Nirvana headline Reading Festival
30 August 1992
At the beginning of Nirvana's headlining slot, journalist Everett True wheeled Kurt Cobain (wearing a blonde wig) in a wheelchair onto the stage. This gesture was a quip at the journalists who had accused Kurt of being a useless drug addict; the triumphant performance was Nirvana proving to the audience and themselves that they were much more than the hype and media coverage that surrounded them. The show was performed with an unflinching ferocity and became one of their most memorable performances. Dave Grohl remembers the 50,000 people in the audience chanting the lyrics to ŇLithiumÓ - he admitted later that it was one of their biggest moments.
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Dave, Bendigo Australia
I was there and to be fair they weren't that good on the dayMS, Cardiff
Reading 1992 – as numbers swelled on Sunday it was pretty obvious most people were there for one thing and one thing only – NirvanaAfterwards there was a buzz of excitement, a feeling they'd delivered what everyone had came for.And it would become landmark / legend - Nirvana's last UK appearance.I've never got it. That year at Reading you could see the cream of sub pop / American alternative rock; Mudhoney (famously), L7 (infamously), Smashing Pumpkins, Buffalo Tom, Screaming Trees, Pavement. By comparison Nirvana were flat. Bored. Sounding tired of playing the same old material. Things only really picked up when Cobain told the bootleggers to get their tapes rolling 'cause they were going to play some new stuff. And for 'Love Buzz'.The trashing of the equipment was tired, predictable and clearly pre-ordained.But it was Suede who stole the show. Hyped by Melody Maker as the best new / live band in Britain, their 2nd single due out the following Monday. A crammed 2nd tent filled up during the band before; taut anticipation. And Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler were everything promised - flamboyant and energetic - Morrissey and Marr.The heralds of Britpop.Mark Sims, Derbyshire
The Nirvana gig was awesome. The whole crowd waited through Nick Cave and his bad seeds for one thing.......And boy did Nirvana deliver. The weather had been miserable all weekend. Most tents were flooded. Everyone left Reading smiling after this set. Awesome. Will live long in the memory.
Charles Peterson
Photographer
Influential rock photographer who followed the scene from it's beginnings in Seattle.
Everett True
Rock journalist/writer
Befriended Kurt and Courtney during this time, pushes Kurt on in the wig and wheelchair. Now editor of Music Magazine Plan B.