Nirvana discography

Lore & Background

Nirvana was formed in 1987 by Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic. The band released its debut album, Bleach, in 1989 on independent label Sub Pop. After being joined by final drummer Dave Grohl and signing to Geffen Records subsidiary DGC Records, the band released its second studio album, Nevermind, which became one of the best selling alternative albums of the 1990s and popularized the Seattle grunge movement and alternative music. The band's third album, In Utero, was also a commercial and critical success, though it did not match the sales precedent set by Nevermind—as the members of the band expected.

Nirvana disbanded in 1994 after the death of Cobain. Since then several posthumous releases have been issued from the band, which once resulted in a legal conflict between Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, and the surviving members of the band over the release of the song "You Know You're Right". In 2006, Love sold a significant share of the rights to Cobain's song catalog to Primary Wave Music Publishing. Since its debut, the band has sold 27.6 million albums in the United States alone, and over 75 million records worldwide.

Reader's Guide

Nirvana's discography, though limited to three studio albums, had an outsized impact on popular music. Nevermind, released on DGC Records, became one of the best-selling alternative albums of the 1990s and brought the Seattle grunge movement to global attention. The band's third album, In Utero, was also commercially and critically successful, though it did not match Nevermind's sales, as the band expected. After Cobain's death in 1994, the band disbanded, but posthumous releases continued, including the box set With the Lights Out and compilations like Sliver: The Best of the Box. A legal conflict arose between Courtney Love and the surviving members over the song "You Know You're Right". In 2006, Love sold a significant share of Cobain's song catalog to Primary Wave Music Publishing. The band's total sales exceed 27.6 million albums in the United States and over 75 million records worldwide, cementing their legacy as a defining act of the alternative rock era.

Did You Know?

• The band disbanded in 1994 after the death of Kurt Cobain.
• Courtney Love stated in May 2002 that she owned 109 unreleased tapes made by Cobain.