The Nirvana baby, now 17, recreates iconic 'Nevermind' photo

Kenney G Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 07:14 PM EST

Sorry for the repeat comments this internet form is making my PC go crazy...

Kenney G Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 07:08 PM EST

My parents gave me this album shortly after it came out. It was the first CD I ever owned. I was barely 9 years old. I was a huge Nirvana fan, I remember hanging out with my best friend who was also a big fan and listening. I was actually watching MTV, 11 years old at the moment when Kurt Loder broke in and announced that Cobain had been found dead. I will never forget that.

Kenney G Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 07:07 PM EST

My parents gave me this album shortly after it came out. It was the first CD I ever owned. I was barely 9 years old. I was a huge Nirvana fan, I remember hanging out with my best friend who was also a big fan and listening. I was actually watching MTV, 11 years old at the moment when Kurt Loder broke in and announced that Cobain had been found dead. I will never forget that.

Kenney G Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 07:06 PM EST

My parents gave me this album shortly after it came out. It was the first CD I owned. I was about 9 years old. I was a huge Nirvana fan, I remember hanging out with my best friend who was also a big fan and listening. I was actually watching MTV, 11 years old at the moment when Kurt Loder broke in and announced that Cobain had been found dead. I will never forget that.

Steve Mon, May 25, 2009 at 09:43 PM EST

I wasnt born at the time when this CD came out but i think its the best CD ive ever owned. and SLTS looks like sluts. And im almost positive that Jeff Geffen didnt sit down with a group of slutty girls to mix this CD... anyway, amazing song, amazing video, MTV dosnt care about music anymore(VH1 CLASSIC does :) ) and i learned this song on the guitar and me and my buddy peter are going to jam to it this weekend. Im pretty sure he knows it on drums...

tmvgeforc cytouzkl Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 03:41 PM EST

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jfmolsi fhepjwln Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 03:05 PM EST

ocmhlkgvw hrptuka tbkgufma xjsmyd xyqp lsirzv pwhqnz

Maxine Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 08:46 AM EST

I was actually in a teen club in high school and they played the track Smells Like Teen Spirit. I went up to the dj totally amazed and he gave me the cassette tape, which I listened to about a hundred times before it got warped and I bought the CD.

Mike Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 05:02 PM EST

I was a senior in high school when this came out. Seems like yesterday, if I may I liked it, but was more into Zepplin, Chili Peppers and GnF'nR.
Uhh, huh huh, Beavis. Slash rules.

Michael Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 03:01 PM EST

College whatever

Michael Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 03:01 PM EST

Dude, she was in highschool when the video came out. Are u mental?

Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 09:10 AM EST

You really waited to see the video until u were in highschool!!!!!!!! Did u grow up under a rock???????WTF!

Forgetting Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 06:28 PM EST

Ha, someone said this already but it was on the communal tape deck in a high-school art class. OK, that wasn't the first time, but it was the only time I remember, because the jock guy in the class came up to me and asked me what it was. What a meaningless decade! I'm glad it was so long ago, I can hardly remember it.

Lionz Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 11:15 AM EST

I was at my Grandparents tiny beach house watching MTV... I was really suprised because I was just getting into 'Bleach' and had no idea they has signed to a major.

Amanda Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 04:01 PM EST

i was born the the exact day and year Nevermind came out :O)

dorkenheimer Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 06:12 AM EST

I heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on the car radio -- not my car radio, someone else's. I didn't listen to the radio. As someone who came of age in the immediate aftermath of punk rock, I had grown disinterested in the dull homogenization of pop music. I tuned out. Nirvana brought my interest rushing back. I remember thinking, "Hey, this is new..." It was unstudied and crunchy and rough around the edges, like the music I loved as a kid, but without being a rehash. And suddenly I was tuned into pop music again. It was a great surprise!

joefurself Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 04:57 AM EST

i'm not quite sure what you mean by the test of time comment. "Lounge Act" is a way better song anything wolfmother or my chemeical romance or any of the other big "alternative" acts of the day.

Dave S. Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 05:42 PM EST

p.s. Kurt, your parents thought Nevermind was "devil music?" You must be from Utah, am I right?

