When Nirvana Came to Britain
{{short description|2021 BBC documentary by Wise Owl Films}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox television
| image = When Nirvana Came to Britain.jpg
| image_upright = 1.0
| image_alt =
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| genre =
| creator =
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| writer =
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| director = Stuart Ramsay
| starring = Nirvana
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| music = Nirvana
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
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| producer = Mark Robinson for BBC Two
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| runtime = 60 minutes
| company = Wise Owl films
| budget =
| network = BBC Two
| released = {{Start date|2021|09|18|df=y}}
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When Nirvana Came to Britain is a 2021 documentary about American rock band Nirvana's time in the United Kingdom from their first tour there in 1989 up to their headline performance at the Reading Festival in 1992 and their cancelled UK tour of 1994. It was produced by Wise Owl Films and first aired on BBC Two on 18 September 2021. It was produced to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band's Nevermind album, which was released in September 1991.{{cite news |last=de Wee |first=Naledi |date=September 5, 2021 |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/entertainment/when-nirvana-came-to-britain-bbc-documentary-nevermind-album-dave-grohl-kurt-cobain-grunge-24-september/ |title='When Nirvana Came to Britain': BBC marks 30 years of 'Nevermind' album |work=The South African |access-date=September 19, 2021}}
Background
The film was produced to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of Nirvana's Nevermind album in September, 1991 and features interviews with surviving Nirvana band members, drummer Dave Grohl and bassist, Krist Novoselic.{{cite news |last=Harrison |first=Phil |date=September 18, 2021 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/sep/18/tv-tonight-how-the-grunge-icons-achieved-nirvana-in-the-uk |title=TV tonight: how the grunge icons achieved Nirvana in the UK |work=The Guardian |access-date=September 19, 2021}}{{cite news |last=Aubrey |first=Elizabeth |date=September 3, 2021 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/bbc-mark-30-years-of-nirvanas-nevermind-with-new-film-about-groups-time-in-uk-3036598 |title=BBC mark 30 years of Nirvana's 'Nevermind' with new film about group's time in UK |work=NME |access-date=September 19, 2021}} Producer Stuart Ramsay interviewed venue owners where the band had played, hotel workers where the band had stayed, van drivers on the band's tours, pub land-lords and dancers,{{cite news |last=Aubrey |first=Elizabeth |date=September 17, 2021 |title=Doc and roll: Why we're living in the golden age of music documentaries |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/music-documentaries-2021-nirvana-b1921214.html |work=The Independent |access-date=September 19, 2021}} most notably, Antony "Tony" Hodgkinson who danced on stage at many of their UK shows including both of their Reading Festival appearances.{{cite news |last=Feay |first=Suzi |date=September 17, 2021 |title=When Nirvana Came to Britain on BBC2 delves into happier times across the pond |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2830db9d-7c24-448d-9151-39661898c448 |work=Financial Times |access-date=September 19, 2021}}
Accounts of the band's time in the UK are given by the British Radio DJ's Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq,{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Emily |date=September 6, 2021 |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/bbc-announce-nevermind-30th-anniversary-documentary-when-nirvana-came-to-britain/ |title=BBC announce Nevermind 30th anniversary documentary When Nirvana Came To Britain |work=Kerrang! |access-date=September 19, 2021}} and the Biffy Clyro singer Simon Neil. The documentary also showcases the band's performances on the UK TV shows Top of the Pops and The Word. The documentary explores how Nirvana band leader Kurt Cobain's main musical influences were the English bands Led Zeppelin and the Beatles, but also the lesser known Scottish indie-rock band the Vaselines whose songs Nirvana covered,{{cite news |last=Waite |first=Thom |date=September 5, 2021 |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/54020/1/bbc-will-mark-30-years-of-nirvana-nevermind-with-a-new-documentary |title=30 years of Nirvana's Nevermind will be marked with a new BBC documentary |work=Dazed |access-date=September 19, 2021}} and the British band the Raincoats.
See also
- Classic Albums: Nirvana – Nevermind, 2005 documentary on the making of the Nevermind album.
- The Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain, 2006 BBC documentary.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/bbc-music-mark-30-years-nirvana-nevermind |title=BBC Music to mark 30 years since the release of Nirvana's Nevermind |website=BBC Online |access-date=September 19, 2021}}
- {{IMDb title|15454310}}
{{Nirvana}}
Category:Documentaries about music
Category:2021 television films
Category:2021 documentary films
Category:Documentary films about musical groups
Category:2020s English-language films