Nirvana's Krist Novoselic Talks Kurt Cobain 

Seeing Kim and Krist here and realizing they both lost their best friends. It really hits you seeing them talking about their friends and you know it meant so much more to them than it did to us as mere fans.

I remember seeing an interview with Krist a long time ago after Nirvana ended (RIP Kurt) where he commented on how so many young fans would approach him and thank him. When he would ask them “Why are you thanking me?” their responses were universal: “Because Nirvana saved my life”. In 1991, mine was a life on the brink. I was in a total free fall and was going to end up either dead or in prison. And then Nirvana came along. This rock band is the only reason why I have my freedom today. Thank you Kurt and Krist.

The way Krist pats Kim's shoulder and rubs it when Black Hole Sun begins to play is so wholesome. It doesn't look like much but it speaks volumes when you know about each other's tragedies. Such a small but huge emotional exchange.

In every old video of Nirvana Krist looks like he’s having the time of his life. And the way he talks about his memory of Kurt is touching He seems like such a genuine person.

Krist is like the unsung hero of Nirvana. The guy's got no ego to bruise and his bass lines support the songs so well. They're simple enough but filled with character. He can be both in the pocket and super loose depending on the context and he'll often put in some nice little "walking" notes or fill type bits in that really help the 3 piece setup. Of course there's the space to do it in that context as well so it never sounds like it's crammed in or something. Super groovy player considering the punk basis of the band.

I really love Krist. His genuiness, compassion, empathy and humanity always pours out when you see him speak. Just a great guy.

I always thought that Kurt wasn't necessarily interested in success, but he really craved validation.

I remember Krist throwing his bass guitar up in the air as far as he could. Dude was crazy

They aren't the faces of the bands, but Krist and Kim were both hugely important. Kim's solos are so distinctive he is immediately recognizable. And Krist's bass was so integral to the sound of Nirvana; I'd listen to tracks like 'Lounge Act' on repeat.

oh god, i just realized what he meant when Krist pats kim on the shoulder... Same weird thing man... Both dealing with the feelings invoked by hearing the voices of lost loved ones. Wow. I cried at that moment.

It seems like Krist still hasn't gotten over his friend's death, all these years later. His sadness makes me sad.

Gotta love Krist, he’s such a statement about Kurt to have a friend like him. Peace be with you big guy & much love always.

Sad that both Kurt and Chris passed the way they did, absolutely magnificent artists. Also its bitter sweet watching Kim and Krist react to hearing their vocals again. Rick does a great job keeping things moving so as not to dwell on it too long and bring it back to music. This could easily have just been filled with uncomfortable silences. Rick's a really good interviewer in that sense.

I could listen to Krist talk for hours, he is also a gentle soul❤

black hole sun is an absolute masterpiece. beautiful melodies, incredible

The record from Krist's new band 3rd Secret is my favorite of last year; such a great suite of songs - vibe for days and so damn good on repeat listens. He's done a lot of stuff post Nirvana but I'm so happy that he's found this groove with his new group; highly recommend it to people all the time.

Cobain, Cornell, Wieland and Layne Staley will be never forgotten as the faces of early 90s during the Grunge Movement

Beautiful group of men who went against each other but faced the same tragedy both songs are epic both musicians were epic this is bitter sweet God bless them Chris and Kurt forever

The forth guy sitting here is Jack Endino of the band Skinyard, who were another early Seattle band. Around 1985 or 86 me and my friend Carmela got a Skinyard demo and tried to get them signed to the label Alternative Tentacles since we were friends with the head of the label. But she said “I don’t need to sign this band. They’re mainstream”. But Endino had told us that the mainstream labels said they were too punk rock. I think that epitomized the conundrum the Seattle sound created which is why it wasn’t until almost five years later that Nirvana and the rest really broke out. I wish Rick had asked Endino about Skinyard. To my ears they were like a punk rock King Crimson.

I'll be off to watch Montage of Heck after this. Nirvana.... a moment in time, for which im thankful I lived through. One of those bands that come along and re-write the way forward, along with a few other top bands breaking out at that time. I love the ever changing nature of music and how infinite it seems. RIP Kurt Cobain, gone too soon, but definitely will never be forgotten.

krist is such a warm hearted person, one of my favourite people ever

I was 21 in 92 … saw Nirvana at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in 93. Will never forget the opening Radio Friendly Unit Shifter and the crowd just going OFF. They sounded so good , such a tight band at the end

This guy looks like has lived the most pedestrian life ever. But he was in one of the greatest bands of AT! Respect.