Dave S. Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 05:36 PM EST

I gotta go with Jon on this one. I was working at a nightclub in Cambridge at the time, and while we knew something was "happening" with the release of this album, I don't recall any jumping up and down, or stunned elation. I also happen to think most of this record doesn't stand the test of time very well, either.

Kurt Soren Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 03:06 PM EST

Wow, Jon. You're a bitter a-hole. I'm sorry you've never experienced joy.

I remember hiding and listening to Nevermind. My parents felt it was devil music, and if they EVER saw the cover, I would have been shipped off to some sort of gay-deprogramming camp, despite also listening to G'n'R Lies, which had naked women in the liner notes.

Fatima Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 02:22 PM EST

Hey! Back off Bell Biv Devoe!!! :)

kerry Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 01:43 PM EST

I was 10 and I wasn't allowed to watch MTV. I was able to sneak some peeks here and there, though.

Stephanie Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 01:37 PM EST

I don't know where I was, but I'm sure my brother was involved. Being 6 years older, he was my foray into music that was actually good and not the tweeny bopper crap trying to listen to. I do remember loving it, though. It gave me the bridge I needed to GET OVER the tweeny bopper crap I was trying to listen to. Ah.... NKOTB... :P

Oh, and John? That was really mean. Not even in an existential, I'm way too cool and above all this to wax nostalgia, sort of way. It was mean in an unnecessary, my mother didn't love me, sort of way. Play nice.

Kate Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 01:06 PM EST

I was a freshman in college as well. It was like hearing something totally brilliant. It consumed me, Kurt Cobain was a musical genius. However, I cannot listen to any of their music now. It's just been played out.

Scentless Apprentice Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 01:02 PM EST

Too Much Information Alert:

The first time I, err.. was intimate, was Dec 5, 1992. My girlfriend's much hipper younger brother was BLASTING "Teen Spirit" from downstairs and it was all we could hear. Romantic, no? Actually, thinking back all these years later, it really was.

AngieLam Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 12:46 PM EST

I was 10. And I remember seeing the Smells Like Teen Spirit video and being shocked. I think I grew up that day :)

groovnchik Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 12:34 PM EST

Senior year of highschool. I had a crush on a guy who looked just like Kurt- 8 years later, I got to marry him after college.

Jon Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 12:11 PM EST

"My friends and I all screamed and jumped up and down, stunned and somehow elated by the breakthrough of grunge to the mainstream media." That is such crap. That does not happen in real life - that happens on TV shows. Screamed and jumped up and down? Yeah, you were really hardcore! At least Nirvana baby managed to stay in shape; it would have been depressing if he was some fat dork now. I guess he wasn't quite brave enough to whip it out one last time. Shame. That might have caused college girls to "jump and scream" as they do. His pickup line is beyond lame. But then again, you'd have to be with the filthiest of star-f---ers to get laid because you were the Nirvana baby.

jason. Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 11:15 AM EST

High school art class, on the communal tape-deck. Kind of hard not to have to go and buy it after that...it was just in my brain.

A handful of months before that, a good friend had made me listen to their first album. I still don't know how he was constantly ahead of the curve like that...

Mark Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 09:59 AM EST

I was a freshmen in college. The perfect time - new school, new type of music. Even established bands had great albums come out then - U2, Chili Peppers, Metallica, Van Halen ...

John Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 09:57 AM EST

I was trying to go to sleep in my dorm room, and my roomate was watching MTV. I was laying there with my back to the TV when i heard the crunch sound a few seconds into the song. I instantly woke up and looked and saw something i had not witnessed in years, since probably Metallica's One video, a real music video with real music. Remmber this was the time when bands like Color Me Bad, Slaughter, Bell Biv Devoe, Vanilla Ice, and MC Hammer ruled the airwaves. It was so nice to sit back and watch these three punks from Seattle take them down in flames. They brought the joy of music back to the true fans....I long for those days with the current climate of junk out there today.

ries Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 09:29 AM EST

i was visiting my older brother at michigan state university in his cedar village apartment (for anyone familiar). i remember he put it on for me and i thought it was something from the seventies.

Elitist Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 09:28 AM EST

I was a senior in high school who didn't see how anyone could listen to this Nirvana crap about albinos and mosquitoes, when I was into cool stuff, like Sabbath. Not until my freshman year of college, when SLTS ended up on a mix tape did I secretly accept how amazing it was.

