Nirvana

BTown · 07-02-2009, 12:48 AM

Nirvana was unhappy with Sub Pop at the time and was looking for a record label that gave them more freedom. At the time Nirvana and Sonic Youth were very good friends and Sonic Youth recommended DGC.
Nirvana had two options at the timne; SIgn the contract were they where guarenteed 750 thousand dollars but have limitations or sign the contract which let them have more freedom but they would get a percent of how many copies of Nevermind were sold and have few limitations.
In other words, sign the contract to get guarenteed money and have less freedom and no risk, or take the risk of not getting 750 thousand but have freedom to do what they want.
Krist said it himself they didn't want the money they just wanted to put a record out and make a difference. Nirvana didn't go to the mainstream, the mainstream came to them. After all the unwanted publicity Cobain received he said he wanted to go back to writing songs on an eight track but the only thing keeping him from doing it was if he left the spotlight he didn't know if he would ever be able to get back.

TheCunningStunt · 07-02-2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTown787

Nirvana was unhappy with Sub Pop at the time and was looking for a record label that gave them more freedom. At the time Nirvana and Sonic Youth were very good friends and Sonic Youth recommended DGC.
Nirvana had two options at the timne; SIgn the contract were they where guarenteed 750 thousand dollars but have limitations or sign the contract which let them have more freedom but they would get a percent of how many copies of Nevermind were sold and have few limitations.
In other words, sign the contract to get guarenteed money and have less freedom and no risk, or take the risk of not getting 750 thousand but have freedom to do what they want.
Krist said it himself they didn't want the money they just wanted to put a record out and make a difference. Nirvana didn't go to the mainstream, the mainstream came to them. After all the unwanted publicity Cobain received he said he wanted to go back to writing songs on an eight track but the only thing keeping him from doing it was if he left the spotlight he didn't know if he would ever be able to get back.

Spot on.

captured · 07-02-2009, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTown787

Nirvana was unhappy with Sub Pop at the time and was looking for a record label that gave them more freedom. At the time Nirvana and Sonic Youth were very good friends and Sonic Youth recommended DGC.
Nirvana had two options at the timne; SIgn the contract were they where guarenteed 750 thousand dollars but have limitations or sign the contract which let them have more freedom but they would get a percent of how many copies of Nevermind were sold and have few limitations.
In other words, sign the contract to get guarenteed money and have less freedom and no risk, or take the risk of not getting 750 thousand but have freedom to do what they want.
Krist said it himself they didn't want the money they just wanted to put a record out and make a difference. Nirvana didn't go to the mainstream, the mainstream came to them. After all the unwanted publicity Cobain received he said he wanted to go back to writing songs on an eight track but the only thing keeping him from doing it was if he left the spotlight he didn't know if he would ever be able to get back.

exactly. its not like he went lookin for it

boo boo · 07-02-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

especially considering he painted the led zep logos on his wall (at least according to interviews i remember). he wanted to play music for a living. they wouldn't have been playing showcase gigs for major labels if they wanted to remain obscure. i have no doubts that he wanted to maintain his personal aesthetic to his music, but to remain obscure, don't think so.

sub pop cashed in on nirvana when they sold the remainder of their recording contract to geffen. cobain might not have liked it but he didn't need to. ever had an outstanding debt be taken over by a 3rd party collection agency? contracts can change corporate hands without the knowledge or will of the individual involved. if the guys from sub pop sat down with cobain prior to selling their rights to the future albums it was a good, but unnecessary, gesture on their part.

the only element of label pressure i recall reading about was the use of butch vig as a producer for nevermind. they didn't like his overall sound, but he was the hot producer of the day and geffen didn't leave much choice for the band that had yet to prove themselves in the market.

What I don't like is how people try to discredit him over stuff like that.

Gee, a musician that wants to make money for what he does, what a disgrace to all the musicians in the world who are signed onto labels big and small that specifically sell their music for profit, a real f*cking disgrace.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 07-02-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

What I don't like is how people try to discredit him over stuff like that.

Gee, a musician that wants to make money for what he does, what a disgrace to all the musicians in the world who are signed onto labels big and small that specifically sell their music for profit, a real f*cking disgrace.

Yeah I couldn't agree more. What gets me is ehen people get riled up about the success of a band they don't really care for and not the success of some indi band that they like. That "all Mainstream is crap" attitude really irks me.

