The John Robb Tapes podcast unearths the incredible archive of old interviews that music journalist John Robb has amassed over the years, along with more recent conversations with contemporary bands, acts and figures
Episodes
Thursday May 30, 2019
Thursday May 30, 2019
New York City. Summer. 1989.
John interviews Nirvana in a hot and claustrophobic flat - an on-the-road crash pad they’re sharing with label mates, Tad.
The (then) four-piece are on tour with their recently released album, Bleach, and play at Maxwells, Hoboken, the night before the interview takes place - a performance John recounts as oozing intense raw power with an instinctively cataclysmic and captivating ending, despite playing to a crowd of just 10 people.
In this interview, a young Kurt Cobain talks about the creative process, the intensity needed to reach the peak of his songs on stage, and hints at a song he’s just written - a song believed to have gone on to become ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’.
For an intimate account of this interview and gig, read John’s full article here.
This episode contains swearing.