Winona Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 09:18 AM EST

I was in high school (senior year, I believe) and I think I was the only person who did NOT jump on the Nirvana bandwagon. Guess I was just waiting for that drummer to break out on his own.

blondie Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 09:15 AM EST

I remember it so well... I was around 11 but old enough to appreciate. I was so into MTV then (back when music videos were actually played) and the video was a big deal.

Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 08:30 AM EST

I was about 5 or 6 years old when the album came out and I remember my older brother who was about 14 blaring this album in his bedroom.

Tom Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 08:26 AM EST

20.Heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on the radio. The stattion had a top nine at nine, so myu friends and I would call and request that song everynight. It was #1 of 9 for about a month. That record changed everything.

Carol Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 08:12 AM EST

Thirtynine years old, standing with my baby in my arms. We began to dance. Great song to dance babies to. I still haven't gotten tired of the song after all these years.

Veronica Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 05:53 AM EST

I was almost 11 and my parents were about to divorce, not a smart divorce but a dirty and aweful one. I was feeling blue, angry and so lonely... it's surprising how a song and an album can change a kid's life. I don't really know why but Nirvana made me feel better and stonger, like I wasn't alone anymore, like there was someone out there screaming for me.

Captain Planet Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 03:40 AM EST

I was 12 living in Puyallup, Washington. Watching a late night Seattle area, local music, grunge rock video show. Alice and Chains and Sound Garden's "Rusty cage" was on it too. I was hooked after that.

Helena Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 03:11 AM EST

ah, I'm such a youngin' - I was in diapers. Or possibly naked. Whatever, either way, I was a baby.

Nix Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 02:32 AM EST

Hmm. When he turns 18 he should do the album cover as originally composed. I have a few websites to suggest would pay good money for it.

Where was I when Nevermind came out? In my dorm room pretending it hadn't.

Charlie Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 02:29 AM EST

I was in Basic Training in the Army when i first heard Nirvana. Funny thing is that I was ridiculed for buying the cassette(yes a cassette) by a guy who was buying a Milli Vanilli cassette at Tower Records.

Snufkin Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 01:58 AM EST

I was lucky enough to see Nirvana perform twice, back before they got big. I heard it at both shows when they were still on SubPop but getting ready to sign to Geffen. I remember thinking it was catchy. However I also remember the 2nd show, when Dave Grohl debuted, as being pretty weak. They were way tighter when Chad Fleming from the Melvins was doing the drumming.

EK Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 01:07 AM EST

Yeah, my older brothers would play grunge bands like nirvana, sonic youth and pearl jam. Along with old mtv and nickoldeon, that was the epitome of my childhood.

Fatima Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 11:49 PM EST

marilinda - that was so sweet. I am oddly touched

Dude Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 11:39 PM EST

Nirvana sucks, who cares.

Ulysses Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 11:17 PM EST

I worked in L.A. with a bunch of high school kids at T.J Maxx--you know, back when stores were staffed teens and not undocumented emigrants? The janitor was Ed, he was a dropout, former skinhead with a swastika tattooed on his inner bottom lip. I am an Obama guy (same racial split) and we became great friends despite our differences, and Ed's former Nazi world view. Anyway he came in one morning screaming that his favorite band sold out, I only caught something bout nerve's van and bleach. . .
Ed hung himself, first funeral, the world seemed dimmed. Driving home one night, down the hill on Crenshawe I had KROQ on, listening to "Ed's music" this was back when Poorman was on Loveline and most of you never heard of Dr Drew, anyway the jock comes on and says here's a song from a band from Seattle called "Smell's Like Teen Spirit" The electric shock of the song, the Santa Anna winds- making the night warm-made me cry for Ed and the sweet sharp burst of everything/nothing that is life

shdrew Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 11:14 PM EST

I don't remember where I was when I first heard this song, but I do have a very vivid memory a cruising around on a warm spring day with this song just BLASTING! (And PS, even my "70-something, church-going, not-into-rock-and-roll-except-Elvis" mother knows who Nirvana is, which just goes to show how iconic and legendary an album Nevermind was/is.)

