It has been 20 years since the explosion of Nirvana and their album “Nevermind.” This time, we talk with one of its protagonists, bassist Krist Novoselic. Krist tells us about his work with Gibson on a new exclusive bass model bearing his name, the Krist Novoselic RD Signature Bass.
It’s hard to believe 20 years have passed since the release of Nevermind…
Yes, it really has been 20 years! Honestly, from the moment we recorded the album until the tragedy (the death of Kurt Cobain), it felt like a whole decade had gone by, but it was actually two and a half years. It was an intense time, and everything that happened felt like it had taken much longer. Things never went back to normal, if you can even talk about anything being normal. Obviously, after 20 years I see things from a very different perspective than I did two years after everything happened.
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hat do you think about this record being considered a classic?
I really don’t know what the elements of a classic album are. What I do know is that Nirvana came from a world where we mixed very loud sounds with great melody. It’s a diverse album, a product where we never had a central idea or a specific goal. Every song has its own personality, so I think there are a lot of options across the whole record. Kurt Cobain was a unique artist, and he knew how to write a song.
What was it like working with Dave Grohl and Pat Smear on the new Foo Fighters album?
The other night we played with Dave and Pat in New York. It’s natural being with them; everything just flows… The Foo Fighters are filling stadiums all over the world. They’re the typical band for those venues. Dave has built his own style, his own sound, and people respond wonderfully to his songs. I don’t know, that’s how I feel.
What are the pros and cons of finding success so young?
The downside is definitely the lack of experience you need to stay afloat in new and different situations in your life. Personally, I was missing other skills at that time. But I got through it, and now I enjoy the success.
What was the vision, the strategy, behind the organic sound Nirvana developed?
I think it had more to do with Kurt Cobain’s vision. We all liked really heavy rock but, at the same time, we were very open-minded about listening to all kinds of music. Kurt knew how to find the sweet spot in every song. He was perfect for making music, and he put his whole personality into it when he wrote songs. So the band was at the “service” of each song… we simply let every song have its own life. But, of course, we never left behind the basics of being a simple rock trio: a big drum sound, noisy guitars, and vocals with a special stamp.
Let’s talk about bass players. Who are your top three?
I’d have to say Paul McCartney. Those bass lines are totally strong and full of personality; they’re simply hooks. Another is Mike Mills of R.E.M., a genius at writing lines. I love how he complements the riffs, and he’s a great complement to the band’s songs. John Entwistle (The Who), an effective and magnificent bassist.
How did the idea of working with Gibson on a signature bass come about?
I’ve played the seventies Gibson Rippers and the RDs from that era. I like two things: the solid construction and the scale… and also that it’s a big bass. I’m very tall (2 meters), and long-scale basses are perfect for me, both for their sound and how they fit. They have a heavy sound and are excellent for riffs, and you also need some weight to balance things out. There’s enough room on the frets to accommodate a lot of ideas. Read our hands-on review of this bass here.
You have a songwriting credit on “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Tell us about the origin of that song…
“Teen Spirit” started with a riff idea that Kurt brought to one of the rehearsals; it was the chorus. We played it for about half an hour, then Dave stopped on the drums and suggested we do a slower version. I started with a bass line and Dave came in on drums. Kurt followed, and we began alternating between the choruses and the verse. We added a bridge, and that’s how the song was born.
Do you have any musical projects coming up?
I’m going to school part of the day. I also do volunteer work in my town. And right now I’m helping a band in Portland that needs a bass player and some help finishing a few songs. I show up to rehearsals with my Gibson bass, and I feel very comfortable once I start playing it. The tone is brighter than the seventies one. The new one has passive pickups, so no headaches. It has the same scale, and it’s a Gibson, a gem of the past and the present. I know because I know a lot about instruments, and these basses have been part of my life. I’m really excited about this new model, available to everyone.”
