A legendary rock band reunited for the first time in nearly a decade to perform at FireAid.
The surviving members of Nirvana took the stage near the end of the benefit concert for L.A. wildfire relief, according to Rolling Stone. The surprise performance featured drummer Dave Grohl, bassist Krist Novoselic, and guitarist Pat Smear with guest singers St. Vincent (on “Breed”), Kim Gordon (“School”), Joan Jett (“Territorial Pissings”) and Grohl’s 18-year-old daughter, Violet Grohl (“All Apologies”).
According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Thursday night’s performance was the first time Dave Grohl returned to the stage since publicly admitting in September that he fathered a child out of wedlock. The Foo Fighters frontman didn’t address the crowd during the concert, but did share vocals with his daughter for the emotional “All Apologies.”
(L-R) Dave Grohl, Violet Grohl and Kim Gordon performs onstage during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at The Kia Forum on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for FIREAID)Getty Images for FIREAID
Nirvana split after Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994, but reunited in 2012 for the “Sound City” documentary song “Cut Me Some Slack” with Paul McCartney. Grohl, Novoselic and Smear also performed with St. Vincent, Gordon, Jett and Lorde at Nirvana’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2014. The band last played together at San Bernardino’s Cal Jam in 2018.
Grohl told Rolling Stone in 2014 that he only wanted to do Nirvana songs with female singers to avoid sounding like a “eulogy. It was more about the future.”
“The first time we played together, it was like seeing a ghost,” Grohl said at the time. “The second time, it was a little more reserved. And the last time we played it was like that f—ing Demi Moore/Patrick Swayze pottery wheel scene from Ghost. We usually got the song by the third take. It started to sound like Nirvana. Our road crew and some friends were in the room when we launched into ‘Scentless Apprentice’ for the first time. There were jaws on the floor.”
St. Vincent (2nd R) performs onstage with (L-R) Pat Smear, Dave Grohl, and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at The Kia Forum on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for FIREAID)Getty Images for FIREAID
The FireAid benefit concert took place at the Kia Forum and the Intuit Dome to raise money for Los Angeles-area wildfire relief efforts. Other performers included Green Day, Billie Eilish, Rod Stewart, Dr. Dre, Joni Mitchell, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Lady Gaga.
