Nirvana was an American Rock popular in the 1990s. Formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987 by highschool friends Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic. The band began establishing its self within the Seattle and its grunge scene. During that time the band cycled through drummers before landing on Chad Channing, where they’d release their first debut album Bleach with the independent record label Sub Pop.

Leading up to 1991, the band was figuring out their sound and gained Dave Grohl as their new drummer. Nirvana eventually switched to DGC Records in 1990, where the later released their first major label album Nevermind.

It was that album’s first single, Smells Like Teen Spirit, that sent the band into the mainstream. Nevermind soared on the charts, selling over seven million copies in the United States and over 30 million globally.

Nirvana continued to reap success from its third album In Utero amidst internal disagreements over songwriting royalties and exhaustion from back to back tours and concerts. Amidst it all, Cobain’s health declined due to a combination of health problems and drug addiction. Still, the band continued to tour until their final 1994 concert in Munich Germany, where Cobain was found rushed to the hospital.

Cobain’s mental and physical health nosedived. Despite intervention, Cobain’s deteriorating condition led him to commit suicide months later. Cobain’s death lead to the band disbanding. Nirvana has been credited towards bringing alternative rock to the mainstream. The band continued to be popular today and has sold over 75 million albums globally.