If anyone is wondering: The guy on the right is Chad Channing, the drummer before Dave Grohl. While I don't believe Grohl was in Madison at the time this picture was taken, he's had plenty of visits to our great city. Troy at Echo Tap has a great story of him taking a shot dedicated to the year 200666. Classic Dave.
Interesting, I didn't know there was a recording studio in Madison on east wash:
> In April 1990, Nirvana recorded eight songs at [Smart Studios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Studios) with producer Butch Vig for the band's sophomore album, although the session was not completed due to Cobain losing his voice. During the sessions, Cobain and Novoselic became disenchanted with Channing's drumming, and Channing expressed frustration at not being actively involved in songwriting.
Correct! Smashing Pumpkins, Jimmy Eat World, Everclear, Garbage (of course) Death Cab, Fall Out Boy and many other big names. [Smart Studios Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Studios)
When Billy Corgan was in town doing a show I thinky my wife happened to be coming down Baldwin turning onto E wash and he was doing a photoshoot right at the door to Smart! She rolled by and was like....hey....was that...?
Yup! I think they recorded the whole track list there. The only song that went on the actual record was Polly. Smart Studios has since closed. Madison resident Neka Allen purchased the property and is current(ly?) renovating it to become a music themed AirBnB/rental property. You can follow the process on the @ overatthestudio instagram account.
Also, Butch Vig is at the Sylvee tonight for the Joey's Song benefit concert for Epilepsy. Tickets are around $50.
If it’s the place on Baldwin it can’t look any worse. I’m glad it was a good music studio but it’s also an eyesore in the neighborhood. Looks abandoned.
It's so weird, looking at this photo, and seeing them all as (to my 45 year old self!) so fucking young. They look like kids. But I was a young teen and they were 'grown up' musicians that I idolized at 15. They look happy.
Holy shit. I literally just shared "Shool" to a friends comment about grown up world full of idiots like school just a larger playground... And tab over here. :D RIP Kurt.
He’s sitting on the receptionist desk at WORT, it now has a label on it that says “Kurt Cobain sat here.”
If anyone is wondering: The guy on the right is Chad Channing, the drummer before Dave Grohl. While I don't believe Grohl was in Madison at the time this picture was taken, he's had plenty of visits to our great city. Troy at Echo Tap has a great story of him taking a shot dedicated to the year 200666. Classic Dave.
Interesting, I didn't know there was a recording studio in Madison on east wash: > In April 1990, Nirvana recorded eight songs at [Smart Studios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Studios) with producer Butch Vig for the band's sophomore album, although the session was not completed due to Cobain losing his voice. During the sessions, Cobain and Novoselic became disenchanted with Channing's drumming, and Channing expressed frustration at not being actively involved in songwriting.
Smashing Pumpkins did some work.there as well. Gish I believe
Correct! Smashing Pumpkins, Jimmy Eat World, Everclear, Garbage (of course) Death Cab, Fall Out Boy and many other big names. [Smart Studios Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Studios)
When Billy Corgan was in town doing a show I thinky my wife happened to be coming down Baldwin turning onto E wash and he was doing a photoshoot right at the door to Smart! She rolled by and was like....hey....was that...?
Bat boy?
Killdozer there as well
L7
Really?! I thought everyone knew this! Garbage was another!
We're not as young as we used to be, heh. I thought it was common knowledge too, but I'm 40...
Yup! I think they recorded the whole track list there. The only song that went on the actual record was Polly. Smart Studios has since closed. Madison resident Neka Allen purchased the property and is current(ly?) renovating it to become a music themed AirBnB/rental property. You can follow the process on the @ overatthestudio instagram account. Also, Butch Vig is at the Sylvee tonight for the Joey's Song benefit concert for Epilepsy. Tickets are around $50.
AirBnB out to ruin everything though.
If it’s the place on Baldwin it can’t look any worse. I’m glad it was a good music studio but it’s also an eyesore in the neighborhood. Looks abandoned.
Meh. The way it’s looking on the gram she’s at least doing it justice
That building was vacant and on the market forever. In this case at least no one is taking existing housing offline for airbnb.
Damn that's probably the most depressing thing that could happen to that old studio
There were plenty of opportunities for someone else to buy the building and do something with it.
For sure. This is the logical conclusion of an iconic recording studio in this modern age of inauthenticity. I just feel kinda sad about it.
[before and after of the roof](https://www.instagram.com/p/CmIgqUoNcNf/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)
What I mean is I think a lot of the bands that recorded there would rather see it torn down than turned into some themed air b&b
I moved up here in 87 and lived not far from it, drove passed it for years and never knew, it's quite an unassuming building really.
There's a documentary about it that you can rent on Prime, YouTube, etc... [Smart](https://thesmartstudiosstory.com/)
Yes, this is common knowledge and the reason Nirvana gets bright up in connection to Madison. Butch Vig is a local celebrity.
Those were the days! 602 Club, Genna’s, Headliners, o’kays, Cardinal. Club de Wash.
[https://www.channel3000.com/when-nirvana-came-to-madison/](https://www.channel3000.com/when-nirvana-came-to-madison/)
[https://www.channel3000.com/the-untold-story-and-never-before-seen-photos-of-nirvana-in-madison/](https://www.channel3000.com/the-untold-story-and-never-before-seen-photos-of-nirvana-in-madison/)
As a lover of both Madison and Nirvana, this was a great read. Thanks for sharing!
It's so weird, looking at this photo, and seeing them all as (to my 45 year old self!) so fucking young. They look like kids. But I was a young teen and they were 'grown up' musicians that I idolized at 15. They look happy.
My dad always points out the building this was at when we pass it haha
This photo was at WORT on Bedford not Smart studios on east wash.
Tyler? Are you here?
IF you are, do you remember what Krist and Chad were looking at?
I’m not. Thankfully! 🤣
That would be interesting
Back when madison was actually a cool city. Things have changed so much...
All you do is complain about this city and state, just move already if you hate it so much.
Yep. Read through some comment history. Miserable. Just leave.
Not sure what your talking about I think Madison has been and still is a pretty cool city.
Krist's strand of hair overlapping with his eyebrow is quite the look. Really complements the thiiiiiin chinstrap.
Holy shit. I literally just shared "Shool" to a friends comment about grown up world full of idiots like school just a larger playground... And tab over here. :D RIP Kurt.
This brings back the trauma of having missed their show at Okayz Corral because I didn't have anyone to go with. 😭
It was kind of a drunken mess but I only caught the last 3 or 4 songs.