Editing Nirvana (band) (section)

=== 1987–1988: Formation and early years ===
Singer and guitarist [[Kurt Cobain]] and bassist [[Krist Novoselic]] met while attending [[Aberdeen High School (Washington)|Aberdeen High School]] in Washington state.<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 209</ref> The pair became friends while frequenting the practice space of the [[Melvins]].<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 36</ref> Cobain wanted to form a band with Novoselic, but Novoselic did not respond for a long period. Cobain gave him a demo tape of his project [[Fecal Matter (band)|Fecal Matter]]. Three years after the two first met, Novoselic notified Cobain that he had finally listened to the Fecal Matter demo and suggested they start a group. Their first band, the Sellouts, was a [[Creedence Clearwater Revival]] tribute band.<ref>{{cite news |title=Everybody Loves John Fogerty |url=https://www.npr.org/2013/09/04/217281876/everyone-loves-john-fogerty |access-date=January 4, 2020 |work=NPR |date=September 4, 2013 |archive-date=April 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425145921/https://www.npr.org/2013/09/04/217281876/everyone-loves-john-fogerty |url-status=live}}</ref> The project featured Novoselic on guitar and vocals, Cobain on drums, and Steve Newman on bass but only lasted a short time.<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 54-55</ref> Another project, this time featuring originals, was also attempted in late 1986. Bob McFadden was enlisted to play drums, but after a month this project also fell through.<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 44–5</ref> In early 1987, Cobain and Novoselic recruited drummer [[Aaron Burckhard]].<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 57</ref> They practiced material from Cobain's Fecal Matter tape but started writing new material soon after forming.<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 58</ref>

During its initial months, the band went through a series of names, including Skid Row, Pen Cap Chew, Bliss, and Ted Ed Fred.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Serra |first1=Nick |title=Live Nirvana Concert Chronology – 1987 |url=https://www.livenirvana.com/concerts/87.php |website=Live Nirvana |access-date=30 May 2023 |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206094248/https://www.livenirvana.com/concerts/87.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Serra |first1=Nick |title=Live Nirvana Concert Chronology – 1988 |url=https://www.livenirvana.com/concerts/88.php |website=Live Nirvana |access-date=30 May 2023 |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206091446/https://www.livenirvana.com/concerts/88.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Serra |first1=Nick |title=June 27, 1987 |url=https://www.livenirvana.com/concerts/87/87-06-27.php |website=Live Nirvana |access-date=26 March 2021 |archive-date=April 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423125131/https://www.livenirvana.com/concerts/87/87-06-27.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>True, 2007</ref> The band played under the name Nirvana for the first time on March 19, 1988, at Community World Theater, Tacoma, Washington, together with the bands Lush and Vampire Lezbos.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Serra |first1=Nick |title=March 19, 1988 – Community World Theater, Tacoma, WA, US |url=https://www.livenirvana.com/concerts/88/88-03-19.php |website=Live Nirvana |access-date=30 May 2023 |archive-date=November 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101232852/https://www.livenirvana.com/concerts/88/88-03-19.php |url-status=live }}</ref> This concert's flyer, designed by Kurt Cobain, also mentioned all of the previous band names: "Nirvana (also known as... Skid Row, Ted Ed Fred, Pen Cap Chew, Bliss)".<ref>{{cite web |title=Nirvana March 19, 1988 concert flyer |url=https://www.livenirvana.com/concerts/images/1988/1988-03-19/1988-03-19_01.jpg |website=Live Nirvana |access-date=30 May 2023 |archive-date=November 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101233132/https://www.livenirvana.com/concerts/images/1988/1988-03-19/1988-03-19_01.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref> The group settled on Nirvana because, according to Cobain, "I wanted a name that was kind of beautiful or nice and pretty instead of a mean, raunchy punk name like the [[Angry Samoans]]."<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 61–2</ref> The band were initially sued by the British band [[Nirvana (British band)|Nirvana]] over the usage of the name, reaching an out-of-court settlement.<ref>{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Beaumont|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2011/jun/29/viva-brother-name-change|title=From Nirvana to Viva Brother: what's in a name change|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=June 29, 2011|access-date=July 12, 2024}}</ref> Novoselic moved to [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] and Cobain to [[Olympia, Washington]]. They temporarily lost contact with Burckhard, and instead practiced with [[Dale Crover]] of the Melvins. Nirvana recorded its first demos in January 1988.<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 67–8</ref>

In early 1988, Crover moved to San Francisco but recommended Dave Foster as his replacement on drums.<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 73</ref> Foster's tenure with Nirvana was a rocky one; during a stint in jail, he was replaced by Burckhard, who again departed after telling Cobain he was too hungover to practice one day.<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 76–7</ref> Foster would rejoin the band, but after Cobain and Novoselic were introduced to drummer [[Chad Channing]], the band would permanently dismiss him (although not before Foster witnessed the group play live without him).<ref>{{cite web |title=may 27, 1988 – the big pointy house, olympia, wa, us |url=https://www.livenirvana.com/concerts/88/88-05-27.php |website=Live Nirvana |access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref> Channing continued to jam with Cobain and Novoselic; however, by Channing's account, "They never actually said 'okay, you're in.{{'"}} Channing played his first show with Nirvana in late May 1988.<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 79</ref>