- In 1992, MTV had requested that Nirvana perform their smash hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” while the band members themselves had indicated they preferred to play their new songs, “Rape Me” and “tourette’s”. This did not go over well with network executives, who continued to push for “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Finally, offering a compromise, MTV executives offered the band a choice to play either “Smells Like Teen Spirit” or “Lithium,” which the band appeared to accept. However, at the actual performance, Kurt Cobain played the first few chords “Rape me” much to the horror of MTV executives. The band did finally return to their regular performance of “Lithium”. Near the end of the song, frustrated that his amp had stopped functioning, bassist Krist Novoselic decided to toss his bass into the air for dramatic effect. Unfortunately, he misjudged the landing, and the bass ended up bouncing off of his forehead, forcing him to stumble off the stage in a daze. Cobain, meanwhile, proceeded to trash the band’s equipment at the end of the performance, while drummer Dave Grohl ran to the mic and began yelling “Hi, Axl!” repeatedly.
- Axl Rose challenged Kurt Cobain to a fight during the VMAs after Cobain and his wife, Courtney Love, egged him on.
- Guns N’ Roses’ hit ballad “November Rain” became the most requested video on MTV, eventually winning an MTV Video Music Award for best cinematography in 1992. During the awards show, the band performed “November Rain” with singer Elton John. Because of the dispute Axl had with Cobain, moments before the “November Rain” performance, Cobain spat on the keys of what he thought was Axl’s piano. Cobain later revealed that he was shocked to see Elton John play on the piano he had spat on.
I was initially amused at the Rose-Cobain feud, which I forgot all about, but now I’m far more interested in how Elton John becomes the go-to performance guy for bigoted performers on MTV. Who’s next? The Seinfeld cast?
Color me ashamed too, then, because I am still to this day fascinated by the whole deal. The Nirvana biography goes into it in more detail, i.e. the fight between Axl and Kurt that never quite happened (but so should have) was sparked when Stephanie Seymour asked Courtney Love, “Are you a model?” “No,” replied Courtney, “are you a brain surgeon?” And then Axl told Kurt to “shut [his] bitch up,” so Kurt looks at Courtney and says all deadpan, “Shut up, bitch.” Which makes the two of them crack up, which finally clues Axl in that they’re laughing at his dumb ass, and etc. It’s awesome. Axl’s the one who really should have taken a 12-gauge to his head, if you ask me. It wouldn’t have wasted so much.
Did you catch the Salon.com article on Courtney Love last week? It completely revived my unhealthy fascination with C-Lo and the grunge era. If you can, check out the appearance she did for the Pamela Anderson roast on Youtube. (Shut up, just watch it.)
>“November Rain”
most overwrought video ever.
per Axl: well, he did get all that plastic surgery that makes him now look like Howdy Doody, so maybe there is some sort of karmic justice after all
I don’t believe the Elton John comment to have meant anti-gay because anyone familiar with Kurt Coban’s lore knows he was against people who were homophobe.