Proud Camden presents Experiencing Nirvana; marking the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's untimely death. This exhibition, by photographers Charles Peterson and Steve Double, reveals a rare and intriguing insight into one of the most influential and important rock bands of the modern era.

Both Peterson and Double began photographing Nirvana at around the same time, in 1989 when the band had just signed to the Sub Pop label and released their first single ‘Bleach’. They are considered the foremost grunge photographers capturing the birth of the scene and the spirit of Nirvana. Peterson said that the grunge aesthetic was "...a supercharged lifestyle of expression, a familial community made up of ‘stray dogs from every village’ who all had the same aching need for something to do, preferably loud and diverting". After Kurt Cobain's tragic death in 1994, many people felt that the grunge scene had died. These photographs captured the essence of this generation and features iconic genre-defining live images of Nirvana playing onstage alongside never before seen images of the notoriously private band off-stage.

Coinciding with the UK launch of Bruce Pavitt's book of the same name, Proud Galleries is honoured to present Experiencing Nirvana; commemorating the life of Kurt Cobain, the reluctantly anointed "spokesman" for Generation X and Nirvana, who shaped the landscape of popular music while embodying the original, gritty spirit of rock and roll.

Proud Camden Gallery
The Horse Hospital, Chalk Farm Road
London NW1 8AH United Kingdom
Ph. +44 (0) 20 74823867
info@proudgalleries.co.uk
www.proud.co.uk

Opening hours
Monday - Sunday
From 11am to 5pm

Related images

  1. Nirvana Beehive, © Charles Peterson
  2. Bainbridge Island, © Charles Peterson
  3. Nirvana Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, © Charles Peterson
  4. Nevermind release, Beehive Records, © Charles Peterson
  5. Kurt and Francis at home with In Utero, © Steve Double
  6. Backstage paramount Theater, © Charles Peterson