Cut Me Some Slack
Rock song by McCartney and former Nirvana members.
"Cut Me Some Slack" is a rock track performed by Paul McCartney alongside three former Nirvana members: Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear. It first appeared on YouTube in 2012, then on the soundtrack for Grohl's documentary *Sound City* the following year, and took home the Grammy for Best Rock Song in 2014. Grohl, while producing a documentary about Los Angeles’ Sound City Studios, brought together musicians to create new material for the film. The group included McCartney, plus Novoselic and Smear—both of whom had played with Grohl in Nirvana. The song grew out of a jam session among the four; McCartney later called it a "Nirvana reunion," while Novoselic dubbed the collaboration "Sirvana," blending "Sir" (for McCartney) with "Nirvana." The quartet debuted the song live at the 12-12-12 benefit concert and released it via YouTube on December 14, 2012. They performed it again on *Saturday Night Live* that same year, and on June 19, 2013, they played it at a McCartney concert in Seattle—Nirvana’s hometown—alongside several Beatles songs. Critics responded positively.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear
- Album
- Sound City: Real to Reel
- Released
- 2012-12-14
- Recorded
- April 2012
- Studio
- Studio 606 West, Northridge, Los Angeles
- Genre
- Rock
- Length
- 4:35
- Label
- RCA Records
- Writer
- Paul McCartney / Dave Grohl / Krist Novoselic / Pat Smear
- Producer
- Butch Vig
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The song began as a jam between McCartney, Grohl, Novoselic, and Smear, assembled by Grohl for his documentary about Sound City Studios. McCartney later described it as a "Nirvana reunion". Krist Novoselic referred to the partnership as "Sirvana", a portmanteau of Sir Paul McCartney and Nirvana.
The song was first performed at the 12-12-12 benefit concert by the four, and was released on December 14, 2012, through YouTube. The four performed the song on Saturday Night Live in 2012, and again on June 19, 2013, along with a number of Beatles songs at a McCartney concert in Seattle.
Personnel: Paul McCartney – lead vocals, cigar box guitar; Pat Smear – electric guitar; Krist Novoselic – bass guitar; Dave Grohl – drums, backing vocals.
Reader's Guide
The song represents a notable cross-generational collaboration between a former Beatle and key members of Nirvana, bridging two iconic eras of rock music. Its Grammy win for Best Rock Song in 2014 underscored its critical and commercial impact. The project originated from Grohl's documentary about Sound City Studios, highlighting the studio's legacy in music history. The song's reception was positive, with Allmusic calling it a "tune with an immediate hook [and] melody". The performances at the 12-12-12 benefit concert and on Saturday Night Live brought the collaboration to wide audiences, and the Seattle concert added a local resonance given Nirvana's origins there.
Did You Know?
- The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2014.
- Krist Novoselic called the partnership "Sirvana", a portmanteau of Sir Paul McCartney and Nirvana.
- Paul McCartney played a cigar box guitar on the track.
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