Nirvana were a hugely influential alternative rock band, responsible for popularising the Seattle-born grunge sound that they helped to pioneer. Thanks to their breakthrough into mainstream consciousness, bands such as Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins and Nickelback were able to go on to sell tens-of-millions of records.

Nirvana's debut album, Bleach (1989), was released by independent label Sub Pop and only sold 6000 copies upon release, though it was picked up by college radio stations and showed much promise. It has since gone on to sell over four million copies after Nirvana's later success.

In 1990, original members Kurt Cobain (vocals, guitar) and Krist Novoselic (bass) recruited David Grohl to play drums, and Nirvana's classic line-up was set. They signed to a major label, Geffen, and in 1991 released their defining statement: Nevermind. Said to speak for the "generation X" of the time, Cobain was held up as an icon for disaffected teenagers worldwide. Nevermind gradually climbed to the very top of the Billboard charts, thanks partly to the lead single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", which was a worldwide smash hit. The album went down in history as one of the greatest and most influential LPs in rock music. It is now thought to have sold over 25 million copies.

In 1993, Nirvana attempted the impossible: a follow-up to the universally praised Nevermind. In Utero was not as polished as its predecessor, but was arguably as good musically. Critics were full of praise for it, and it still stands as one of the greatest albums in alternative rock. However, Nevermind had a far bigger cultural impact and is regarded as a more 'important' album.

In 1994, Cobain killed himself with a shotgun. He had been struggling with heroin addiction, and was never fully able to cope with the pressures of international fame. Since his death, many fans have speculated that he was in fact murdered, but this has never been substantiated. After Nirvana, Dave Grohl went on to further success as the frontman for the Foo Fighters, while Novoselic dabbled in various other musical projects, and became involved in local politics.