2013-08-23

Story by Anne Erickson

Record label Sub Pop has posted Nirvana’s first record contract online

Nirvana fans curious about the band’s first record contact are now able to check out all the verbiage online. The legendary grunge band’s first record label, Sub Pop Records, has published the original contract they sent to the group in 1989 — right before Nirvana’s “Bleach” album was released — on the label’s Tumblr blog.

The contract names Nirvana’s early lineup of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic (misspelled as Chris), Chad Channing and Jason Everman. The contract states that the initial one-year term would begin on Jan. 1, 1989 and offers the band a $600 advance for the first year, a $12,000 advance for the first year option and a $24,000 advance for the second year. The contract also states that Nirvana must produce three album-length master tapes, with one tape for each of the option years.

Nirvana, of course, famously left Sub Pop following the band’s 1989 “Bleach” release and went on to release their seminal 1991 album, “Nevermind,” on Geffen/DGC.

The “In Utero” 20th anniversary edition packages will drop on Sept. 24. The Super Deluxe edition will feature over 40 previously-unreleased demos, rehearsal tracks, B-sides and live performances collected into three CDs, as well as a DVD of Nirvana’s “Live and Loud” concert filmed on Dec. 13, 1993, at Pier 48 in Seattle, and more performances culled from the band’s European concerts and TV appearances.




Anne Erickson

By Anne Erickson

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

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