Nirvana Perform with Joan Jett, Kim Gordon, Annie Clark and Lorde at Rock Hall Induction

2014-04-11

Story by Anne Erickson

Nirvana were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Thursday

Nirvana received a proper tribute Thursday night (April 10) at the Barclays Center stage. More than four hours into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Nirvana’s surviving members, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, along with Kurt Cobain’s widow, Courtney Love, and Cobain’s mother and sister stepped onto the stage and accepted Nirvana’s induction into the Rock Hall.

R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe inducted Nirvana, calling the grunge group’s sound “a sweet and beautiful but fed-up fury coupled with howling vulnerability.”

“It is the highest calling for an artist as well as the greatest possible privilege to capture a moment, to find the zeitgeist, to expose our struggles, our aspirations, our desires, to embrace and define their time,” Stipe added. “Nirvana captured lightning in a bottle. The potency and the power of their defining moment has become for us indelible.”

Nirvana also performed live and chose to take the stage exclusively with female singers to sing for the late Cobain. Joan Jett joined Grohl, Novoselic and guitarist Pat Smear for a rendition of Nirvana’s breakout hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Singer Annie Clark, best known as St. Vincent, then took the stage to perform Nirvana’s “Lithium.” Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon performed “Aneurysm” with the band. Finally, in what was a total surprise, Lorde sang “All Apologies.”

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.