All the Times Nirvana Has Performed Live Since Kurt Cobain’s Death
Following Kurt Cobain‘s death by suicide in April 1994, the living members of Nirvana went their separate ways, with drummer Dave Grohl and guitarist Pat Smear teaming up in the Foo Fighters and bassist Krist Novoselic pursuing a series of solo and band projects. Over the years, most fans were resigned to the fact that they’d never hear the trio perform the grunge icon’s songs live again.
But over the past 20+ years, Grohl, Novoselic and Smear — the latter a Los Angeles punk legend who joined the group in time for the 1993 In Utero tour and remained with them until Cobain’s death — have come together a handful of times to both honor Nirvana’s legacy and, seemingly, just to relive their lightning-in-a-bottle musical brotherhood again.
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In light of their latest get back at Thursday night’s (Jan. 30) all-star FireAid relief fundraiser for victim’s of this month’s devastating L.A. wildfires — where they were once again joined by a handful of fierce female singers — check out a list of the times they’re performed together over the years.
12-12-12: The Concert For Sandy Relief
If you’re going to step back on stage for the first time in nearly two decades, it helps to have a Beatle around. In 2012, Grohl, Novoselic and Smear were joined by Sir Paul McCartney for the rollicking live debut of the raging new song they wrote together, “Cut Me Some Slack,” for the all-star fundraiser for victims of Superstorm Sandy.
The Grammy-winning song was featured on the soundtrack to Groh’s 2013 documentary about the legendary Los Angeles recording studio Sound City.
Saturday Night Live
They got FabVana back together again for a run through “Cut Me Some Slack” on Saturday Night Live in December 2012 when Macca was the musical guest.
McCartney II
The trio were on hand again in July 2013 when the members played their first hometown show in more than 15 years, joining McCartney at his Safeco Field show for another run through “Slack.”
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
When Cobain, Grohl and Novoselic were inducted into the RRHOF in 2014 in their first year of eligibility, the living members performed a searing four-song set with a group of female vocalists fans dubbed “HerVana.” Given the impossible task of recreating Cobain’s searing vocals and slashing guitar, they smartly played the set of the band’s classic tunes with guest vocalists Joan Jett (“Smells Like Teen Spirit”), Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon (“Aneurysm”), St. Vincent (“Lithium”) and Lorde (“All Apologies”).
It was the first time the trio had performed any Nirvana songs live without Cobain, but not the last.
Saint Vitus Club Show
After the four-song RRHOF reunion, the band had not had enough, so they hit Greenpoint, Brooklyn’s 350-capacity Saint Vitus metal club for a super-exclusive bonus session featuring Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis and Deer Tick’s John McCauley, as well as St. Vincent and Gordon, for a 19-song set that ended well past 4 a.m.
Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party
The music legend’s annual Grammy party is always full of surprises, but nobody was expecting Grohl, Novoselic and Smear to hop on stage with Beck in 2016 for a run through David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World,” with Beck on vocals and guitar; Nirvana famously covered the song on their 1994 MTV Unplugged in New York album.
Concrete and Gold Tour
Considering they were at Safeco Field in Seattle for a stop on their Concrete and Gold tour in September 2018 — and Novoselic’s Giants in the Trees roots-rock band were opening — it made sense that Grohl, Novo and Smear teamed up for a cover of the Vaselines’ “Molly’s Lips“; Nirvana frequently covered the song in their heyday and it was included on their 1992 odds-and-sods compilation Incesticide.
Earlier in the tour, Novoselic also joined them on the Concrete and Gold stop in December 2017 in Eugene, OR to run through the Foo Fighters’ 1995 hit “Big Me.”
Cal Jam
Jett and McCauley were back in the fold at the 2018 Cal Jam in San Bernardino, CA, where the punk legend took lead vocals on “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Breed” and “All Apologies,” with the Deer Tick singer handling “Serve the Servants,” “Scentless Apprentice” and “In Bloom.”
Art of Elysium
A “Dave Grohl & Friends”-touted set turned into another reunion at this 2020 gala, where Beck (“In Bloom,” “Been a Son,” “The Man Who Sold The World”) and St. Vincent (“Lithium”) again handled vocals on Nirvana standards, while Grohl’s then-13-year-old daughter, Violet, stole the show during the five-song set with a mournful version of “Heart-Shaped Box.”
FireAid
At Thursday’s night’s (Jan. 30, 2025) star-studded pair of shows for fire relief, HerVana rose again in an unannounced performance that mimicked the fierce female energy of the RRHOF induction. St. Vincent ripped “Breed,” Gordon crushed “School,” Jett howled through “Territorial Pissings” and Violet Grohl did it again with her confident vocals on the In Utero classic “All Apologies” as her proud dad pounded away on the drums behind her.
‘SNL50: The Homecoming Concert’
The three-hour Feb. 14, 2025 tribute to the legendary late night show featured a galaxy of major stars, but the unannounced surprise performance that blew everyone’s mind was a supergroup former cast member Adam Sandler introduced as “Post Nirvana.” The collective comprised of the living members of the group and rapper/country singer Post Malone took on the band’s iconic breakthrough hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” with superfan Malone absolutely ripping it with his howling vocal attack.
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