Video Vault: Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit
On December 31st, 1991, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Red Hot Chili Peppers played at Cow Palace in Daly City, north of San Francisco. I wasn't even a teen, but my dad took us to the show because my older brother was a skater, and the older skater boys were going, so he wanted to as well. Pearl Jam played first, and I remember watching in awe as Eddie Vedder climbed all over the scaffolding with his long hair flying around, growling through the songs. It was like nothing I had seen before, and my heart was in my throat. But it was Nirvana whose set was so electric, so special you could tell you were watching something important. The Chilis were supposed to be the stars, but the night belonged to Nirvana. Little did I know that show would mark a turn in the music landscape, and rock and rollers and hair bands were over. One musician said, "Nirvana came on the scene, and we were over". These guys weren't about to go on stage in drag; these guys rolled out of bed, played and, ...