Penny Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 10:28 PM EST

The creepy part of this is, he was an infant when that happened, and likely doesn't remember it. How weird must it be to grow up to find out you were naked on the cover of a Nirvana album?

Melissa Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 09:33 PM EST

Great, now I feel old. I was 13 when this came out. Ah, middle school. Middle school sucked but at least the music was good. I wore my flannels and black high top Chuck Taylors.

Sebastian Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 07:36 PM EST

Huge fan of Nirvana and especially of the Nevermind album. Must've gone to elementary school when it first came out but I remember that you had to own the record and wear flanell shirts with torn up jeans to be cool. Smells like teen spirit gotta be one of the all time rock classics and Kurt Cobain one of the last icons. As many of you already have written I too must say that I miss the times when music and musicians mattered.

Jon Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 07:15 PM EST

I'd just moved to Indiana and went to Indianapolis with some friends to hit a few second-hand clothing stores. It was the day Nevermind came out. The clerk was playing it in the store. I asked her what she was listening to and drove immediately to a CD store and picked it up. I went home and played it. Loud.

Meier Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 05:53 PM EST

I still like "Weird Al" Yankovic's cover spoofing this image for his album "Off the Deep End," which, yes, included his parody "Smells Like Nirvana."
But I've got to admit: I'd rather see this album cover recreated here in the good ol' future than, say, some elderly porn star with a rubber glove recreating the cover for blink-182's "Enema of the State."

DW. Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 05:42 PM EST

But what about the Blind Melon bee girl?

Rich Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 05:37 PM EST

I was driving home from work at about 1:30 in the morning when I first heard it. I think that was the only time radio stations felt it was "safe" to play it. (Same thing with You Oughtta Know by Alanis Morrisette). I remember calling my friends the next day and saying, "You need to hear this song! The guy screams all the way through it!"

Snarf Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 05:33 PM EST

I suddenly feel very very old.

Kaiulani Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 05:10 PM EST

17? Now I feel old.

Lee Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 04:44 PM EST

I was a junior in high school. I had probably heard the song on 101.7 WFNX, a Boston radio station that was one of the few "alternative" rock stations out there before alternative became mainstream. I remember seeing the video on MTV, probably either in the Buzz Bin or on 120 minutes (anyone remember that show? it was usually on from midnight-2am on Saturday nights and it played non-mainstream videos). Those were the good old days, when MTV played videos and music and music videos seemed to matter.

Andrea Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 04:42 PM EST

clearly under a rock

laura Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 04:12 PM EST

I am 36 yrs old and NEVER in my life have I heard this song ..... so no I can't comment as to where I was when it came out.

cjscott Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 03:46 PM EST

I found this song by accident. I grew up in a small town and when I was 12 or 13 we would hang out at the local Godfather's (pizza place) downtown. They had this old jukebox (you know, the kind you had to flip through) and I see a new song they added. It was Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit, so I played it. One of the guys we were with (he was in high school..OoooOooh!) couldn't get over the fact that I played this "cool new song". Of course, I played along and pretended I knew what the heck he was talking about. But I will never forget the way everyone stopped and listened. My friend and I bought the CD the next day. First CD I ever owned. Who knew that the old guy at the pizza place in po-dunk Nebraska was so hip in '91?

matt Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 03:37 PM EST

I was seven when I first saw the video. My older sisters were into the grunge movement, and I remember vividly listening to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden as a younger child. To this day I cannot think of a better era for music during my lifetime.

BA Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 03:35 PM EST

I was at a party in 9th grade. My friend Tom was telling me about this new song with all these weird lyrics. Then he put "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on and sang all the lyrics, occasionally interrupting himself to say, "Isn't that funny? What is he talking about?"

Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 03:22 PM EST

i wasnt born yet :(

Em Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 02:57 PM EST

I was seven years old when I saw the video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit". I was watchng music videos with my cousins, who were all teenage boys. I remember this so well because my grandmother came downstairs and lectured us for what seemed like hours on the evils of "devil music" (I kid you not). I wonder what she would say if she knew that I still listen to that song.

