Get unlimited access to everything VICE has to offer.

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

4 Magazines Delivered to Your Door

On This Day in 1991, Nirvana Released This Iconic Single That Broke Grunge Into the Mainstream

On September 10, 1991, Nirvana released the single that would later push their album to No. 1 in the country.

Share on X (Opens in new window)X

Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook

Share using Native toolsShareCopied to clipboard

In the early 90s, hair bands were fading, and the future of rock was unclear. That is, until Nirvana released “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on September 10, 1991. Before then, grunge was still in the underground music scene of Seattle, Washington. The Seattle scene established the genre in the late 1980s, but the rest of the country hadn’t been introduced to it quite yet.

Nirvana’s 1989 debut album, Bleach, was a moderate underground success, but Cobain was dissatisfied with Sub Pop’s distribution. As a result, Nirvana sought to leave the label. Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth advised Cobain to seek a major-label distributor. On April 30, 1991, Nirvana signed with DGC Records (Geffen Records). Sub Pop was offered a........

© Vice