October 11, 2011– Legends of rock and grunge music from Seattle, Washington are coming out of the damp, dreary woodwork now with great new stuff to celebrate their historic impact on the music world. Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Roger Fisher of Heart all are honoring big anniversaries.
Nirvana’s 20th anniversary offers Nirvana: Live at the Paramount DVD of their Halloween, 1991 show in Seattle, and their album Nevermind remastered (plus lots of bonus tracks). Pearl Jam has done a film called Pearl Jam 20 chronicling their history, and Roger Fisher, founding member of Seattle’s Heart, is putting together a movie on his life called Rog’s 60th.
NIRVANA
Nirvana: Live at the Paramount– Nirvana performed in Seattle at the Paramount Theater on October 31, 1991. This Seattle concert is the only show ever shot of the band on 16mm film, utilizing different camera angles, and is in incredibly high definition picture. Mixed in 5.1 surround sound from the original multi-tracks, it has just been released on DVD, Blu-ray and digital long form video formats. The band’s energy and audience are both fantastic. Grohls’ tattooed arms attacking his drums while his long, black hair seems to be in a permanent fan around his head; Cobain jumping around stage in his tatty cardigan sweater, leaping to the mic as his blond hair covers his face as he sings; and Novaselic’s long arms strumming the bass across his knees….fantastic. (see trailer at left)
The following songs are included: 1 Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam 2 Aneurysm 3 Drain You 4 School 5 Floyd The Barber 6 Smells Like Teen Spirit 7 About A Girl 8 Polly 9 Breed 10 Sliver 11 Love Buzz 12 Lithium 13 Been A Son 14 Negative Creep 15 On A Plain 16 Blew 17 Rape Me 18 Territorial Pissings 19 Endless, Nameless.
Complaints with Blu-ray: I bought the Blu-ray version and thought I was imagining at first that the sound was a bit out of sync. But I see by other comments on Amazon that I’m correct. Also there are bonus features with the regular DVD that Blu-ray does not include: one fan wrote: “What I am disappointed in is that the DVD has extra's, the Blu-Ray does not. With the DVD you get the four music videos from Nevermind (Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come As You Are, Lithium, and In Bloom). The Blu-Ray does NOT have these videos.” Bottom line is, buy the regular DVD until they fix the Blu-ray issues.
20th anniversary of Nevermind:
The aforementioned DVD is a companion to the 20th anniversary re-release of Nirvana’s Nevermind. You can buy just the original CD, or a Deluxe 2-CD set, which includes 1) the original album, B-sides, the Smart Studio sessions, Boombox sessions and two tracks from the BBC sessions. We bought it for $23.99, and it also comes with a great booklet of photos. You can also get a super deluxe version that includes the Paramount show described above. 20th anniversaries bring more fun than you could imagine. (Also on vinyl.)
Gillian Gaar did a great review of the re-release. And Rolling Stone said in its review: “Cobain claimed to be embarrassed by Nevermind's glossy production: "It's closer to a Mötley Crüe record than it is a punk-rock record," he said. Of course, that's what you expect him to say. His punk purism was a religion, but it was also a shtick, his version of showbiz. Listening to Nevermind now, you marvel at what a good show the band puts on. For a record so full of angst, it's quite a party - an adrenaline rush that sweeps you up. That's not a feeling you can pin to any genre or ideology. That's not punk or grunge or even pop. That's entertainment.”
Cobain Landing in Aberdeen honors Kurt with statue:
Other efforts have been made to commemorate Kurt Cobain’s life this year. A park has been installed by “Kurt’s bridge” in Aberdeen, Washington, as well as a statue of a guitar dedicated to him, and the park has been officially re-named “Kurt Cobain’s Landing”.
PEARL JAM
Pearl Jam is also celebrating its 20th anniversary with a film called Pearl Jam 20. The film is carved from over 1,200 hours of rarely-seen and never-before seen footage spanning the band’s career. Pearl Jam Twenty is the definitive portrait of Pearl Jam: part concert film, part intimate insider-hang, part testimonial to the power of music and uncompromising artists. The film debuts on PBS on October 21, and is being released October 25th. The link above includes a video.
HEART & ROGER FISHER
But wait...there's more. Roger Fisher, founding member and guitarist for Heart,is putting out a movie about his life called Rog’s 60th.“Rog's 60th is a movie born out of a music video of Roger Fisher's 60th birthday party. Taking on a life of its own, the project has evolved into a story of the brotherhood, community, and music of its creators and friends. The film tells the joyous, emotional and sometimes humorous story of Roger's life journey to his 60th birthday, as seen through the eyes of his brother Michael and told to his son Michael Jr, as the younger version struggles to come to an understanding of his relationship with his cousin, Roger Fisher Jr. The work draws heavily on 40 years of media, including "behind the scene" photos.” See link to Rogerfisher.com for the trailer and more info.” As for a release date, pretty much all he is saying is “soon—this year or next.
Heart has just been nominated for induction to the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! You can vote at their Facebook:
JIMI HENDRIX
The last new Hendrix release was Valleys of Neptune in 2010. There is a project underway in Seattle to install a brand new monument of he and Pat O’Day in Seattle Center next year.
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