Today we explore how Nirvana made Love Buzz which was their first single, released on the SUBPOP record label in 1988. We go back to 1987 in Aberdeen, WA when Krist Novoselic introduced Kurt Cobain to Love Buzz by the Dutch band Shocking Blue. Kurt wasn't a fan at the time but agreed to cover the song because Krist was so into it. In covering Love Buzz, Kurt made several significant lyrical and arrangement changes which we discuss in the video.

There are multiple versions of the Nirvana cover which we discuss. The band wasn't happy with the way things were handled by SUBPOP and there are even conflicting stories of how Love Buzz made it on the radio at the time.

Love Buzz - 30-second montage:
   • Nirvana Love Buzz -With Full Intro & ...  

Love Buzz - 10-second montage:
   • Nirvana - Love Buzz (orig single vers...  

Love Buzz - Bleach version:
   • Nirvana - Love Buzz  [LYRIC VIDEO Spa...  

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:36 - Differences between Shocking Blue & Nirvana versions of Love Buzz
1:53 - No Second Verse
2:20 - Nirvana's Versions of Love Buzz
3:33 - Love Buzz Song Facts
5:58 - Shocking Blue's Reaction to Nirvana
6:27 - Misspelled Names
6:40 - The Legend Goes
7:17 - Kurt Cobain's Reaction to Hearing Love Buzz on the Radio
7:45 - Outro

#nirvana #kurtcobain #lovebuzz #kristnovoselic #davegrohl #bleach

Side Notes:
Montage of Heck includes bits of Eddie Van Halen’s Eruption guitar solo and John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High.

Nirvana’s version of Love Buzz was featured in the 1995 movie Mad Love, starring Drew Barrymore and Chris O'Donnell.

Shocking Blue's version of Love Buzz was used in the 2001 movie Things Behind the Sun, starring Rosanna Arquette, and the 2015 Entourage movie.