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On This Day in 1991, Nirvana Played a Last-Minute Gig Where They Debuted One of Their Biggest Songs to a Star-Studded Crowd

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29.05.2026

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On This Day in 1991, Nirvana Played a Last-Minute Gig Where They Debuted One of Their Biggest Songs to a Star-Studded Crowd

Back in 1991, after completing recording on their second album, ‘Nevermind’, Nirvana played one of the most legendary shows in all of grunge.

By Stephen Andrew Galiher

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Shortly after completing the recording of their second album, Nevermind, in 1991, Nirvana pulled up to a last-minute concert. The gig ended up being one of rock music legend, and it happened on this day 35 years ago.

According to grunge lore, on May 29, 1991, Nirvana played an impromptu show at the Jabberjaw coffeehouse in Los Angeles. They’d literally just finished the recording of Nevermind. the day before. The show was unplanned, as the band was playing to help Mikey Dees from Fitz of Depression, who was going to have his own show canceled by the venue.

As for why the gig ended up being so legendary, it was the........

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