If you ask a casual fan who was in the band Nirvana, they’ll probably rattle off three names: Kurt, Dave, and Krist. It makes sense. That’s the face of the Nevermind era, the three guys on the t-shirts at Target, and the lineup that defined the 90s. But it wasn't always that way. Not even close. Before the world knew what "Smells Like Teen Spirit" sounded like, Nirvana was basically a revolving door of drummers and temporary guitarists held together by a thin thread of Kurt Cobain’s ambition and Krist Novoselic’s loyalty.
It’s kind of wild to think about now.
Most people don't realize that by the time Dave Grohl showed up in 1990, the band had already cycled through a handful of different drummers. They were a mess. They were loud. They were mostly just trying to find someone who could hit the kits hard enough without flaking out or moving back to their parents' house. To understand the real DNA of Nirvana, you have to look past the "Big Three" and see the chaotic, sometimes awkward, evolution of a band that almost didn't make it out of Aberdeen.
The Core Duo: Cobain and Novoselic
The only real constant was the friendship between Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic. They were the outcasts in a logging town. Kurt was the sensitive, often moody artist, and Krist was the towering, 6'7" goofball with a penchant for classic rock and punk. They met through the Melvins—specifically Buzz Osborne—and bonded over a shared hatred for their surroundings.
Krist was the anchor. Honestly, without him, Nirvana probably would have dissolved in 1987. He provided the van, the steady (ish) hand, and the heavy, melodic basslines that allowed Kurt to scream his head off. They played under names like Skid Row, Ted Ed Fred, and Fecal Matter before finally settling on Nirvana because Kurt wanted something beautiful and pretty instead of a "mean, raunchy punk name."
The Drummer Dilemma: Before Dave Grohl
Finding a drummer was the band's biggest headache for years. It’s the classic "Spinal Tap" trope, but real.
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The first guy to really stick for a minute was Aaron Burckhard. He was there for the very first show in 1987 at a house party in Raymond, Washington. He was a decent drummer, but he didn't exactly share the same work ethic. Legend has it he missed a rehearsal because he was too busy at a local fair, or he got his car impounded—the stories vary depending on who you ask in the Aberdeen scene. Either way, Kurt grew frustrated.
Then came Dale Crover from the Melvins. He was a ringer. Dale played on the legendary 10-song demo at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle in 1988, which eventually became a huge chunk of their first album, Bleach. He was arguably the most influential drummer they ever had because he taught Kurt how a truly heavy drummer should sound. But Dale was already in a world-class band; he wasn't going to quit the Melvins for a couple of kids from Aberdeen.
After Dale, they had Dave Foster. He lasted about five hours. Okay, more like a few months and a handful of shows. He had a habit of getting into legal trouble, and after one particularly bad scrape with the law, Kurt and Krist just... stopped calling him. They didn't even officially fire him. They just put an ad in a local paper looking for a new drummer, which is a pretty cold way to find out you're out of a job.
The Chad Channing Years
If you're looking for the "forgotten" member who actually contributed a lot, it's Chad Channing. He was the drummer for the Bleach era and the Love Buzz single. Chad was a different kind of player—lighter, more jazzy, and he used a lot of cymbals. He stayed for about two years.
Why did he leave? It’s the usual "creative differences."
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Chad wanted to contribute more to the songwriting, and Kurt, well, Kurt wasn't exactly known for sharing the creative reins. By the time they toured Europe in 1989, the tension was thick. Kurt was getting more into a heavy, "Big Black" meets "The Pixies" sound, and Chad’s style wasn't quite fitting the mold. They parted ways amicably enough, but it left Nirvana in a lurch right as they were starting to get real buzz.
Enter the Powerhouse: Dave Grohl
In 1990, the band was briefly joined by Dan Peters from Mudhoney. He played on the "Sliver" single, which is a fantastic track, but everyone knew Dan was staying with Mudhoney.
Then Buzz Osborne told Dave Grohl—whose band, Scream, had just broken up—that Nirvana was looking for a drummer. Dave flew to Seattle, auditioned, and within two minutes of hearing him play, Kurt and Krist knew the search was over. Dave didn't just play the drums; he attacked them. He provided the vocal harmonies that Kurt desperately needed to make the songs "pop."
This was the definitive lineup. This was the trio that recorded Nevermind and In Utero.
The Fourth Member: Pat Smear and Others
By 1993, Kurt felt the band needed a fuller sound for the live shows. He didn't want to just be a "power trio" anymore. He reached out to Pat Smear, a founding member of the legendary LA punk band The Germs.
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Pat was the perfect addition. He brought a sense of joy and lightheartedness to a band that was increasingly stressed by fame and Kurt’s health issues. While he wasn't on the studio albums (aside from live recordings like MTV Unplugged in New York), he was an official touring member and was intended to be part of the band's future.
There were others who hovered in the orbit, too:
- Jason Everman: He’s famously pictured on the cover of Bleach and even paid the $606.17 recording fee for the album. He played second guitar for a brief tour but was eventually fired for being too "moody" (which is ironic given the band we're talking about). He later went on to join Soundgarden and then became a decorated Special Forces soldier.
- Lori Goldston: The cellist who gave the Unplugged performance its haunting, melancholic depth.
- Melora Creager: Another cellist who filled in during the final European tour in 1994.
Why the lineup matters for your playlist
Understanding who was in the band Nirvana changes how you hear the music. When you listen to Bleach, you’re hearing the scrappy, basement-dwelling version of the band with Chad Channing. It's raw and a bit more punk-rock-standard.
When you flip over to Nevermind, that’s the Grohl effect. The songs are the same quality, but the execution is on another planet. Dave’s kick drum on "In Bloom" is like a physical punch.
Common Misconceptions
- Was Courtney Love in Nirvana? No. Despite some weird conspiracy theories and her presence at many shows, she was never a member. She had her own band, Hole, which was wildly successful in its own right.
- Did Dave Grohl write the songs? Not really. Kurt was the primary songwriter and "director." Dave and Krist certainly arranged their parts, and Dave eventually contributed the riff for "Scentless Apprentice," but Nirvana was very much Kurt's vision.
- Was the band always a trio? Mostly, but as we saw with Pat Smear and Jason Everman, they frequently experimented with being a quartet to fill out the sound.
What to do with this information
If you're a fan—or a new listener—don't just stick to the "Greatest Hits." To really appreciate the evolution of the people involved, you should do a chronological deep dive.
- Listen to the "With the Lights Out" box set. It contains the early demos with Aaron Burckhard and Dale Crover. It’s noisy, it’s distorted, and it’s beautiful.
- Compare "Polly" versions. There is a version with Chad Channing and the famous one with Dave Grohl. Notice the difference in the "room feel."
- Watch the "Live at Reading 1992" footage. This is the peak of the trio. No backup dancers, no extra guitarists, just three guys at the height of their powers.
- Study the "Unplugged" performance. Pay attention to how Pat Smear’s rhythm guitar allows Kurt to focus on those delicate, iconic leads.
Nirvana wasn't just a band; it was a specific chemistry that took years to get right. It started with two friends in a rainy town and ended as a global phenomenon that changed music forever. Knowing the names of the people who sat behind the drum kit or stood stage-left isn't just trivia—it's the story of how a specific sound was built, piece by piece, until it was loud enough to wake up the world.