1992 Nirvana appeared on NBC-TV's Saturday Night Live performing two songs, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and 'Territorial Pissings'. Also on this day the group's Nevermind went to No.1 on the US album chart.
1991 Nirvana recorded a performance for BBC TV music show Top Of The Pops in London. When asked to lip-sync 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' to a pre-recorded tape Kurt Cobain protested by singing an octave lower (he later confirmed he was imitating Morrissey from The Smiths), and attempted to eat his microphone at one point. He also changed some of the lyrics, exchanging the opening line "load up on guns, bring your friends," for "load up on drugs, kill your friends."
This Led Belly cover song was popularized by Nirvana during their MTV Unplugged Special, This version is powerful, live and performed the Valentine's Day before Kurt's death. Apparently, Nirvana was in France for this concert while Courtney Love was recording her album in England. She was supposed to fly out and the two spend Valentine's Day with Kurt, but she blew him off because she was too busy working on her album. Later in the day Kurt was told through the grapevine she didn't show up because she was with another man. He then went out and delivered this incredible performance.
Rumor has it the other man was Billy Corigan of the Smashing Pumpkins...what a downgrade!
1993 Nirvana recorded their MTV unplugged special at Sony Studios, New York. Nirvana played a setlist composed of mainly lesser-known material and cover versions of songs by The Vaselines, David Bowie, Meat Puppets and Lead Belly. The album won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album in 1996.
“I've never been a very prolific person, so when creativity flows, it flows. I find myself scribbling on little notepads and pieces of loose paper, which results in a very small portion of my writings to ever show up in true form.” Kurt Cobain
2006 Forbes.com revealed that Kurt Cobain had overtaken Elvis Presley as the highest earning dead celebrity. Cobain's work earned $50m in the 12 months to October 2006, compared with Presley's $42m. Former Beatle John Lennon came in 3rd earning $35m.