20 Years Ago Today

This show went on sale the same week Nevermind was released. If you look at the date on the ticket stub, I actually bought my ticket on the day the album was released (September 24, 1991)… which probably means I bought the album at the same time at Tower Records. Kinda cool, right? Lucky 13 dollars... and it came 2 weeks after THIS other historic Bay Area concert.

The support acts were local San Francisco favorites Sister Double Happiness and those awesome crusty ladies L7. By the day of the show a month later, Nirvana Mania was starting to engulf the world and the show was way sold out; a mob of people were out in front of The Warfield looking for tickets. During the headliner's set I was around the middle of the main floor and the crowd went absolutely berserk during ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’. At some point during the evening my glasses got broken in the crowd action. People were climbing on the drink rail at the back of the main floor and diving off the entire night. It was a fucking great show. “Here we are now.. entertain us..”

Ironically, legendary San Francisco promoter Bill Graham had died the night before in a helicopter crash (on his way back from a Huey Lewis & the News concert.. which made it even worse..). This Nirvana show was one of the final shows he was personally involved with… It was obvious the Bill Graham Presents staff working the show were grieving and there was a large portrait of Graham hanging behind the bar in the lobby. I bought a Nirvana "Flower Sniffin, Kitty Pettin, Baby Kissin, Corporate Rock, Whores" shirt at the merch booth... which I still have.. but since the same shirt was later sold at Hot Topic no one gives a shit now.

Later in the show, as Nirvana came back onstage for their encore, Novoselic said some condolences about the show's deceased promoter… and I've always wondered if someone backstage asked him to do that.. because his tone sounded a bit sarcastic.. something like “This show is dedicated to Bill Graham… you know… Rock Legend…” To be honest, I don’t think many kids at The Warfield that night gave a shit about Bill Graham.

I was way into Nirvana and Grunge initially; the early days reminded me a lot of the early days of the original Old Metal scene, where image didn’t matter next to volume and mayhem. Also, Cliff Burton wore flannel shirts and Kurt Cobain saw Metallica on the Ride The Lighning Tour in Seattle (TRUE!)... Just saying. Unlike most Metal people, I don’t think Nirvana and Grunge caused the downfall of 80’s Metal. I will argue forever that it was the rise and popularity of the bullshit MTV Hair bands that dragged all Metal bands down and caused Metal to become irrelevant for most of the 90’s… but then the same thing happened to Grunge eventually. Either way, I’m glad I was there to witness both pre-MTV Metal and pre-MTV Grunge.

“I’m a negative creep and I’m stoned…”

For those who care, the October 26, 1991 set list was:

• Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam
• Aneurysm
• Drain You
• School
• Floyd The Barber
• Smells Like Teen Spirit
• About A Girl
• Polly
• Breed
• Sliver
• Lithium
• Love Buzz
• On A Plain
• Negative Creep
• Blew
• Dive
• Rape Me
• Territorial Pissings

The Mayor of Grunge

It looks like Umlaut's cousin will likely become the mayor of Olympia, WA in the Fall. By all reports, he will have no serious opposition during the election.

How ironic is that?!

If my kin does take office, Umlaut will be on his doorstep demanding that he proclaim June 15th as K Records Flannel Shirt Day!

[For the newbies: 6/15 was the release date of Nirvana's Bleach album in 1989..]

Remember when everyone thought it was "cool" that Kurt Cobain had a K Records tattoo? Me too... Seems meaningless now, doesn't it? Grunge lives in our hearts... Where have all the Riot Grrls gone, long time passing....

"Dive with me..."

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Part Two

Grunge Lives In Our Hearts: The exciting sequel to Smells Like Teen Spirit - Part One!!

Submitted by Drunk Ted:

I did get to meet Kurt Cobain several times during the next few years. He would be at every single Mudhoney show in L.A. from '91-'92. And by then I was writing for Flipside, so I was "cool" enough to sneak backstage. The first time I met him, it was backstage at the Palace. I just found out earlier that day that Al wanted me to write a regular column for Flipside. A long time dream of mine, but I kept my cool when I found out. I was still going to San Diego on most weekends, so I would try and get my friends gigs for shows up in L.A. at Al's Bar and Raji's. I made fliers for a Drip Tank show at Al's Bar which featured a Calvin & Hobbes strip, and brought them to the show. I didn't want to waste them, so I only gave them to people I knew would be in town and would probably like them. L.A. is a really snobby place. And everyone has an agenda.

This couple had just walked in to Mudhoney's dressing room where everyone was hanging out. They looked like Kurt and Courtney, but you couldn't really tell. I mean, the guy was wearing a homemade shirt and wasn't really talking to anyone. The girl was all over the place, talking loudly and smoking. I'm thinking to myself, "No, that can't be them. First of all, the guy is wearing a really bad imitation of what Kurt wore on SNL a few months back, and Courtney is pregnant, so there's no way she'd be smoking."

I walked up to them and said "Hey, are you going to be in town next week? My friends' band, Drip Tank, is playing Al's Bar and they're really good." They said "No" but the guy took the flier anyways, examining it. I started a conversation with him, but it was really hard. Every time I asked the guy a question, the girl would butt in and be really loud. It was one of those conversations we were all kind of trapped in, but no one could get out of.

I knew they knew Mudhoney and there was going to be a big party at their hotel room, but I was alone and didn't really want to show up alone to a party where I didn't really know anyone. Matt Lukin was giving directions, and I asked "Kurt" and "Courtney" if they needed a ride. Surely, if I showed up with them, I could party a bit more (with Mudhoney!) and see if these people were really "Kurt" and "Courtney". By this time, everyone had cleared out, except for me, Kurt, & Courtney. They said they were going to take a cab to the party, and I'm going "Are you sure? Cabs cost money!" Kurt replied "We like cabs.". My chances to going to the after party were diminishing, and I knew it. I said "Nice talking to you two" and left.

While walking up the stairs to leave, I heard the girl loudly berating the guy. I couldn't really hear what they were saying, but it may have been something like "He was nice! Why couldn't you be a little more sociable?!?!". A few seconds later, someone ran up the stairs after me. Kurt held out his hand and said "Hey, my name's Kurt". I shook his hand and said "I know. My name's Ted. It was nice to meet you." They walked out after me to an empty street and hopped into a cab. I went home and called up Drip Tank to say that "I fliered Kurt Cobain for you guys!".

In retrospect, it would've been pretty embarassing for them to be in my car. I had just gotten it and put a bunch of stickers on it: "Sub Pop", "Black Flag", and "Nirvana". It was a new car too and they looked totally out of place. No wonder it was broken into 6 times in as many months until I took the stickers off.

I met, or should I say, ran into Kurt & Courtney quite a few times after that. Since Kurt was not at all sociable, Nirvana was at the top of the charts, I never really bothered him after that. Even when I had my full fledged Flipside credentials and they were name dropping Flipside and Maximum Rockandroll in almost every interview, I wouldn't go up and say "hi" to him. I actually felt sorry for Kurt. He really did seem tortured. Or maybe just bothered. Most likely depressed. And he talked so softly, that you could barely hear him.

I snuck backstage at the Sonic Youth / Mudhoney show at Castaic Lake. I was being introduced to Courtney (again) by Cake from Flipside. Courtney introduced herself to me as "GG Love" and was kind of messed up. Kurt was holding a guitar, getting ready to do a surprise solo acoustic number or two. Whenever someone would even look at him, he would just turn away with his guitar, tuning it or going over the song he was going to do ('Where Did You Sleep Last Night'). I didn't want to miss this, so I left the confines of the backstage area and went out to see him play. Security would not let me back in.

I have met Chris (now Krist) several times, but never Dave. This is despite seeing the Foo Fighters open up for Beck and Possum Dixon at Spaceland for their first L.A. appearance. I was in the front row there and got some great photos of Dave and his embroidered Guinness shirt.

I saved Courtney's ass once! This is my favorite story!

It was the Supersuckers, Claw Hammer and Mudhoney at the Hollywood Palladium. Me and about 10 other people were sitting on the side of the stage watching Claw Hammer rock out. I was sitting about 3 feet away from someone probably famous (a girl in Hole? An actress? Hell, I don't know, EVERYONE is somebody in L.A.) and there were about 10 people behind us. Someone had spilled a beer, which is why there was no one sitting in between me and that other girl.

Courtney comes over starts talking excitedly (everything she did was "excitedly") to the girl. Courtney was just about to sit in the beer. She was on her feet, knees bent, straddling over the spilt beer, teetering over whether to stay and chat or get back up. I could see it. Everyone behind me could see it. I could just tell that everyone was waiting for her to sit her ass down in the spilt beer so they could laugh at her. I didn't have the heart to let that happen, so I tapped her on her back. No answer. Tapped again. She slapped my hand away. Tapped again, she did it again only way harder. I looked to the people behind me and shrugged and said to myself "Oh well, at least I tried. I'm not going to try again if she's going to be like that."

So about another minute or so of her rocking back and forth, deciding on whether she's going to sit or not, she turns to me and screams "WHAT!??!?!" I pointed to the beer that was about 3 inches away from her butt and said "I didn't want you to sit in that." She was kind of embarrassed and said "Oh! Thank you!".

And that is how I saved Courtney's ass!

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Part One

Umlaut Note: I met Drunk Ted in the early-90's when he wrote for the legendary Flipside magazine. Although we met via Grunge, we also share Old Metal Roots. HAIL-S8-10!

Submitted by Drunk Ted:

click for larger image

Nirvana was playing at the Roxy on a Friday night. I knew it was sold out. Most shows of up and coming bands who just signed to a major label were sold out. Usually the label would buy up all the tickets and give them out to ensure a sold out house. I just didn't want to be bothered trying to weasel a ticket from someone. I wasn't writing for Flipside just yet, so it would've been even harder to do so. And truth be told, Nirvana was so good at the Casbah about a year earlier, that I just didn't want anything to mar my memories of that show. So I didn't even try to get in and went down the street to Raji's to see the Muffs (I'm pretty sure it was them. Maybe it was the Lazy Cowgirls. Or Claw Hammer. Or any combination of the three.).

While I was waiting in line to get inside after going to my car for a quick swig of vodka, a friend who just got back from the Roxy came up to me and gave me a flier for a Nirvana video shoot the next day and said that they really need people to be there. Turns out the video shoot was just 2 miles away from me (at Culver City Studios, not Fairfax High School like everyone says it was. I think the scenes of the janitor were shot at the school, but that's it.) So the next morning, I decided to go down with my friend, Raidy, who I believe used to be in Verbal Abuse.

Nirvana was fairly big back then. I mean, they could probably sell out Raji's or the Roxy on their own, but they still were just a club band. The flier told us not to wear any clothing that had "logos" or "band names" on them and to just wear what you would've worn in high school. I can't remember what I wore, but I think it was my Sub Pop "Loser" t-shirt, probably a big no-no considering they were filming a video for a Geffen release and Nirvana kind of left them on bad terms. Whatever I wore, it didn't fit the guidelines.

We were kind of separated into two groups. Three, if you count the band. There was the group who were to be in the bleachers who either won a radio contest or had the connections to be there, and then there was the rest of us, who were just grouped to be next to the bleachers, standing to the side. The band was sectioned off by the basketball net. I thought it was unusual the band was so separated from everyone else. You weren't even allowed to go talk to them. That was very weird considering that they just weren't that big of a band! Why all the security?! Kurt mostly kept to himself behind the line. No one was really talking to him. Nor did it seem he wanted to talk to anyone. Dave (the new guy) was mostly hanging out by his drums, and Chris would occasionally walk around and talk to people. In fact I totally blew it in front of him.

While walking up to try and meet Kurt, I overheard two people talking behind me. One of them was saying "I can't believe there's a video shoot going on!" I turned around and said really sarcastically "Yeah, man, they just sold out so they could make a ton of money." One of the people turned out to be Chris who got extremely bummed out and said to me "Oh man, do you really believe that?" Not really, but I knew that they should film a video in order to at least get more exposure. I felt really embarrassed and disappointed with myself that I really bummed Chris out. I think I kind of stuttered "Well, the label does want to make sure they can maybe sell some records.". Keep in mind that I think there is nothing wrong with "selling records". I have no problem with that, as long as you can keep writing good songs. But my sarcasm was lost on Chris and his friend. And my delivery stank.

The conditions were horrible. All that smoke you see in the video? It wasn't smoke. More like chalk dust to show up for the cameras better. I can't stand cigarette smoke and this was worse. It was incredibly hard to breathe there. And the song was "ok", but nothing special. They had it coming out of one speaker that was placed on the right side of the basketball court. It was incredibly muddy. Imagine taking a 10th generation cassette copy of the song, putting it on "mono", with the bass turned all the way up and no treble. That's what my first half dozen times of hearing 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' sounded like. The whole time I'm thinking, "They're doing a video for this song?!?!" It wasn't until a couple weeks later when I heard KROQ playing 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' by "this new band called "Nirvana" that I "got it". Oh yeah, this sounds SO much better!

There was a ton of waiting around too. Too much waiting around. When they were ready to shoot, we were directed to stand around and watch and look bored. Then as the chorus and comes up, we were to get "really into it". We were also told to not directly look at the camera. Having only been living in LA for a few months and not being used to being around cameras, I couldn't help myself but look directly at the camera as they were passing it around us. I had my glasses on and as the song got to the part where people were to get "really into it", this guy jumped off the bleachers and landed right on my head, almost breaking my glasses.

By then I was so fed up with the conditions, the waiting, the people almost breaking my glasses (and maybe even my neck), I mostly hung out in the back of the crowd until lunchtime. Right before lunch, we did one last take, and everyone just charged the band. That was pretty funny. I don't remember being directed to do it, but when people rushed the band, I was wondering if I missed some direction or something. I got in there a bit, but kind of late. Then again, I was really self conscious and feeling "unhip", so I didn't really even try to get in the frames more.


A few months ago, I bought the Making Of Nevermind DVD and went through 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' frame by frame, but couldn't see myself in it at all. I can understand why though. I wore a shirt with a logo on it, I was looking directly at the camera, and had my glasses on. Three no-nos, I'm sure. That guy jumping off the bleachers? That was probably my head he landed on. I don't remember anyone else diving off the bleachers except that one time. I think they did a few more shots after lunch, but the conditions, the waiting, and the rude security guards were just too much. We waited until they fed us (sandwiches & chips; we were singing "Hold the mayo, and the tomatoes" to the chorus of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'), ate, said "Fuck it", then left for home. All the time not having a clue as to just how big this video would become and how important Nirvana would be. I really don't think anyone did.

Click HERE for Smells Like Teen Spirit - Part Two: Drunk Ted meets Kurt Cobain AND saves Courtney Love's ass!

Random Rock Star Moment #13: Nirvana

Submitted by Lori Acid King:

Nirvana / God's Acre / Bhang Revival
Metro, Chicago, IL
April 1, 1990


In 1985 I formed my 2nd band, called Bhang Revival, when I was still living in Chicago. At this time in my life I was just moving on from my Punk Rock / Street Metal days and I was totally mixed up about what I was into musically. I was totally influenced by Girlschool and I thought every all-girl band sucked back then. Kelly Johnson was my idol and I was determined to be in a good all-girl band where I would be cranking out the guitar leads! I think I was ahead of my time.

