Bruce Pavitt was born in 1959 in Chicago. At the age of nine, he
sold Christmas cards door-to-door in the summer heat, earning
enough money to buy his first record playerand soon after, his
first record, Revolution, by the Beatles.
In 1979 he enrolled at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA.
He spent time as a DJ at KAOS-FM, and in 1980 started his own zine,
"Subterranean Pop," aka "Sub Pop," which reviewed hard-to-find
independent rock recordings. Bruce moved to Seattle in 1983 and
started writing the Sub Pop music column for The Rocket. He hosted
a Sub Pop radio show on KCMU, and in 1984 co-founded Fallout
Records, the first indie record store in Seattle s Capitol Hill
district. His complete zines and Rocket columns, an unrivalled
document of American independent music during the 1980s, are
collected in the book "Sub Pop U.S.A.: The Subterranean Pop Music
Anthology, 19801988" (Bazillion Points).
In 1986 Bruce launched the Sub Pop record label with the release of
the Sub Pop 100 compilation, featuring bands including New York s
Sonic Youth and Seattle s U-Men. With business partner Jonathan
Poneman, Bruce opened the doors in 1988 to the Sub Pop offices at
First and Virginia in downtown Seattle. By the early 1990s Sub Pop
had released recordings by Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Mark
Lanegan, Beat Happening, Tad, the Walkabouts, and Steven Jesse
Bernstein, and had helped initiate a global interest in Seattle
area music.
After 17 years living on Orcas Island, Bruce Pavitt is back in
Seattle, living with his family. He remains active in music by
speaking at conferences and festivals, consulting with artists and
music labels, and working as a DJ. A true music fan, Bruce
continues to study music history in every genre.
"
The book is amazing, and so perfectly representative of that time.
I swear, looking through those pictures brought me right back to
being in a cold, damp van with a bunch of smelly musicians, having
the time of our lives! Dave Grohl
"For over thirty years Bruce Pavitt has been at the vanguard of
popular culture advancing social and artistic trends, ideas, and
movements within the community of the innovative and alternative.
"Experiencing Nirvana" is part rock 'n roll travelogue and part
voyeuristic pop culture rubberneckingan unromantic yet nostalgic
glimpse into a rock social movement just prior to its
explosion."Kim Thayil, Soundgarden
"Few people can lay claim to starting a rock 'n' roll revolution,
but Sub Pop Records founder Bruce Pavitt can do just that.""Paper"
Mag
"One of those perfect records of music history that galvanizes the
pedestrian as easily as the aural devotee."Dangerous Minds
"The book reveals a side of these bands that most fans have not
seen: unknown, homesick, silly, and brimming with the unpolluted
exhilaration of impending success. The result is a raw portrait
that is free of the rock star mythologizing that kicked into gear
as soon as Nirvana signed to Geffen Records.""Forbes"
"Arguably the best and most revealing new book on NirvanaThe book
is refreshing because it doesn t care about Teen Spirit or
Nevermind; barely mentions Courtney Love, heroin, or suicide...
