and holds you there.
You can't escape the very clear passion, research and time that have gone into this book.
I thought I knew a lot about Nirvana. I was wrong.
I have thoroughly enjoyed filling in the many gaps via this work.
Highly recommend.
I bought it immediately, because I thoroughly enjoyed other works by this author.
This is beautifully written, not too heavy, with an attention to detail that draws you in and holds you there.
You can't escape the very clear passion, research and time that have gone into this book.
I thought I knew a lot about Nirvana. I was wrong.
I have thoroughly enjoyed filling in the many gaps via this work.
Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews