Slideshow: Nirvana at EMP
Photo courtesy Shelli Hyrkas.
Kurt Cobain takes a break during the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video shoot in Los Angeles, Aug 18, 1991. This is just one of the dozens of candid Nirvana photos on display at EMP.
Some of Kurt’s high school artwork is on display—all kinds of Reagan-era, post-apocalyptic sketches, including this striking A New American Gothic from 1984. It’s part of the EMP’s permanent collection.
Original lyrics by Kurt Cobain, 1988. The majority of these songs were recorded during Nirvana’s first session at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle on Jan. 23, 1988, with producer Jack Endino.
This Univox Hi-Flyer is the first guitar Kurt Cobain ever smashed in a show, at an Evergreen State College dorm party (dorm K208) on Oct 30, 1988. And someone kept the pieces all those years.
Nirvana’s first demo tape, 1988.
Photo by me.
I’m sure you’ll recognize the sweaters in there (two of Kurt’s favorites, including the green one from the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video), but the MTV Video Music Award from 1992 is even better. It’s for their "Smells Like TEAM Spirit" video.
Photo courtesy Shelli Hyrkas.
Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain, and Krist Novoselic board a plane in Australia, cir. Feb 10, 1992.
Photography by Photo Courtesy Shelli Hyrkas
Photo by me.
Center: the TEAC reel-to-reel tape machine owned by Mari Earl, Kurt Cobain’s aunt. He used to record early tracks on it, and used the suitcase as a drum kit.