Here, in this snapshot of pre-celebrity life, Pavitt finds a sliver
of humanity."Pitchfork
"For some strange and inexplicable reason, none of these photos
from the tour have been published in print until now.... Put on
your smiley-faced shirt with X'd out eyes, crank up "Bleach," and
enjoy.""Vice"
""Experiencing Nirvana" is an interesting and breezing read and a
must-have for any grunge or Nirvana fan. It gives a unique
perspective on the time period told through the words and
photography of the people who were there.Popmatters
"Exquisite""Q"
"Excellent""The Stranger"
"Vibrant""Seattle Times"
"Fascinating""San Antonio Current"
"Amazing"Danko Jones
"Sub Pop co-founder Bruce Pavitt chronicles the long ride across
Europe, documenting every victory and speed bump along the road to
a vital but unsung event that would change the face of rock 'n'
roll.""Creative Loafing"
"The realities of life on the road - stolen passports, the blur of
faces, the hanging out and around - are all present, but so too are
the in-your-face excitement of a great gig and the
anything-can-happen optimism of youth. You'll think of your own
throughout and wish you were there.""RTE" (4.5/5 review)
"It s nice to glimpse Nirvanaunsure it was doing the right thing
and unimpressed by the Coliseumbefore the madness of Rocky-like
success enveloped the band.""Paste"
"After signing Nirvana to Sub Pop, Pavitt took the band on its
first European tour in 1989, with opening gigs for label mates
Mudhoney and Tad. With his Olympus pocket camera, Pavitt took
countless shots on that eight-day Europe trip. Photos from venue
stages and inside dressing rooms shed some light on a 22-year-old
Cobain."CBS News
"Pavitt s photos, taken on the fly with a pocket-sized Olympus,
reveal a would-be superstar still in development. Experiencing
Nirvana finds Cobain free of the burden of fame that would plague
him only a few years later.""Entertainment Weekly"
"The previously unpublished photographs show a young Kurt Cobain,
wild-eyed and volatile in some photos, shyly happy in others. The
candid shots follow the group as they made their way from Rome to
London.""Rolling Stone"
"It is one man s document of the not so calm before the storm, a
unique pictorial essay capturing a fledgling band developing into
one of the most vital bands of our time It doesn t get much more
intimate and authentic."Louder than War
"Required reading""Sweden Rock"
"Holy Sh*t... an inside look into a crucial eight day period in the
touring life of Nirvana.""Guitar World "
"Experiencing Nirvana also provides another important aspect of
that band s early life: Nirvana as an independent act on an
independent label. Pavitt s words and photos effectively present
this other side of Nirvana, to fans only familiar with the
post-"Nevermind" version of the band."Stephen Tow, The
Weeklings"
"The book is amazing, and so perfectly representative of that time.
I swear, looking through those pictures brought me right back to
being in a cold, damp van with a bunch of smelly musicians, having
the time of our lives!"--Dave Grohl
"For over thirty years Bruce Pavitt has been at the vanguard of
popular culture advancing social and artistic trends, ideas, and
movements within the community of the innovative and alternative.
"Experiencing Nirvana" is part rock 'n roll travelogue and part
voyeuristic pop culture rubbernecking--an unromantic yet nostalgic
glimpse into a rock social movement just prior to its
explosion."--Kim Thayil, Soundgarden
"Few people can lay claim to starting a rock 'n' roll revolution,
but Sub Pop Records founder Bruce Pavitt can do just
that."--"Paper" Mag
"One of those perfect records of music history that galvanizes the
pedestrian as easily as the aural devotee."--Dangerous Minds
"The book reveals a side of these bands that most fans have not
seen: unknown, homesick, silly, and brimming with the unpolluted
exhilaration of impending success. The result is a raw portrait
that is free of the rock star mythologizing that kicked into gear
as soon as Nirvana signed to Geffen Records."--"Forbes"
"Arguably the best and most revealing new book on Nirvana...The
book is refreshing because it doesn't care about "Teen Spirit" or
Nevermind; barely mentions Courtney Love, heroin, or suicide...
Here, in this snapshot of pre-celebrity life, Pavitt finds a sliver
of humanity."--Pitchfork
"For some strange and inexplicable reason, none of these photos
from the tour have been published in print until now.... Put on
your smiley-faced shirt with X'd out eyes, crank up "Bleach," and
enjoy."--"Vice"
""Experiencing Nirvana" is an interesting and breezing read and a
must-have for any grunge or Nirvana fan. It gives a unique
perspective on the time period told through the words and
photography of the people who were t
"The book is amazing, and so perfectly representative of that time.
