Amplified Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana

It has been three decades since Nirvana upended the pop cultural landscape withNevermind, the landmark album that became the soundtrack of Generation X, capturing its confusion, frustration, and passion. In 1993, Michael Azerrad published what stands as the definitive biography of this revolutionary band and its star-crossed leader Kurt Cobain. Written with the bands complete cooperation,Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvanabecame a massive bestseller and was, in the words of Cobain, “the best rock book Ive ever read.

Seven months after the books original publication, Cobain was dead by suicide, makingCome as You Arethe only book about Nirvana that features original interviews with Cobain, bassist Krist Novoselic, and drummer Dave Grohl.

Now, Azerrad has revisited and reconsidered his original text. The result is this amplified versiona truly unique book-within-a-book featuring hundreds of extensive new essay-like annotations that deepen our understanding of this legendary band and the time in which it existed. Azerrad reconsiders the key players and their cultural context; ruminates on topics such as punk rock, selling out, and Generation X; and offers insights into the inner life and creative mind of one of the most significant songwriters and musicians in rock historya haunting and haunted artist whose influence continues powerfully to the present day.

It all comes down to a search for the answer to the question: Why was this music so extraordinarily powerful?

Vivid, evocative, and thought-provoking, this gorgeous hardcover bookfeaturing 100 photos and ephemerais an essential document not just for Nirvana fans but for anyone interested in the cultural legacy of the 1990s.

Hardcover Oct 24th 2023