I attended a Soundgarden concert in Winterthur, Switzerland in the 1990s. Black Hole Sun is one of the best songs ever.

Black hole sun was so picturesque when I would listen and watch on MTV back in the day. You actually felt like you were in that blazing heat or trying to catch a break from it in the pool. Such an amazing song and very instrumental for my youth 😎

Krist looks like Dr. Phil now. I'm so glad that he's still around to share his stories and memories of Kurt to keep his legacy alive.👍🏾

Krist will always live the rest of his life in mourning. You can tell it just happened yesterday to his mind.

One of the guys mentioned "Black Hole Sun" wasn't 'gratuitous Prog' and it made me smile, because "Gratuitous Prog" would be a great name for an album I'd want to buy! 😁

These interviews are such gems for music lovers of different generations. This one covers my generation, and man i can't really tell how that feels hearing these icons i loved so much... I stopped listening to Nirvana and Soundgarden at one point, around 20 years ago. I didn't want to overhear theim, i was at the verge of it. Now hearing these ... I'll say it, GODS of my teenage years, and also realizing they are icons of the past, it's as thrilling as melancholic. Brings me back reminiscences of my turbulent adolescence moods. Thx, from France.

This interview was fantastic. Imma go listen to it again. I love your work!

krist novoselic gotta be one of my favorite old guys.

Omg Krist is such an underrated gem in rock music, his spirit and genuine common sense with humour. Krist jebote gde si ti! Pozdrav!

I’ve loved Nirvana since I was in 5th grade. I remember the first time I heard them. There’s never been a band as important to me. That being said I met Krist around 2003-4 when he was touring speaking on politics. He was just standing by himself after he spoke. I walked over to meet him I had to. When I got over to him it was if I’d walked up on a mountain. He’s giant of a man. Reached his giant hand out to shake mine. One of the greatest moments of my life!

'The dog would salivate'- love Krist's self-effacing, 'wrong' sense of humour 🙂

i am in awe at these people. i hope they are all just feeling okay and these men are in peace. people really forget they are these complex human beings (idk much abt Kim but i love that fucking song) and funny, sad, highs and lows. grief is a beast and the way they go is even tougher. incredible musicians and people and so grateful we got what they gave to us. it's always nice to hear them talk about it since i know grohl rarely does bc it's just too fuckin hard. i never realized how amazing krist was as a bass player until i started playing and MAN. also how do you grw that tall

Love Krist's energy. He seems like such a warm person. Love his 🌲 Giants in the trees 🌲 project

SOB! What a great interview. Legendary. Thanks for sharing.

The two biggest musician losses that hit me: Kurt Cobain when I was in university and I had started playing guitar because of Nirvana, and Chris Cornell as an adult. Two formative bands on my playing and two men that gave it their all.

"It should have never happened." Heartbreaking.

I really didn't appreciate Chris Cornell's voice until he passes man. He was such a talented guy . Both singing and guitar wise.

Seeing Krist with no hair on his head, a mustache and grey feels kind of freaking surreal😮… also makes me realize that I’m much older now too 😂

I couldn't care less which guitarist played which part on the recording. What I've ALWAYS wanted to know was how were those chords choose during the solo? It's one of the strangest parts to a rock song I've ever heard and it's amazing in ways I can't articulate. It takes so long to resolve the tension being built but the resolve just feels perfect. One of the best written songs in the last thirty years.

Krist is the reason I play bass He seems like such a cool guy I need to send him a letter one day

Yeah those audio sample demos that Kurt made are pretty sick and super creative I like how they touched on that to put those together are pretty fun

Kurt’s been gone 28+ years. Then Chris died. It’s so sad. Both just amazing groups. The soundtrack of my life. I hope Kurt & Chris are at peace 🙏🌈

I’ll never forget coming home at midnight stoned as all hell. Turned on mtv as most teenagers in the 90s did. All of a sudden Teen Spirit came on and my jaw dropped and I said “this is gonna be huge” I was not wrong.

That's definitely the most I've ever heard Kim speak. I liked hearing him talk. When he mentioned Andy i was almost shocked because if not thought of Andy wood for a LONG time but i had the Apple record and played it all the time in 90s. I agree that the prolific writing of Andy and Chris really defined then. They had such a wide array of songs they could go to fit any album or band change up.

watching this makes me feel really freaking old , but happy I experienced the best music in my youth !