I swear, looking through those pictures brought me right back to
being in a cold, damp van with a bunch of smelly musicians, having
the time of our lives!"--Dave Grohl
"Few people can lay claim to starting a rock 'n' roll revolution,
but Sub Pop Records founder Bruce Pavitt can do just
that."--"Paper" Mag
"For some strange and inexplicable reason, none of these photos
from the tour have been published in print until now.... Put on
your smiley-faced shirt with X'd out eyes, crank up "Bleach," and
enjoy."--"Vice Magazine"
""Experiencing Nirvana" is an interesting and breezing read and a
must-have for any grunge or Nirvana fan. It gives a unique
perspective on the time period told through the words and
photography of the people who were there.--Popmatters
"Exquisite"--"Q"
"Excellent"--"The Stranger"
"Vibrant"--"Seattle Times"
"Fascinating"--"San Antonio Current"
"The book reveals a side of these bands that most fans have not
seen: unknown, homesick, silly, and brimming with the unpolluted
exhilaration of impending success. The result is a raw portrait
that is free of the rock star mythologizing that kicked into gear
as soon as Nirvana signed to Geffen Records."--"Forbes"
"Required reading"--"Sweden Rock Magazine"
"Sub Pop co-founder Bruce Pavitt chronicles the long ride across
Europe, documenting every victory and speed bump along the road to
a vital but unsung event that would change the face of rock 'n'
roll."--"Creative Loafing"
"After signing Nirvana to Sub Pop, Pavitt took the band on its
first European tour in 1989, with opening gigs for label mates
Mudhoney and Tad. With his Olympus pocket camera, Pavitt took
countless shots on that eight-day Europe trip. Photos from venue
stages and inside dressing rooms shed some light on a 22-year-old
Cobain."--CBS News
"Pavitt's photos, taken on the fly with a pocket-sized Olympus,
re
"Few people can lay claim to starting a rock 'n' roll revolution,
but Sub Pop Records founder Bruce Pavitt can do just
that."--"Paper" Mag
"For some strange and inexplicable reason, none of these photos
from the tour have been published in print until now.... Put on
your smiley-faced shirt with X'd out eyes, crank up "Bleach," and
enjoy."--"Vice Magazine"
""Experiencing Nirvana" is an interesting and breezing read and a
must-have for any grunge or Nirvana fan. It gives a unique
perspective on the time period told through the words and
photography of the people who were there.--Popmatters
"Exquisite"--"Q"
"Excellent"--"The Stranger"
"Vibrant"--"Seattle Times"
"The book reveals a side of these bands that most fans have not
seen: unknown, homesick, silly, and brimming with the unpolluted
exhilaration of impending success. The result is a raw portrait
that is free of the rock star mythologizing that kicked into gear
as soon as Nirvana signed to Geffen Records."--"Forbes"
"Sub Pop co-founder Bruce Pavitt chronicles the long ride across
Europe, documenting every victory and speed bump along the road to
a vital but unsung event that would change the face of rock 'n'
roll."--"Creative Loafing"
"After signing Nirvana to Sub Pop, Pavitt took the band on its
first European tour in 1989, with opening gigs for label mates
Mudhoney and Tad. With his Olympus pocket camera, Pavitt took
countless shots on that eight-day Europe trip. Photos from venue
stages and inside dressing rooms shed some light on a 22-year-old
Cobain."--CBS News
"Pavitt's photos, taken on the fly with a pocket-sized Olympus,
reveal a would-be superstar still in development. Experiencing
Nirvana finds Cobain free of the burden of fame that would plague
him only a few years later."--"Entertainment Weekly"
"The previously unpublished photographs show a young Kurt Cobain,
wild-eyed and volatile in some photos, shyly happy in others. The
candid shots fol
"Few people can lay claim to starting a rock 'n' roll revolution,
but Sub Pop Records founder Bruce Pavitt can do just
that."--"Paper" Mag
"For some strange and inexplicable reason, none of these photos
from the tour have been published in print until now.... Put on
your smiley-faced shirt with X'd out eyes, crank up "Bleach", and
enjoy."--"Vice Magazine"
"After signing Nirvana to Sub Pop, Pavitt took the band on its
first European tour in 1989, with opening gigs for label mates
Mudhoney and Tad. With his Olympus pocket camera, Pavitt took
countless shots on that eight-day Europe trip. Photos from venue
stages and inside dressing rooms shed some light on a 22-year-old
Cobain."--CBS News
"Pavitt's photos, taken on the fly with a pocket-sized Olympus,
reveal a would-be superstar still in development. Experiencing
Nirvana finds Cobain free of the burden of fame that would plague
him only a few years later."--"Entertainment Weekly"
"The previously unpublished photographs show a young Kurt Cobain,
wild-eyed and volatile in some photos, shyly happy in others. The
candid shots follow the group as they made their way from Rome to
London."--Rolling Stone
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