WATCH: Previously unseen early Nirvana performance from 1988 surfaces
They were still known as Ted Ed Fred at the time
Last updated 6th Jul 2017
A previously unseen Nirvana performance from early 1988 has been unearthed and uploaded to YouTube.
Filmed on 24th January 1988 at the Radioshack store in Nirvana’s native Aberdeen, Washington, the 17-minute clip sees Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Melvins drummer Dale Crover play a set that was also a music video of sorts.
Still called Ted Ed Fred at the time, Nirvana had recorded their first ever demo with Jack Endino at Reciprocal Recording Studios in Seattle the day before and played the store so they could have some footage to sync up with the music.
As you can see from the clip, Kurt and Krist’s instruments aren’t even plugged in and the frontman can be seen lip-syncing to the demo.
Mike Ziegler, who unearthed the rare as hen’s teeth video, elucidates further: “Some people seem to be confused to what this is... Here's a brief history lesson. The day before, on January 23rd, 1988, Nirvana (Ted Ed Fred at the time) recorded their first proper studio demo with Jack Endino at Reciprocal Recording Studios in Seattle, WA.
“The demo and this video feature Dale Crover (of Melvins fame) on drums. Following the studio session on the 23rd, later that evening they played a live show at the Community World Theater in Tacoma, WA (if you pay close attention to this video, you can see footage of that show on the TV screens in the background).
“So fast forward to the next day and here are Nirvana at RadioShack making a music video of sorts. The music that is being lip synced was the demo made the day before (with "live" drums).”
Alongside the (somewhat ramshackle) music, the performance boasts footage of Kurt’s impressive flying entrance onto the stage and Krist inexplicably writhing around on the floor.
Nirvana’s first ever single, a cover of Shocking Blue's ‘Love Buzz’, was released 10 months after the Radioshack performance in November 1988.