3/4 Of Nirvana Makes Surprise Reunion At Fire Aid With Joan Jett

At FireAid’s star-studded event at the Kia Forum, fans got a rare glimpse of what felt like a Nirvana reunion. While the surviving members weren’t officially part of the lineup, they took the stage for an unforgettable performance. Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear joined forces with a powerhouse lineup of female rockers. St. Vincent, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett, and Dave Grohl’s daughter, Violet, brought their own unique energy to Nirvana classics.

A Surprising Setlist

The group rocked through high-energy versions of “Breed” with St. Vincent, “School” with Kim Gordon, and “Territorial Pissings” with Joan Jett. Each vocalist brought raw emotion and grit, channeling Kurt Cobain’s iconic spirit. St. Vincent especially stood out with a ferocity that had the crowd on its feet. Then, for a more emotional touch, Violet Grohl joined her dad’s band for a soulful rendition of “All Apologies,” showing a different side of the Nirvana legacy.

A Tribute to the Past and Future

Since Kurt Cobain’s tragic passing in 1994, Nirvana has remained a symbol of raw energy, but it’s also been about honoring the past. The idea to bring in female singers was born during their 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Grohl told Rolling Stone that they thought, “Wait, it has to be all women… If we can fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance with these incredible women singing Nirvana songs, then we’ll have achieved our own revolution.” For Grohl, it was about making a statement. “It added a whole other dimension to the show. It added substance and depth, so it didn’t turn into a eulogy. It was more about the future.”

The rehearsals leading up to that performance were emotional, Grohl reminisced: “The first time we played together, it was like seeing a ghost… the second time, it was a little more reserved. And the last time we played, it was like that fucking Demi Moore/Patrick Swayze pottery wheel scene from Ghost.”

Nirvana’s Ongoing Legacy

For longtime fans, this set felt like a homecoming. The trio of surviving members, Grohl, Novoselic, and Smear, have performed together sparingly since Cobain’s death. Their last major performance together was at Cal Jam in 2018. There’s always been a sense of mystery about whether they’d record new music together again. When asked about the future, Novoselic said, “I mean, there’s Foo Fighters and Dave has some other projects going on… But you never say never now. We did it. I sure won’t say no. Maybe we can even do some new music one day.”

This serves as a reminder of Nirvana’s enduring influence and connection even though it isn’t a complete reunion. This performance encapsulated the essence of Nirvana in a way that was both nostalgic and forward-looking, whether it was through the unadulterated power of the songs or the familial bond.