Nirvana. It was my immediate response when I'd first had the question posed to me some time ago. It's the same answer I give anytime the subject comes up in conversation.
I'm typically met with a lot of the same responses. What about Hendrix? What about Pink Floyd? What about Zeppelin? What about The Doors? Believe me, I'm a big fan of Hendrix and The Doors, and I've watched a lot of recording of their live performances.
Think back to the first time you really started listening to music. Do you remember the song that first sparked a genuine interest in you? I remember riding home in the car with my dad at 12 years of age and hearing Smells Like Teen Spirit for the first time. That was the song that caused me to start listening to music more seriously. In that moment I remember thinking "wow, this is rad!" Everything good was "rad" to me at that point.
The song just had such energy. It was loud, it was raw, and it was just so cool. And as I was just starting to deal with a lot of the frustrations of being a kid, it felt like something I could relate to. Nirvana had a huge impact on a lot of the music I'd end up listening to in my high school years. Bands like Alice In Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, Local H, and a list that goes on for quite awhile.
It was pretty cool to see one of Kurt's guitars on display at the Guitar Center in LA!
Nirvana was the band that brought me into music, and also the band that influenced a lot of the music I got into during my formative years. My musical interests have certainly expanded since that time, I've gotten into pop, blues, and even electronic music. This is why, if I were given the chance, I'd want to see the band that started me on an incredible musical journey. I'd see Nirvana.
I'd be interested to know, who would you see? And why would you want to see that particular band/musician.
Thanks for taking the time to read!