No one knew quite what to do with Bhang Revival. We were Rock but also Punk but also Pop. Back in those days Chicago was all about Amphetamine Reptile and Touch & Go, which as ya know were the Anti-Rock Rockers! We were too Rock for them, but not Rock or Metal enough for what else was going on in town. Smashing Pumpkins were just starting, along with Sub Pop, so we ended up playing with a lot of those bands.

I also lived in the Rock N Roll Holiday Inn. We always had bands stay over and had met Nirvana the last time they were in town. I think there were a total of 20 people at their show just a year earlier. We hung out when they stayed over and we became Rock pals.

So a year later they come back and we got on the bill with them. At this time I had a HUGE crush on Peter Houpt, the lead singer/guitar player from God's Acre. They were the pioneers of bringing back 70's Rock with their own influences. They were a big influence on me and I was psyched to be playing on this bill.

It was a Sunday night and I took off of work on Monday anticipating that Peter and I would do The Hook Up after the show! Nirvana pulled up and we said our hellos. They were so nice. They ran out to get food to make sure they got back in time to see us play since we were on first.

The show was packed, but this was before Nevermind became a Top 40 hit, so it was still a normal show. We played and I honestly don't even remember it. I think we were pretty good that night. Kurt Cobain gave us the thumbs up!!

God's Acre played and I see Peter is with another girl. CRUSHED! I started drinking Miller Genuine Drafts to drown my sorrow and embarrassment. I didn't have to take off of work. What was I going to do all day now?

At the end of the night the local rock photographer Gene Ambo was there snapping some photos. We all just happened to be hanging out at that time, so we got our photos taken.

Nirvana and Bhang Revival (Lori - 2nd from right)

As you can see I was pretty wasted on MGD! Is that possible?

After that show I eventually did hook up with Peter and we went out for the next year. Nirvana got huge and that was the last time I ever got to talk to them again. After they kicked out Chad and Dave Grohl joined, Nevermind came out and they played the Metro again. We were on the guest list but the place was completely sold out. That was also the infamous moment when Courtney Love flew in to get her man.

Peter became a full blown alcoholic, got the sister of Darcy from Smashing Pumpkins pregnant, and nothing ever became of God's Acre. Kurt Cobain killed himself and, well, I moved to San Francisco. I'm the only one still in a band who was on that bill on 4/1/90!!

===
ADDENDUM:

For the Geeks who care, here is Nirvana's setlist from that night (courtesy of the Live Nirvana web site):

* Love Buzz
* Floyd The Barber
* Scoff
* Dive
* In Bloom
* School
* Spank Thru
* Breed
* About A Girl
* Big Cheese
* Stain
* Been A Son
* Negative Creep
* Blew

Grunge lives in our hearts.

On The Way Back To The Car: 1992-95

For those readers who weren't there, what follows is a selection of gig reviews that originally appeared in the Old School xeroxed Umlaut.

This post is dedicated to Jason Knuth, who was Umlaut's Kinko's Konnection Extraordinaire (Me: "How much do I owe for these copies?" Jason: "Don't worry about it..."). Sonic Knuth 4-Ever.

From Issue #1 (The debut Umlaut review...)
Metallica - Arco Arena, Sacramento - 1/11/92
We were supposed to be on the guest list. We weren't. We were pissed. On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. We drove 300+ miles, halfway across the fuckin' state for nothing. Metallica probably cleared $200,000 that night. Corporate rock sucks.

From Issue #3
Neurosis - Brave New World, S.F. - 2/10/92
I stood behind Jello Biafra and he made out with his girlfriend for most of the show. It was like being at a Judas Priest concert at the Cow Palace with some slobbering guy and his bimbo girlfriend getting in your face. Get a room, pal! On the way back to the car some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. Neurosis didn't sell shirts, but the club did have PacMan.

