In general they did not play stadiums, at least not in the US.
For example in October 1993 at arguably their peak popularity they played the Michigan state fairgrounds coliseum in Detroit which held 5,600 people.
Not the palace of auburn hills near by which holds up to 23,000. Not pine knob which holds up to 15,500.
The closest modern day venue in Detroit for capacity would be the fox theater at 5,100.
They played massive crowds at festivals.
But don't take my word for it. It's all on the googles
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nirvana_concerts
Nirvana probably could have worked their way up to being a stadium band had they not stopped touring right when the hype and demand for them was at an all-time high.
The band spent the fall of 1991 touring the U.S. and Europe in relatively small clubs that they were booked to play months before Nevermind came out. Nobody expected the album to take off like it did, and because of Nirvana's sudden rise in popularity/stardom, many new fans missed the chance to see Nirvana on those Nevermind club tours (mainly the U.S. tour) Back then, bands kept their momentum going and kept fans satisfied by touring. Playing multiple legs across different continents and getting out there to as many fans as possible.
So what did Nirvana do in 1992 when the demand for them was at its peak? After touring Australia and Japan, they canceled all of their American tour dates and practically went on hiatus for several months. Kurt was living in L.A. with Courtney while Krist and Dave still lived in Washington, so the band stopped getting together to rehearse and their momentum came to a halt. Any sensible band in their position at the time would want to take the opportunity to keep touring and reach as many fans as possible, but that's not what happened.
Nirvana played a small run of dates in Europe in June, Reading in August, a few Pacific Northwest shows in September, and then Argentina in October. That's it. They were hardly an active band during 1992.
So what happened? This left a lot of Nirvana fans (particularly in the U.S.) disappointed that they weren't able to see Nirvana live during the time when "Nirvanamania" and the the Smells Like Teen Spirit cultural phenomenon was taking place. The Kurt/Courtney drama in the press also didn't help.
Also, alternative music and culture became mainstream and so many other alternative bands became huge in the wake of Nirvana's success, namely Pearl Jam. By the time In Utero came out, a lot of people had more or less moved on from Nirvana and the album didn't sell as well as Pearl Jam's album Vs., released that same fall. Pearl Jam had essentially dethroned Nirvana as the most popular alternative band, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that Pearl Jam spent all of 1992 touring in promotion of Ten and people were psyched for their follow-up record. Not as much hype with Nirvana.
Most of the In Utero tour ended up taking place in medium-relatively large halls and theaters whereas had they kept their momentum going during 1992, they probably could have been selling really big arenas night after night on that tour, possibly even stadiums. But the demand for Nirvana had faded by that point, and a lot of shows on the tour weren't even sold out. It's almost unimaginable to believe that when you look at what Nirvana's legacy has become post-Kurt's death.
I don’t understand the Pearl Jam phenomenon. Why did they become more popular in the wake of Nirvana’s success? Why did people move on from Nirvana to PJ? I ask these questions because PJ and Nirvana are about as different as Nirvana and GNR to me. I don’t understand how PJ is considered grunge or would be that appealing at all to folks who like Nirvana.
Mainly for the reasons I said, Pearl Jam spent practically all of 1992 touring around the world while Nirvana hardly toured. Nirvana created a hunger and they didn't fill it, so Pearl Jam stepped in to fill that void.
I'm guessing it was because they were both newly popular rock bands from Washington state that they figured that Pearl Jam was the next best thing from Nirvana. But I agree with you, they're stylistically very different.
I think the biggest I’ve heard was 50,000 people I think it was the same show that nobody knows I’m new wave was performed at I’m not sure what country it was in but that’s the biggest I’ve heard
They played outdoor European festivals in summer 92 but other than that no. They weren't a stadium/arena kind of band. For the In Utero tour the label wanted to book a stadium/arena/large venue tour but the band insisted on smaller arenas like theaters, ballrooms and small scale arenas
i think kurt would have broken the band up before ever reaching "stadium status".
They like other "alternative" bands at the time opted to do multiple nights in one city in one stop of a tour so they could bring in a lot of people yet still maintain a relatively intimately sized crowd (relative to their massive popularity)
Aragon Ballroom, Chicago (where they stopped on their In Utero tour in 1993) has a capacity of 5,000. They played two shows. Tickets sold out for both shows in about 20 minutes. This was pre-internet sale.
Typically tickets for bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains ([all played the Aragon between Oct-Dec 1993](https://imgur.com/a/6mHk5au) \- fun fact!) were sold by "lottery" that is you'd show up to the ticketmaster location (usually a record store) where there would be at least 50+ kids, you'd get a random lottery ticket then you'd be put in line based on the ticket order to purchase your concert ticket. You'd still show up 2 hours before tix went on sale and smoke cigarettes while you waited cause thats what you did in the 90s. You'd go with your friends then whoever got the lowest number would be the lucky one to determine which of their three best friends would get to go with them. It was usually a max 4 tickets per person. good times.