Soundgarden was like the Gen X version of Led Zeppelin. It’s obviously guitar-driven rock music, but it’s sooo hard to put them into a box.

This interview is so wonderful. I watched the whole thing when Rick released it. Getting chills listening to these guys talk.

It's cool how much of a leader Kris was in the band even though he was the least prominent. Not to say his lines weren't great, I just think it's cool how much authority he commanded in the band while being 3rd music wise behind Kurt and Dave.

I’d love to see a nirvana movie centered around Kirst. I think that’d be the best perspective to see it all through.

I could listen to these guys all day. Thanks, Rick.

Kim is so generous. I appreciate that. Real artists usually are. My dad's an artist so thank you.😮

In 1994 I was 24 years old. A buddy at the time was working for MTV and he got me two VIP backstage passes for the MTV Music Awards. I took my brother and when we got back stage there was no where for us to go because each floor had a dressing room at the end of a hall and there were literally no goupies or anyone else but band members. We went to the top floor and it was The Rolling Stones, we went to the floor below and it was Smashing Pumpkins and Stone Temple Pilots. We went to the next floor and at the end of the hallway was the sound of a three piece drum set and bass line. Hanging from the door was a crooked sign that read BEASTIE BOYS. So my brother and I went reluctantly down the hall and opened the door. At the drum and bass was The Beastie Boys and a New York Rapper named Shakay had the mic. My brother was working for Omago Records at the time and was working on her logo so she knew my brother. As soon as we walked in She said, "Bob!" and we were in. In the dressing room was The Beastie Boys, Nirvana (minus Cobain, he had just died) and Green Day (minus Billie, don't know where he was). Green Day and Dave Grohl lit up a joint so I stepped in and took a drag and got stoned at of my mind. I clammed up and sat on the couch. In the corner just standing there was Krist. He seemed bewildered and sad. He kept filling up the ice chest with beers for everyone. Later on Neil Young and Liv Tyler came in along with some other folks. There was literally no make up people, no groupies, no agents, just famous rock stars. It was such a trippy night...I'll never forget it.

I love how grunge society stick together for such a long time after those all tragedies.

Four very smart musicians talking music. What more could you ask for?

Despite different focuses, be it notes for musicians, code for programmers, or numbers for mathematicians, the true essence of greatness is passion. Everybody likes passion.

Great interview Rick. Heres a little story. i met Krist and Chris C at club DV8 in seattle, I was playing keyboards with Jerry Cantrell on his Boggy Depot tour in 1998 and it was the last show of the tour. I ended staying in seattle for a few more days and I was staying with a friend of the bands, and I ended up getting a call the following day and it was Chris C and wanted to know if I wanted to jam, so he came over and we played for like 3 hours, and I was mesmerized by the distinct character of his voice, it was so nuanced and he had such control of his range. I was surprised, that his voice wasn't as loud as I thought it would be, but rather he had such control. BTW, i can swear some of the riffs we jammed on were things I would hear in Audio Slave, Im pretty sure cause he recorded our jam. anyways, it was an honor to jam with such a talent and legend.

Could've cried... with Krist talking about Kurdt!!! Hearing Kim..... He's sooooo esoteric, I'm looking up more interviews after this'n!🤘🎸🤘🎸🤘🍻🍻

That pat on the back. I almost cried as an old man.

Man, that intro to Black Hole sun is insane. I was only a kid, about 5 or 6, when it came out, but I remember playing in my backyard and swimming in our above ground pool. As soon as I hear it, 30 years later, I think of water in my ear, water beading off my face, and the hot sun. Shoutout to my dad for playing this kind of music and deepening these memories for me.

Dave's entering beat just starts this surge of adrenaline and goosebumps for me, that feeling in a song intro where it's like "yeah, it's happening". Does it every time, like Ben's moody and understated bass line coursing just beneath the waves on Black Hole.

Can you imagine a song like Black Hole Sun being a hit today? I miss the days when you actually had a really beautiful, amazing song that was the one that was going to be a hit.

At first glance I thought that was an interview with Dr Phil 😂😂 but seriously love this dude, I feel he was the most genuine dude and truly loved&cared for Kurt

Kurt Cobain was a vessel that could never be filled. Winning it all was never good enough. A perfect train wreck as a child, driven by toxic fuel. Talent beyond the clouds. So sad. He still needs to be here.

Black hole sun blows my mind every time that first verse comes in

I was first drawn to Nirvana because of krist. I thought he was so beautiful then i got to know the music and Curt. They became the band i would listen too, always.