Em Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 02:56 PM EST

I was seven years old when I saw the video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit". I was watchng music videos with my cousins, who were all teenage boys. I remember this so well because my grandmother came downstairs and lectured us for what seemed like hours on the evils of "devil music" (I kid you not). I wonder what she would say if she knew that I still listen to that song.

anne Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 02:44 PM EST

did anyone else think kurt was saying, "bloody night owl". in "smells like teen spirit". just wondering

Frenchgal Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 02:38 PM EST

I was 14 and studying in a boarding school in Rouen, France. Every monday morning before heading to school and every friday evening before going home for the weekend, we would meet for drinks at the railway station café and play it on the jukebox, alterning with "Losing my Religion" by REM, the other hit of 91. Oh my gosh, feels just like yesterday...

Priscilla Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 02:30 PM EST

So sad... I went as the cheerleader this Halloween and had to explain who I was :(

Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 02:29 PM EST

I'm just glad we wore shots...

Jim Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 02:27 PM EST

I was a sophomore at college. I remember I was at the intramural center working out (going through some heavy incline presses, as I recall) when "Smells Like ..." came over the radio. When I heard the opening riff, I remember being hit by a big adrenaline surge that made the rest of the workout a blast. I walked out of the gym and down to a local music store, where I picked up the (at the time) new-fangled "Nevermind" CD. 17 or so years later, I still listen to that album once or twice a month, and it still brings back fond memories of a time when music actually seemed to matter.

shan Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 02:20 PM EST

How funny...I was a college freshman and also saw the video for the first time in the dorm lounge. What a turning point for music.

alex Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 02:09 PM EST

i was 3... sad

marilinda Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 02:00 PM EST

i was in the car with my mom going to my grandmother's. and it was during rick dees or some syndicated radio show.
i was about 12 or 13. and knew right there that i was in love. and i remember clear as day the day kurt died. i went (again) to the same grandmother's house a few days later and i was so angsty and sad that she said, "honey, are upset that that singer died." and i cried and cried in my grandmother's arms.

sean Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 01:44 PM EST

i was 17 and in my dark room delveloping pictures. my friend was with me and he cranked up the radio and said you have to listen to this!
seems like it was yesterday....

Eric Friedmann Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 01:34 PM EST

I once saw an article several years ago that caught up with several album cover children and what they looked like now, including:

- the ugly naked girl from BLIND FAITH's only album
- the little blonde girl from THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND's "Brothers and Sisters" album
- the little boy from U2's "War" album

MB Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 12:51 PM EST

Wow, I too was a college freshman when I first heard Nirvana and fell in love with their sound. Good times : )

Nathiest Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 12:28 PM EST

Having group sex with 4 girls I did not know at the time. Craziest house party ever.

Katie Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 12:17 PM EST

I was home from college at Christmas, and all three of my brothers were blasting it at the same time from their bedrooms. The cacophony of that moment--I can't forget it.

Adrienne Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 12:03 PM EST

I was in junior high when I was introduced to Nirvana by the good folks at MTV. Back then, when they still played music videos, they had a show called The Top Ten (Rock Songs, Rap Songs, whatever) hosted by Matt Pinfield. For a good 2-3 years, Smells Like Teen Spirit was the all-time best song. Ever.

S A V V Y Fatty! Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 12:03 PM EST

I was 11 the first time I saw the vid for "SLTS." (just now realizing that's ALMOST smells 'Sluts' Hmmm...)
I was at home in the den watching The Box (Video Jukebox) with my uncle. This smokey, cloudy, hazy greenish-orangeish image flashes across the screen. At first I think: What's this? Then I hear the music and I immediately loved it! 'Twas nothing like I was used to seeing or hearing (especially since Unc & I watched The Box mostly for the low-budge Hip Hop vids), yet I wanted MORE!
RIP Kurt! Shouts to Dave & Krist!

Shasta Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 11:36 AM EST

The first time I "heard" Smells Like Teen Spirit, my friend was quoting some lines from it, saying it was genius. (I think it was the albino/mulatto part). What makes this hilarious is that we were walking back from the bus stop (we were 15 or 16), and she had recently decided smoking was cool. So, she was smoking on the way home, her parents drive by, and once they were out of sight, I realized she had put the cigarette out in her PALM so they wouldn't see. "Damn, that hurt like a b!tch," she said. I still relate that song to that incident. Teen spirit, indeed.