Nirvana Steals the Show at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Celebration [President Reagan mocked]

Yahoo ^ | April 11, 2014 | Jon Wiederhorn

[ConservativeStatement]

The band was introduced by Stipe, who delivered an eloquent speech that addressed the power and historical importance of the band as part of a counterculture that somehow became mainstream. "Nirvana tapped into a voice that was yearning to be heard," he said. "In the '80s and early '90s, the idea of a hopeful, democratic country had practically been dismantled by Iran Contra, by AIDS, by the Reagan, Bush Sr. administrations. With their music and their attitudes, Nirvana blasted through all that with crystalline, nuclear rage and fury. Nirvana were kicking against the system to show a sweet and beautiful, but fed-up fury coupled with howling vulnerability. They spoke truth, and a lot of people listened. They were singular and loud and melodic and deeply original. And that voice… That voice. Kurt, we miss you."

[Norm Lenhart]

One of the documentaries showed him to have had a very hosed life from a young age that began with his parents’ divorce. From there he was basically a loner/street rat and got sucked down one bad path after another.

Then the Record industry, once he achieved success with Nirvana, saw an opportunity to create the next Lennon and he balked at the idea and was unable to handle the situations that fame brought. Then there’s all the drugs and his psycho wife...

I feel bad for the guy in the sense that he was handed a bad set of cards. But he chose poorly.

[a fool in paradise]

The band’s albums bring them money today but I recall them saying somewhere in the early 90s when they’d signed to majors that the label (David Geffen?) was getting $50million while they had to split $1million.

When you are being exploited to that degree, you can harbor some ill will. Especially when the top dog is gloating about it.

[Norm Lenhart]

Of course, they signed a contract so they have no one to blame. I can sympathise to a point. It is a raw deal. But no one forced them into it.

The industry has a long and well known history of exploitation. Every musician that gets to the level where they are offered a record deal is well aware of it. They do it anyway with stars in their eyes. Sucks, but they could say no and negotiate a better deal....though that would require sobriety.