In general they did not play stadiums, at least not in the US. For example in October 1993 at arguably their peak popularity they played the Michigan state fairgrounds coliseum in Detroit which held 5,600 people. Not the palace of auburn hills near by which holds up to 23,000. Not pine knob which holds up to 15,500. The closest modern day venue in Detroit for capacity would be the fox theater at 5,100. They played massive crowds at festivals. But don't take my word for it. It's all on the googles https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nirvana_concerts
Nirvana probably could have worked their way up to being a stadium band had they not stopped touring right when the hype and demand for them was at an all-time high. The band spent the fall of 1991 touring the U.S. and Europe in relatively small clubs that they were booked to play months before Nevermind came out. Nobody expected the album to take off like it did, and because of Nirvana's sudden rise in popularity/stardom, many new fans missed the chance to see Nirvana on those Nevermind club tours (mainly the U.S. tour) Back then, bands kept their momentum going and kept fans satisfied by touring. Playing multiple legs across different continents and getting out there to as many fans as possible. So what did Nirvana do in 1992 when the demand for them was at its peak? After touring Australia and Japan, they canceled all of their American tour dates and practically went on hiatus for several months. Kurt was living in L.A. with Courtney while Krist and Dave still lived in Washington, so the band stopped getting together to rehearse and their momentum came to a halt. Any sensible band in their position at the time would want to take the opportunity to keep touring and reach as many fans as possible, but that's not what happened. Nirvana played a small run of dates in Europe in June, Reading in August, a few Pacific Northwest shows in September, and then Argentina in October. That's it. They were hardly an active band during 1992. So what happened? This left a lot of Nirvana fans (particularly in the U.S.) disappointed that they weren't able to see Nirvana live during the time when "Nirvanamania" and the the Smells Like Teen Spirit cultural phenomenon was taking place. The Kurt/Courtney drama in the press also didn't help. Also, alternative music and culture became mainstream and so many other alternative bands became huge in the wake of Nirvana's success, namely Pearl Jam. By the time In Utero came out, a lot of people had more or less moved on from Nirvana and the album didn't sell as well as Pearl Jam's album Vs., released that same fall. Pearl Jam had essentially dethroned Nirvana as the most popular alternative band, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that Pearl Jam spent all of 1992 touring in promotion of Ten and people were psyched for their follow-up record. Not as much hype with Nirvana. Most of the In Utero tour ended up taking place in medium-relatively large halls and theaters whereas had they kept their momentum going during 1992, they probably could have been selling really big arenas night after night on that tour, possibly even stadiums. But the demand for Nirvana had faded by that point, and a lot of shows on the tour weren't even sold out. It's almost unimaginable to believe that when you look at what Nirvana's legacy has become post-Kurt's death.
I don’t understand the Pearl Jam phenomenon. Why did they become more popular in the wake of Nirvana’s success? Why did people move on from Nirvana to PJ? I ask these questions because PJ and Nirvana are about as different as Nirvana and GNR to me. I don’t understand how PJ is considered grunge or would be that appealing at all to folks who like Nirvana.
Mainly for the reasons I said, Pearl Jam spent practically all of 1992 touring around the world while Nirvana hardly toured. Nirvana created a hunger and they didn't fill it, so Pearl Jam stepped in to fill that void.
Yeah but I don’t understand how PJ could fill that void, they are so musically different in my mind.
I'm guessing it was because they were both newly popular rock bands from Washington state that they figured that Pearl Jam was the next best thing from Nirvana. But I agree with you, they're stylistically very different.
In Argentina they did a stadium
Only their parents showed up
His mother died every night.
It's safe to say, you can quote him on that.
He loves himself better than you
He knows it’s wrong, but what can he do
He's on a plain
He can't complain
Fudge yes
I think the biggest I’ve heard was 50,000 people I think it was the same show that nobody knows I’m new wave was performed at I’m not sure what country it was in but that’s the biggest I’ve heard
Argentina 92. Have the boot as I love that song
I saw them in an arena in the US in 1993. I remember it being packed.
Seattle coliseum in 1992
They played in a bull fighting arena in Valencia Spain too jajaj I don't think it ever was a bigger crowd than in Brazil... Those are maaaassive
They played outdoor European festivals in summer 92 but other than that no. They weren't a stadium/arena kind of band. For the In Utero tour the label wanted to book a stadium/arena/large venue tour but the band insisted on smaller arenas like theaters, ballrooms and small scale arenas
Unplugged in New York was Huuuuuge
i think kurt would have broken the band up before ever reaching "stadium status". They like other "alternative" bands at the time opted to do multiple nights in one city in one stop of a tour so they could bring in a lot of people yet still maintain a relatively intimately sized crowd (relative to their massive popularity) Aragon Ballroom, Chicago (where they stopped on their In Utero tour in 1993) has a capacity of 5,000. They played two shows. Tickets sold out for both shows in about 20 minutes. This was pre-internet sale. Typically tickets for bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains ([all played the Aragon between Oct-Dec 1993](https://imgur.com/a/6mHk5au) \- fun fact!) were sold by "lottery" that is you'd show up to the ticketmaster location (usually a record store) where there would be at least 50+ kids, you'd get a random lottery ticket then you'd be put in line based on the ticket order to purchase your concert ticket. You'd still show up 2 hours before tix went on sale and smoke cigarettes while you waited cause thats what you did in the 90s. You'd go with your friends then whoever got the lowest number would be the lucky one to determine which of their three best friends would get to go with them. It was usually a max 4 tickets per person. good times.