From Issue #3
Dick Dale - Slim's, S.F. - 2/21/92
"I go through so many picks because I grind them so hard when I play they melt." - Dick Dale. I stood behind Jello Biafra again, this time in the merchandise line. I only wanted to get on the mailing list. On the way back to the car some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. Jello got on the mailing list too.

From Issue #4
Public Enemy - Warfield Theater, S.F. - 3/3/92
For the third time in a month I stood behind Jello Biafra at a concert. He put Chapstick on before P.E. came out. On the way back to the car some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. Lotza white folks, but they don't bother me none.

From Issue #6
Sonic Youth / Pavement - Warfield Theater, S.F. - 9/24/92
Hmmm. Things are blurry 'cause I'm writing this a couple of weeks after the show. On the way back to the car, some hazy and indistinct pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. I seem to remember riding to the show in the back of a pickup truck.

From Issue #7
Uncle Tupelo / Stimmies - Slim's, S.F. - 2/22/93
Red neck rawk! I felt compelled to drink Budweiser and ride in a pickup, but had to settle for 20 Tank's dark and a Festiva. On the way back to the car some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. Stimmies won cute drummer points, but Uncle Tupelo could take 'em in a bar fight.

From Issue #8
Nirvana / L7 / Disposable Heroes of Hiphopcrisy / The Breeders - Cow Palace, S.F. - 4/9/93
Joey and I watched a guy wearing a Metallica shirt play hackey-sack with a guy wearing a Slayer shirt: Clash of the Titans! Why do people play hackey-sack at arena shows but not at club shows??? On the way back to the car some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. Kurt Cobain dived from the top of his amps into the drum kit and Joey and I whooped like we were at a rodeo.

From Issue #8
Helmet / Jesus Lizard - Warfield Theater, S.F. - 4/30/93
Helmet onstage is about as exciting as watching mannequins lip sync. However, I highly recommend seeing Jesus Lizard stoned on pot brownies! On the way back to the car some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. I hit them with my purse and screamed "I am not! I'm a lady!" If Helmet had long hair they wouldn't be such bores. Ditch the gel and RAWK OUT!

From Issue #8
Fugazi - Pier 3, S.F. - 5/1/93
DIY is fine 'n dandy, but when the PA sounds like an AM radio and the venue is a cavernous warehouse, and the atmosphere is zero because the lights are kept on the entire show, and there is NO ALCOHOL (Fuck Straight Edge!), I'll take Corporate Rock any day, thank you very much! On the way back to the car some pimply-faced punks called us fags. I gave 'em baths and combed their hair. Still, it was only $6.00.

From Issue #11
L7 / Chokebore / Acid King - Slim's, S.F. - 12/21/94
The underage boys were out in force to stare doe-eyed at Lori Acid King. A 'lil punker passed out during The King's set. Obviously he couldn't handle the RAWK! Another mohawked tike had Anarchy embroidered on his jacket - Fuck that Hippie Shit! Alcohol consumption = 3 quality beers (2 free!). Backstage score = a bottle of Evian and a glimpse of Joey Acid King's hairy chest. On the way back to the car some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. I chewed 3 sticks of gum and after the show Santa walked out of the Men's Room (It's true!).

From Issue #11
White Zombie / Babes In Toyland / Melvins - Event Center, San Jose - 6/28/95
I got off work early and drove down to San Jose. Big Wayne and I stopped to get a slice of pizza and then dodged commute traffic to get to downtown San Jose. We parked 2 blocks away from the arena. I was wearing a Black Sabbath shirt. During the walk we passed a couple of rocker guys and I heard one of them say "I'm going to kill that guy wearing the Black Sabbath shirt." We got to the Will Call window and had to stand behind radio station / music biz-types. My name wasn't on the guest list. Big Wayne and I went and got coffee. Then we went to a couple of used record stores. I bought the following albums for .99 cents each: Raging Slab, Pat Travers, Saxon, Molly Hatchet, and an old Echo & the Bunnymen EP. On the way back to the car some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags. Then I drove home.