When we think of Nirvana, the iconic trio of Kurt Cobain (vocals and guitar), Krist Novoselic (bass), and Dave Grohl (drums) immediately comes to mind. However, in the early days, the band briefly expanded to include a second guitarist: Jason Everman. His tenure was short-lived, and the reasons behind his departure shed light on the band’s dynamics during their formative years.
In 1989, as Nirvana prepared to tour their debut album, Bleach, they considered adding another guitarist to enhance their live performances. Jason Everman, who had financed the recording of Bleach with over six hundred dollars, seemed like a fitting choice. Kurt Cobain thought, “Well, we could use a guitarist for the tours,” and Everman fit the bill. Although drummer Chad Channing knew Everman from Bainbridge Island, Cobain and Novoselic were less acquainted with him.
As the summer 1989 tour progressed, it became evident that Everman’s personality didn’t align with the rest of the band. Robert Boyd, author of Before the Storm: The Formative Years of America’s Last Great Band, recounted that by the time they reached New York, Cobain and Novoselic contemplated abandoning Everman mid-tour. They even considered leaving him behind and continuing without him. Ultimately, they decided against such drastic action but canceled the remainder of the tour, unable to continue with Everman in the lineup.
Footage from that summer shows Everman engaging in energetic stage antics, including headbanging and even jumping off the stage to confront an audience member during a New Jersey performance. These behaviors, more characteristic of a metal performer, clashed with Nirvana’s emerging identity.
After parting ways with Nirvana, Everman briefly joined Soundgarden in 1990. Later, he took a completely different path, serving as a U.S. Army Ranger and Green Beret in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This episode highlights the challenges Nirvana faced in solidifying their lineup and sound. The departure of Jason Everman ultimately reinforced the trio’s cohesion, setting the stage for their monumental impact on rock history.
