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Entertain Us book cover
Entertain Us
The Rise of Nirvana
2012
First Published
4.20
Average Rating
382
Number of Pages

Nirvana are one of the most influential bands in rock history, and even now, nearly 20 years after Kurt Cobain’s death, the reverence in which they are held is undiminished. Books have been written about Nirvana before, but they tend to concentrate on the band’s superstar period and Kurt Cobain’s demise, while skating over the early years. In Entertain Us, Gillian Gaar redresses the balance by examining in forensic detail the band’s rise to fame, and their first album, Bleach . Seattle native Gaar was one of the first journalists to write about Nirvana, and she covered the band’s career closely, offering her a unique perspective to write this book. Drawing on extensive interviews with the key characters in the story—including bassist Krist Novoselic, drummer Chad Channing, and producers Jack Endino and Butch Vig—the book charts the band’s formation and early years as well as their role at the center of the grunge gold rush. By critiquing every song the band recorded in this period, tracing influences and unpicking complex relationships between band members, associates, and record labels, Gaar gets to the heart of a compelling story.

Avg Rating
4.20
Number of Ratings
50
5 STARS
42%
4 STARS
36%
3 STARS
22%
2 STARS
0%
1 STARS
0%
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Author

Gillian Gaar
Gillian Gaar
Author · 12 books
I write regularly about music, entertainment, and travel. I enjoy taking pictures for my articles and books as well. My very first book was "She's A Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll," first published in 1992, and updated in 2002; Yoko Ono wrote the book's preface, and it still gives me a thrill to see her name on the cover. Other areas of expertise include Nirvana, the Beatles, and Elvis, all of whom I've written books about. I've also written for a variety of publications around the world, including Mojo, Rolling Stone, Goldmine (where I had regular Beatles and Elvis columns), and many others. I was also a senior editor at legendary Seattle music publication "The Rocket."
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