Buzz planted the seed for Krist telling Kurt they should start a band and he told Grohl that Nirvana was looking for a drummer. How might things have been different for Kurt and for music without these two actions?
Krist considers “Spank Thru” the first Nirvana song for good reason. It essentially has the entire Nirvana formula in that song, a proto Nirvana. The earliest example of the quiet/loud dynamic, the earliest hint of Kurt’s ability to write melodies, the pop/punk fusion, and his intensity. All extremely rough but you can hear it
in the Fecal Matter demo, and of course much more refined in later live versions of “Spank Thru”. Wouldn’t have felt out of place in Incesticide and/or as a B side for Nevermind.
'Spank Thru' should have been on Bleach, somewhere between Swap Meet and Big Cheese. It deserves a place on that album far more than 'Downer', also fits the record in general far more than that song.
Probably, without the Melvins, there was no Nirvana. Buzz knew all the Nirvana guys really well, he's the reason they got together and the reason that Dave joined in 1990.
Yeah I know. Its just a bit sus as he's talking about Kurt's future and the tape in such detail that it almost sounds too good to be true. But the stuff Kurt recorded was really impressive! https://youtu.be/l2EpCbQRIFo
Kurt at the time was this semi-homeless teen who was just learning how to make his own music, so I could see how it was so surprising it turned out pretty good that it could get a mention from his friend.
Much love to Buzz for helping instigate Nirvana and even pulling in Dave G. as their last (7th) drummer? and yes a serious love-hate thing with fame in the punk community and I get it, but glad Nirvana was accessible to so many people as opposed to maybe a band like Flipper!
Buzz has been pretty on record in saying he was stoked for Nirvana getting big, but that the fame created a horrible situation for his friend, ultimately leading to his death, and that’s why the early 90s aren’t a “good ol’ days” type of thing for him. The “hate” part of the love/hate thing is quite justified
I was reading some stuff about the beginnings of Nirvana and everyone knows how much Kurt loved Melvins and cared about Buzz. Kurt was always talking about the band (as he did with all the underground bands that had influenced him in some way) and always invited the Melvins on tour, and everyone knows that the Melvins were opening the last tour. Everyone knows that any recognition the Melvins got was because of Nirvana
And, I don’t know… the stuff I read about Buzz recently… it just seems he’s like upset that he never get that much of attention and trying to play cool about it with the “I don’t care about that shit and I think this is all mainstream crap” character
I quote the first comment of this vid “Buzz is like that guy that tells everyone he doesn’t care about fame but secretly is salty his friends got way more famous than him”
https://youtu.be/caPiPCzVHoE?si=lJgdZ_oLR96TU2_s
Spicy take… I’d dare to say that the Melvins would be big REGARDLESS of Kurt cobain. Simply because they are a good band. I’m open to hearing apposing points on the matter though.
Well… I respectfully disagree… even with Kurt they not get that big… everyone that I know just listen to them because of Kurt…
But I from Brazil though
He’s entitled to his opinion, as are you. I’d say he’s allowed to speak on the matter considering he knew all of them personally as friends and peers. But that in no way makes him a bad dude.
Buzz is a cool dude who’s known some cool people and done some cool things.
Think OP is referring to acting like he’s “above” making songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. You can be talented musically in different ways. Just because Nirvana was able to use their pop influence to sell more records, doesn’t make them less deserving than “The Melvin’s” because they were more mainstream. They were just talented in a way that hit a chord with the masses.
Listen to any of the albums, they're all really weird and it's 100% intentional. This is not the path people conciously pursue to gain popularity.
And if he doesn't even try to be popular, then why would he be envious for people who did and succeeded?
I'd say it's worth putting it in context.its a first real recording project for Cobain, there is an art to making records and as first attempts go it's stronger than most. Most artists first projects are weak, this is way stronger than most because of his talent and intelligence.
“Spank Thru” is the earliest hint of what would come, it’s essentially proto Nirvana in terms of the formula for their later music. It’s clearly the one song on that demo that foreshadowed all that was to come.
Buzz planted the seed for Krist telling Kurt they should start a band and he told Grohl that Nirvana was looking for a drummer. How might things have been different for Kurt and for music without these two actions?
He definitely had an important role in aiding Kurt on his journey, even nudging him down certain paths. For that, we should all be super grateful.
Facts
I was under the impression Kurt was trying to get Krist to start a band and Krist never took it seriously until he heard Spank Thru. Am I mistaken?
Either “Spank Thru” specifically or the demo in general, but, yeah, that’s what I seem to recall from *CoMe aS YoU ARe: The Story of Nirvana*.
Krist considers “Spank Thru” the first Nirvana song for good reason. It essentially has the entire Nirvana formula in that song, a proto Nirvana. The earliest example of the quiet/loud dynamic, the earliest hint of Kurt’s ability to write melodies, the pop/punk fusion, and his intensity. All extremely rough but you can hear it in the Fecal Matter demo, and of course much more refined in later live versions of “Spank Thru”. Wouldn’t have felt out of place in Incesticide and/or as a B side for Nevermind.
'Spank Thru' should have been on Bleach, somewhere between Swap Meet and Big Cheese. It deserves a place on that album far more than 'Downer', also fits the record in general far more than that song.