Kurt Cobain, Layne Stanley, Shannon Hoon, Bradley Nowell, Jerry Garcia. Sucks they're gone. Such beautiful souls.

These guys are legends 👀🎸⚡️

It blows my mind seeing KRIST now. He looks perfectly fine for his age...I just haven't seen him in decades.

When the bass player of my favorite band as a child now looks like Dr. Phil… now I know I’m old

Kind of a beautiful honesty in Kim describing just kind of feeling their way through the songs.

This guy's had to talk about him for 30 years and he's always been a good sport

“Black Hole Sun” always reminds me of Black Sabbath’s “Snowblind”. ❤️😎💕

Glad to hear Rick talk about the complexity of some Nirvana songs. Everyone always says they are super simple songs. Partly I think because they are mostly technically not very difficult to play but some of them are really musically interesting.

I am glad I got a natural sort of look on how Krist thought about Kurt. You want to know, but it’s too personal, to deep of a cut to just ask about. If you are good, because you respect him. If bad, simply because it’s likely to go poorly to just bring up. So the ideal circumstance is to have a relationship with someone, and perhaps hear about it if he wishes. That isn’t realistic to experience. Which is why I’m gladly he felt he could share his view in a personable a genuine way like this. I think it means you are doing a good job with these videos. Drawing out organic and meaningful conversations. Which is a very good skill to have. Good job.

I love Krist, still a devoted friend to Nirvana

Kim's solo on Mailman is one of the most beautiful guitar pieces, so strange, etheral, dark

For a 6'7" lanky dude Krist's bass playing, timing and ability to hold it all down is awesome. RIP Kurt and Chris 😔

Beautiful enlightenment about Cornell and the one string slide and ironically best sound garden answers while worshipping nirvana simultaneously!

Krist did answer your question. He said he couldn't speak for Kurt. And everyone knows Kurt preferred any other song (Kurt did list some off), and he didn't find that, "Smell like Teen Spirit", was worth the hype. Territorial pissing...Gotta love Krist!

What i've always loved about Kurt and Nirvana was the simplicity in the song writing. Very basic, simple chords and melody......backed by deep, haunting, abstract lyrics.

This was one member I wanted to hear from for the longest time

You guys this is beautiful, love the old days. I miss it now

One thing about this is kim comes across as an old grouch now. Krist seems pretty light hearted though. I could sit there for days and just listen to krist tell stories about nirvana. That would be awesome

2:00 Krist and Dave first heard this song waiting for Kurt in the recording studio for their last session

Krist just seems like such an all round good guy and a good friend to know.

Maybe I am wrong but I think the average music listener thinks of people in bands like the guys from Spinal Tap. Every time I see one of these interviews it reminds me of just how intelligent, insightful, artistic and creative they are. I have to wonder if we would have all the brilliance from Chris out there on tape if it wasn't for the death of Andy Wood and it's influence on him and his music. Same probably goes for Pearl Jam. It is a shame that some of the best music comes from people in their darkest times. This music is from the formative years of my life and a lot of these songs make me emotional without a specific reason. Music is such a powerful force. RIP guys, you may not have known it while you were alive, but you really did/do impact people in a profound way. Rest easy.

Imagine Krist going out in public wearing a Nirvana shirt and some teenagers heckle him and ask him "what do you know about Nirvana?" And he just walks away smiling.

This video title does NOT do justice to the content. More about soundgarden than Kurt but this is Kim and Krist sharing memories of the genius quirkiness of their lost friends. Really touching

2:02 Great moment. Touching.

I love how they’re all giving us different perspectives about their songs now that they’re older and wiser.

Krist looks more like a retired cop than a retired grunge musician. The sadness though, knowing that both singers from the greatest grunge bands of all time, not just the 90's... RIP Kurt & Chris 🕯🕯🤘😔

Black Hole Sun was my life when I was 13. Psychedelic but also contemporary. I love love love Chris Cornell ❤ RIP🙏

Make me so nostalgic when I hear black hole sun.. Was 24 😕 the 90s and hearly 2000s were the best time of my life

Wow, I was just looking at an Alternative Guitar magazine with Chris and Kim on the front . 1995. Seems like a lifetime ago.

Chris and Kurt. Legends that we will never forget. 😔

Damn... you can see and hear the hurt in Krist's voice when he said "It should've never happened". He really misses his friend.

Much prefer to hear krist speak thuan Dave grohl. Krist & Kurt we’re not only Nirvana. But brothers in the truest sense. You could always feel the love between those two.