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May 10, 1965

Krist Novoselic is born.

February 20, 1967

Kurt Cobain is born.

January 14, 1969

Dave Grohl is born.

Fall 1985

Kurt meets Krist. They play in several bands together, including Stiff Woodies.

December 1986

Kurt, Krist and drummer Aaron Burckhard form the original lineup of Nirvana in Aberdeen, Washington.

Spring 1987

Nirvana plays their first gig at a house party in Raymond WA.

January 23, 1988

Nirvana records a 10-song demo with the "Godfather of Grunge," legendary Seattle producer Jack Endino. Sub Pop co-honcho Jonathan Poneman hears the tape and offers to put out a Nirvana single. The band accepts.

Spring 1988

Aaron Burckhard leaves the band. His replacement Dave Foster lasts a matter of months and is eventually replaced by Chad Channing.

October 30, 1988

Kurt smashes his first guitar.

November 1988

The "Love Buzz/Big Cheese" single is released on Sub Pop.

January 1989

Jason Everman joins Nirvana as second guitarist.

January 1989

Nirvana records their debut album Bleach for Sub Pop with Jack Endino. The recording budget comes to $606.17

March 1989

Melody Maker runs a series of pieces on the Seattle music scene. The grunge explosion is underway.

June 1989

Bleach is released on Sub Pop. Nirvana embarks on a month-long U.S. tour.
October 1989

Nirvana begins a 6-week European Tour supporting TAD.

December 1989

The Blew EP is released on Tupelo Records.

April/May 1990

Nirvana tours the US. At tour's end Chad Channing leaves the band.

September 22, 1990

Nirvana plays Motor Sports International Garage with Mudhoney's Dan Peters on drums. Peters leaves the band.

September 25, 1990

Dave Grohl, former drummer for Washington, D.C band Scream, joins Nirvana.

October 1990

Nirvana briefly tours England with L7.

Winter 1991

Nirvana signs with DGC Records.

May/June 1991

Nirvana records Nevermind with producer Butch Vig.

June 1991

Nirvana tours briefly with Dinosaur Jr.

August 1991

Nirvana opens for Sonic Youth on a European festival tour, which includes a landmark performance at the Reading Festival. The tour is documented in the film 1991: The Year Punk Broke.

September 24, 1991

Nevermind is released.

October 12, 1991

Nevermind is certified a gold album.

November 1991

The band starts a six-week European tour as Nirvanamania sweeps the United States. MTV airs "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video constantly; the song is hailed as an anthem for a generation.

December 1991

Nirvana plays three US dates with Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam.

January 11, 1992

Nevermind hits No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

January/February 1992

Nirvana tours Australia, Japan and Hawaii.

April 1992

Nirvana appears on the cover of Rolling Stone.

June/July 1992

Nirvana tours Europe.

December 15, 1992

Incesticide, a collection of B-sides and rarities, is released. It goes gold the following spring.

February 1993

Nirvana begins recording In Utero with Steve Albini.

April 9, 1993

Nirvana plays a concert at San Francisco's Cow Palace to raise awareness of and generate aid for rape survivors in Bosnia-Herzegovina. L7, the Breeders and Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy are also on the bill.

July 23, 1993

Nirvana plays a surprise show at Roseland in New York City during the New Music Seminar. The band showcases songs from their upcoming album.

September 21, 1993

In Utero is released.

September 25, 1993

Nirvana appears on Saturday Night Live. Former Germs guitarist PatSmear joins the bands as second guitarist.

October 18, 1993

Nirvana starts a three-month tour of North America.

November 19, 1993

Nirvana tapes an all-acoustic show for "MTV Unplugged" at Sony Studios in New York. Cris and Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets sit in on three Meat Puppets songs.

December 16, 1993

MTV airs Nirvana's "Unplugged" show.

January 7, 1994

Nirvana plays the Seattle Arena. It will be the band's last U.S. show.

February 6, 1994

Nirvana embarks on a tour of Europe.

April 8, 1994

Kurt Cobain is found dead of a self-inflicted shotgun wound.

November 1, 1994

Nirvana's "MTV Unplugged" performance is released as MTV Unplugged in New York. Two tracks not aired on the MTV broadcast appear on the album.

October 1, 1996

The Nirvana live album, From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah, is released, featuring performances from 1989 to 1994.