Immensely rare and sought-after Virgin Music sheet music for the Nirvana song 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' seven pages, 9 x 12, prominently signed on the front cover in blue felt tip, "Kurt," "David," and "Krist." In very fine condition. Accompanied by an image of in-person autograph specialist John Brennan and Cobain during the time of signing, as well as full letters of authenticity from REAL and Beckett Authentication Services.
According to Kathleen Hanna of the punk band Bikini Kill, the title 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was inspired by deodorant worn by her bandmate Tobi Vail, whom Cobain was then dating. After a long night of drinking, Hanna and Cobain crashed at the latter’s hotel room in August 1990. As Cobain slept, Hanna amused herself by scrawling 'Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit' on the motel room wall, inferring that Vail had marked Cobain with her scent. Unaware of the deodorant brand, Cobain interpreted Hanna's motel graffiti as a revolutionary slogan. The composition of the song, which Cobain revealed in a 1994 Rolling Stone interview, is rooted in the Boston rock scene: 'I was trying to write the ultimate pop song. I was basically trying to rip off the Pixies. I have to admit it. When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band—or at least a Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard.' The release of Nevermind and 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' helped power the Seattle grunge trio into the rock and roll mainstream by the close of 1991.
Brennan first met Nirvana in January 1992, in the lobby of NBC when they were at the Thursday music rehearsal for a “Saturday Night Live” performance. After that, he followed them everywhere, before they were famous. “I just knew.” He met them a total of 8-12 times. “In just under two years, it was all over.” He followed them all of 1992 and 1993. Less than four months before Cobain's tragic April 5, 1994 suicide, Brennan obtained the autographs on this incredible sheet music on December 11, 1993 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. From The John Brennan In-person Autograph Collection.
