Attaining Nirvana IV

Attaining Nirvana IV:

In Utero Tour
Great Western Forum
Dec 30, 1993

31 years ago today. This was Nirvana final concert in Los Angeles, CA by Nirvana on December 30, 1993. About 4 months later, everything was over. It was the best of time with Nirvana the greatest rock band in the world performing at the Great Western Forum, Inglewood CA for the very last time as we now know.

Tickets was only $19.50, and we were able to get the floor access ticket to be in the pit.

According to a newspaper review, Nirvana played for a crowd of about 13,000.

📝 Review from a USA newspaper called «The Los Angeles Times», published on January 1, 1994:

«On a rare night when festival seating was utilized at the Forum, Nirvana–following opening sets by the veteran B******* Surfers and the promising Chokebore-exhibited captivating force. Drummer Dave Grohl and bassist Krist Novoselic played with raw vigor and Pat Smear doubled on guitar with Cobain. Cellist Lori Goldston joined the group for acoustic versions of such songs as «Polly» and «All Apologies».»

📝 Review from a USA newspaper called the «Rutland Daily Herald», published on January 4, 1994:

«The biggest reaction to Nirvana’s performance last week at the Great Western Forum occurred at the very end, when singer Kurt Cobain did what everyone expected him to do - smash his guitar.
There wasn’t much fury attached to the gesture. Cobain swung his black Stratocaster over his head and chopped at one of the many life-size winged figurines that decorated the stage.
The audience roared with each swing as the instrument, which earlier was introduced to a drill, squealed painfully, through the amplifiers.
The rest of the equipment, despite the diligent efforts of bassist Chris Novoselic, lived to see another day. But a couple of daring stage divers looked as though they might not have been as lucky.
The sound in the cavernous sports arena was surprisingly good.
Even when the arrangements called for the instruments to drop to a whisper, the scraping of guitar strings came through clearly. »

I was at this concert with some friends that evening. One of my friends was given Kurt Cobain’s broken guitar neck by the guitar technician after the show. They then waited for the band after the show at their tour bus outside the Forum. Kurt Cobain was not being nice that evening. He got on the bus blowing like 8 people off. Courtney Love pulled him off the bus to meet his fans.

The band members were signing CD, photo, and guitars that evening. They were signing the guitars with paint pens. My friend’s friend Mark initially asked Kurt Cobain to sign the 5 x 7 photo on the back of the photo and the paint pen blew up. He then proceeded to sign the 5 x 7 photo itself. He wrote “Thanks” & “666”. Someone else wrote “nice guy” and doodle. Technically Kurt Cobain signed twice on the 5 x 7 photo. Kurt Cobain also signed his broken guitar neck for my friend Mike that evening.

My friend traded the signed broken guitar neck for a dune buggy a few months before Kurt Cobain passing. It has been framed and sold twice since the trade. The present owner is unknown. I was told that most of the Nirvana signed guitars from that evening were sold to Hard Rock Cafes. The 5 x 7 photo was kept by Mark since December 30, 1993. Mike lost contact with Mark after he moved out of Los Angeles, CA to Texas. Mark recently contacted my friend Mike out of the blue. He told my friend that he needed some money to buy a new refrigerator and offered this signed 5” x 7” for sale. Mike contacted me and now it is in my collection.

This is the only known authentic signed Type 1 photograph of Kurt Cobain in the market that I have come across. There are signed press photos and printed pics of the band. This 5” X 7” photograph was printed on Kodak Royal Paper which dates to 1992-1993. See below information on Kodak Paper markings.

The inscription “thAnks” and “666” was written by Kurt Cobain. The rest of the inscription “nice guy” and doodles were probably done by Pat Smear, Dave Grohl or Kris Novoselic.

I had the signed photo framed in a custom acrylic frame.