Nirvana Spotlight: Neil Young, Melvins, Beatles And Sonic Youth Among Kurt Cobain’s Musical Influences

Chris Cuffaro/UMG

Was it the ferocious, edgy punk sounds of the Melvins or the experimental noisemaking of New York City’s Sonic Youth that had the biggest impact on the music of Kurt Cobain? In this week’s MP3.com Spotlight, the site commemorates the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s Nevermind by highlighting some key artists who inspired the music of Nirvana. Plus, get a free MP3 download from one of those artists!

Punk-rock music proved to be a huge influence on teenage Kurt Cobain’s artistic style. However, The Beatles had an impact as well.

(Photo Credit: Chris Cuffaro/UMG)

“My aunts would give me Beatles records,” Cobain told Jon Savage in 1993, “so for the most part I listened to the Beatles as a child  and if I was lucky, I’d be able to buy a single.” (Source: The Lost Interview/Jon Savage)

Cobain also called John Lennon his “idol” and admitted that he wrote the song “About a Girl” from Nirvana 1989 debut album Bleach (Sub Pop) after spending endless hours listening to Meet The Beatles.
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In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the release of Nevermind, we give you five bands that heavily influenced the music of Nirvana.

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1. The Melvins

(The Melvins/Ipecac)

Both Nirvana and the Melvins were big fans of each other. During the 80′s the two bands often interchanged guitarists, bassists, and drummers. Dale Crover and Buzz Osbourne were part of both bands at one point in time.

BONUS: Download a free MP3 of “The Kicking Machine” from the 2008 album Nude With Boots.