Antonio · 07-02-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonace

Yeah I couldn't agree more. What gets me is ehen people get riled up about the success of a band they don't really care for and not the success of some indi band that they like. That "all Mainstream is crap" attitude really irks me.

honestly. i mean, there's definately some great unknown music out there, but some people need to stop being so stubborn and give some groups a chance.

boo boo · 07-02-2009, 11:52 AM

I'd say I listen to some obscure stuff, mainly the prog bands, and some of the older punk stuff too.

But a good portion of what I listen to is very mainstream. I don't care how popular a band is as long as they're good.

Antonio · 07-02-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

I'd say I listen to some obscure stuff, mainly the prog bands, and some of the older punk stuff too.

But a good portion of what I listen to is very mainstream. I don't care how popular a band is as long as they're good.

same, i guess some people here don't like some of my tastes in bands, but f*ck it, trying to go around and impress everyone with some obscure stuff is not my thing. music is meant for personal enjoyment.

siamesedream · 07-02-2009, 12:33 PM

I grew up with Nirvana as a kid, and they were the first band I got into on my own. Up until I heard Nevermind, the only stuff I knew was my parents' music, which was good, but Nirvana was the first band I ever felt was mine.

As I grew up I became a massive fan, reading everything I could get my hands on about the band. These days I'm still into them, but I've found so many better bands that they kind of fall by the wayside - the Nirvana I tend to listen to most is the non-Nevermind stuff, mostly Incesticide and the B Sides. Radio really burned me out on Nevermind.

Still though, for anyone who grew up in the 90s and was into rock music, Nirvana is definitely one of those life-changing bands that helped shape your taste. Through Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins (my all time favorite band), I discovered most of the music I love today. Nirvana's "check out the underground stuff" mantra was a big deal for me growing up. They were always tossing out names like the Pixies and Sonic Youth - and as a little kid I got to discover bands like that and feel like I was in on a secret that no one else was.

Are they an essential band to get into these days? Not necessarily. It was mainly about the time. Everyone has to find their own "Nirvana" to act as the gateway to the world of good music. I do think they should still be respected and known for their influence though. I'm turning 24 next week and it amazes me how old I feel when I see 16 year old kids not knowing who Nirvana is.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 07-02-2009, 06:16 PM

Pumpkins fan? Me and you should have alot to talk about

.

07-02-2009, 12:48 AM	#101 (permalink)
BTown super cool Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 806	Nirvana was unhappy with Sub Pop at the time and was looking for a record label that gave them more freedom. At the time Nirvana and Sonic Youth were very good friends and Sonic Youth recommended DGC. Nirvana had two options at the timne; SIgn the contract were they where guarenteed 750 thousand dollars but have limitations or sign the contract which let them have more freedom but they would get a percent of how many copies of Nevermind were sold and have few limitations. In other words, sign the contract to get guarenteed money and have less freedom and no risk, or take the risk of not getting 750 thousand but have freedom to do what they want. Krist said it himself they didn't want the money they just wanted to put a record out and make a difference. Nirvana didn't go to the mainstream, the mainstream came to them. After all the unwanted publicity Cobain received he said he wanted to go back to writing songs on an eight track but the only thing keeping him from doing it was if he left the spotlight he didn't know if he would ever be able to get back. __________________

07-02-2009, 12:33 PM	#109 (permalink)
siamesedream Music Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 51	I grew up with Nirvana as a kid, and they were the first band I got into on my own. Up until I heard Nevermind, the only stuff I knew was my parents' music, which was good, but Nirvana was the first band I ever felt was mine. As I grew up I became a massive fan, reading everything I could get my hands on about the band. These days I'm still into them, but I've found so many better bands that they kind of fall by the wayside - the Nirvana I tend to listen to most is the non-Nevermind stuff, mostly Incesticide and the B Sides. Radio really burned me out on Nevermind. Still though, for anyone who grew up in the 90s and was into rock music, Nirvana is definitely one of those life-changing bands that helped shape your taste. Through Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins (my all time favorite band), I discovered most of the music I love today. Nirvana's "check out the underground stuff" mantra was a big deal for me growing up. They were always tossing out names like the Pixies and Sonic Youth - and as a little kid I got to discover bands like that and feel like I was in on a secret that no one else was. Are they an essential band to get into these days? Not necessarily. It was mainly about the time. Everyone has to find their own "Nirvana" to act as the gateway to the world of good music. I do think they should still be respected and known for their influence though. I'm turning 24 next week and it amazes me how old I feel when I see 16 year old kids not knowing who Nirvana is.

07-02-2009, 06:16 PM	#110 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	Pumpkins fan? Me and you should have alot to talk about .