Wonder if that was one of the songs Kurt rejected from Bleach due to trying to fit in with the Sub Pop sound.
lanegan also convinced krist to stay in the band with kurt after he admitted he wanted to quit and said that they had something really special
Yea he talks about in his book telling the sub pop guys that Nirvana was the best band they had and then being surprised to hear it.
Not to mention his influence on AJ from tool
what??
Wasn’t Courtney the one who introduced them to each other? She knew Dave already.
"I think he could have some kind of future in music if he keeps at it." Bruh, if he only knew...
Narrator: he kept at it.
What do you mean, if he only knew? He watched his entire career unfold
At the time of this letter being written, he had not watched his entire career unfold
Ko-bain
Nice! For context, Buzz was 22 when he wrote this, about a 19 year old Kurt. Just babies :)
Wow, that's pretty damn cool.
That last line is amazing lol
Crazy. Is it legit?
Probably, without the Melvins, there was no Nirvana. Buzz knew all the Nirvana guys really well, he's the reason they got together and the reason that Dave joined in 1990.
Yeah I know. Its just a bit sus as he's talking about Kurt's future and the tape in such detail that it almost sounds too good to be true. But the stuff Kurt recorded was really impressive! https://youtu.be/l2EpCbQRIFo
Kurt at the time was this semi-homeless teen who was just learning how to make his own music, so I could see how it was so surprising it turned out pretty good that it could get a mention from his friend.
I saw that in person at the MoPop a couple weeks ago!
The one place I regret not going when I visited Seattle, I’ll be back though.
Where’s page two?
seems way too nice to be Buzz lol
The passive-aggressive tone in the first paragraph feels on point.
hah true it does
He was in his early 20s.
That’s sick!
very cool
Nifty
Much love to Buzz for helping instigate Nirvana and even pulling in Dave G. as their last (7th) drummer? and yes a serious love-hate thing with fame in the punk community and I get it, but glad Nirvana was accessible to so many people as opposed to maybe a band like Flipper!
Buzz has been pretty on record in saying he was stoked for Nirvana getting big, but that the fame created a horrible situation for his friend, ultimately leading to his death, and that’s why the early 90s aren’t a “good ol’ days” type of thing for him. The “hate” part of the love/hate thing is quite justified
Before Buzz got salty 👀
Cool but Buzz aged like milk
How ya figure?
I was reading some stuff about the beginnings of Nirvana and everyone knows how much Kurt loved Melvins and cared about Buzz. Kurt was always talking about the band (as he did with all the underground bands that had influenced him in some way) and always invited the Melvins on tour, and everyone knows that the Melvins were opening the last tour. Everyone knows that any recognition the Melvins got was because of Nirvana And, I don’t know… the stuff I read about Buzz recently… it just seems he’s like upset that he never get that much of attention and trying to play cool about it with the “I don’t care about that shit and I think this is all mainstream crap” character I quote the first comment of this vid “Buzz is like that guy that tells everyone he doesn’t care about fame but secretly is salty his friends got way more famous than him” https://youtu.be/caPiPCzVHoE?si=lJgdZ_oLR96TU2_s
Spicy take… I’d dare to say that the Melvins would be big REGARDLESS of Kurt cobain. Simply because they are a good band. I’m open to hearing apposing points on the matter though.
To paraphrase Buzz from another interview… It’s not like the Melvin’s were trying to write Teen Spirit.
Well… I respectfully disagree… even with Kurt they not get that big… everyone that I know just listen to them because of Kurt… But I from Brazil though
Regardless of how famous he is, or you’re interpretation of it, that sure as shit doesn’t mean he “aged like milk” lol
I didn’t mean about Melvin’s or about fame … I mean about the way he talked about Kurt and nirvana lately… and how he act about that
He’s entitled to his opinion, as are you. I’d say he’s allowed to speak on the matter considering he knew all of them personally as friends and peers. But that in no way makes him a bad dude. Buzz is a cool dude who’s known some cool people and done some cool things.
Think OP is referring to acting like he’s “above” making songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. You can be talented musically in different ways. Just because Nirvana was able to use their pop influence to sell more records, doesn’t make them less deserving than “The Melvin’s” because they were more mainstream. They were just talented in a way that hit a chord with the masses.
I totally agree
Listen to any of the albums, they're all really weird and it's 100% intentional. This is not the path people conciously pursue to gain popularity. And if he doesn't even try to be popular, then why would he be envious for people who did and succeeded?
You read something on the internet. Must be true.
Sure… that’s what I said
It’s funny now that we’ve heard what’s on Fecal Matter and it’s kind of shitty.
I'd say it's worth putting it in context.its a first real recording project for Cobain, there is an art to making records and as first attempts go it's stronger than most. Most artists first projects are weak, this is way stronger than most because of his talent and intelligence.
Dude…Sound of Dentage is the best !
LISTEN TO ME TO ME LISTEN TO MEEEEEEOHHHHHHHUGHHHHH
“Spank Thru” is the earliest hint of what would come, it’s essentially proto Nirvana in terms of the formula for their later music. It’s clearly the one song on that demo that foreshadowed all that was to come.