“Sappy” was supposedly one of Kurt Cobain’s favorite songs that he had written, but he was never satisfied with how it turned it. This probably would explain why the song was recorded several times. There was a demo by Kurt in 1988, which was titled “Sad”, then a full band version recorded in 1990 and yet another version recorded in 1990 during a session with Butch Vig. The song was also part of the Nevermind sessions and the final recording took place in 1993 during the In Utero sessions, which appears on the box set With The Lights Out. However, the final version of “Sappy” ,which was known at the time as “Verse Chorus Verse”, appeared on the No Alternative AIDS benefit compilation as an unlisted track. Fans eventually caught on and began requesting the song during Nirvana concerts.

It’s a great tune, so check out this fan video for “Sappy”. * Note: The video is actually from the tribute that Dave and Krist made for Kurt in 1994, but this fan changed the music to “Sappy”.

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If some of you don’t recall, it was the day that Kurt Cobain (in 1994) and Layne Staley (in 2002) left this world.

I always wonder what Kurt would have done following Nirvana; cause it seemed like the band was going to break up at some point (Dave was working on future Foo material for example). I’ve read that Kurt was going to lean towards a solo acoustic career, which have been amazing, if you don’t believe me then recall the band’s Unplugged performance.

Although some people say that Nirvana was overrated, I think it would be naive of them to deny their influence and impact. I always see Nirvana as the catapult for the 90’s alternative scene. Yes, I am well aware that many bands were around before them, but their mainstream success opened up the musical horizon for a lot of people.

Layne Staley, unfortunately, seemed doomed for years. After the death of his girlfriend, he was apparently just waiting for death. From what I’ve read, he was a recluse that didn’t mind being left alone doing whatever he did. If you check out his final interviews you can picture how grim things were for him.

His work with Alice in Chains was phenomenal. AIC was just an amazingly talented, and at times underrated, band. Their music was dark and heavy, and Staley’s unique vocals made their music that much more intense.

On a brighter note, April 5 also just happens to be the birthday of one Mike McCready, who was Staley’s bandmate in Mad Season (which I think is a bit weird).

Anyways, happy birthday Mike!

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Will this exploitation of Nirvana’s music ever end?

This is just another reason why Courtney Love is a horrible person.

This is also April Fool’s Day.

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Love stated that she wants Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson, The Notebook) to portray Kurt and Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation, Ghost World) to play herself.

Ok, Gosling is actually a good idea, but Scarlett Johansson playing Courtney Love? I guess she really is out of her mind or still on some sort of drug. Like most of Love’s comments you ignore it by telling yourself that 99% of what she says is absolute garbage.

Love, unfortunately, is also executive producer for the film based on the Cobain biography Heavier Than Heaven written by Charles Cross (which is a real good read, I defiantly recommend it to everyone). Hopefully she won’t screw this movie up, like she did with pretty much everything that was Cobain related; and it’s about Cobain not Love, who seriously cares about her anyway?

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• Kurt Cobain meets Krist Novoselic in 1985 through The Melvins.
• Kurt and Krist go through a bunch of drummers and band names over the next couple of years.
• Early band names included: Skid Row, Bliss, Throat Oyster, Pen Cap Chew, Windowpane and  Ted Ed Fred.
• In early 1988 Nirvana records their first demo with Melvins drummer Dave Crover.
• Drummer Chad Channing joins the band in 1988.
• Sup Pop releases the band’s first single, “Love Buzz/Big Cheese”, in November of 1988.
• Nirvana’s debut album, Bleach, was released in June, 1989 through Sub Pop.
• The working title for Bleach was Too Many Humans.
• Jason Everman loaned the band the money to pay for the studio expenses for Bleach; which is why he receives credit for playing guitar on the album, although he didn’t.
• Everman did join the band for a small time; he was also in Soundgarden for a short time.
• Chad Channing is kicked out the band in the spring of 1990 during recording sessions with producer Butch Vig.
• The band record “Silver” with Mudhoney drummer Dan Peters in July of 1990.
• Dave Grohl is introduced to the Kurt and Krist through Buzz Osbourne of the Melvins; on October 11, 1990 Nirvana plays their first show with Dave.
• Nirvana signs with Geffen Records on April 30, 1991; at the recommendation of Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon.
• Nevermind is released on September 24, 1991.
• Here’s the story for the title for “Smells Like Teen Spirit”: One day Kurt and a friend were having a discussion about teenage revolution, they later got drunk and his friend wrote on the wall ‘Kurt smells like teen spirit.’ Kurt was inspired, he thought she meant he would be the type of person who could incite a teen rebellion. He went and wrote the song. She thought that he just smelled like the deodorant. Kurt hadn’t heard of the deodorant at the time, and he claimed to have rarely used it himself.
• The original title for “Breed” was “Imodium”.
• The original title for “Stay Away” was “Pay To Play”, which appeared on the DGC Rarities, Vol. 1.
• Nirvana, Pearl Jam and The Red Hot Chili Peppers tour together in December of 1991.
• January 11, 1992 Nevermind hits Number 1 on the Billboard Album chart; knocking off Michael Jackson’s Dangerous.
• On August 30, 1992 Nirvana headlines the Reading Festival.
• The band releases Insecticide, an album of b-sides and rarities, on December 15, 1992.
• In Utero is released on September 21, 1993.
• The album went through two name changes, I Hate Myself and Want to Die and Verse, Chrous, Verse; which are also song titles.
• Cobain claimed that originally “Heart-Shaped Box” was inspired by a documentary he saw on children with cancer.
• “All Apologies” was written by Cobain in 1990.
• On October 18, 1993 Nirvana begins their first major U.S. tour in almost two years.
• Guitarist Pat Smear joins Nirvana for the tour.
• On November 18, 1993 Nirvana records Unplugged.
• Nirvana plays their final show on March 1, 1994 in Munich, Germany.
• Cobain’s body is found on April 8, 1994.
• Unplugged In New York is released on November 1, 1994.
• The live compilation From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah is released on October 1, 1996.
• The best of compilation, Nirvana, is released on October 29, 2002.
• “You Know You’re Right” was recorded during the band’s final studio session in January, 1994.
• The box set With the Lights Out is released on November 23, 2004.

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