Krist Novoselic

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Novoselic's musical journey began in Compton, California, before his family moved to Aberdeen, Washington, when he was a child. Of Croatian descent, he spent a year living with relatives in Zadar, Yugoslavia, where he discovered punk rock acts like the Sex Pistols and Ramones. Upon returning to Aberdeen in 1981, he befriended Kurt Cobain through Buzz Osborne. Their shared love for bands like the Melvins led them to form a band after Krist listened to a Fecal Matter demo tape. Early lineups included drummer Aaron Burckhard and temporary fill-ins Dale Crover and Dan Peters before Dave Grohl joined as the final drummer in 1990. The trio with Grohl recorded "Nevermind" (1991) and "In Utero" (1993); the earlier album "Bleach" (1989) was recorded primarily with Chad Channing on drums.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards was electric after Nirvana won Best New Artist and Best Alternative Video. During their performance of "Lithium," Novoselic attempted a dramatic "Bass Toss." He threw his instrument into the air but misjudged the height, failing to catch it. In an instant, he faked being knocked out as musician Brian May rushed onto the stage to offer medical attention, though Novoselic had suffered no injuries. This moment of physical comedy contrasted with the band's serious rise; just a year prior, "Nevermind" had launched them into global fame. Later, during the 1993 MTV Unplugged session, Novoselic traded his electric bass for an acoustic guitar and accordion, sharing the stage with cellist Lori Goldston and guitarist Pat Smear to deliver a performance that would later win a Grammy Award.

Reader's Guide

Novoselic's career post-Nirvana is defined by constant musical evolution. In 1995, he co-founded Sweet 75 with Yva Las Vegass, releasing one self-titled album in 1997. He later formed Eyes Adrift in 2002 with Curt Kirkwood and Bud Gaugh, releasing a single album before the group's name conflict issue arose in Australia. From 2006 to 2009, he played bass in the punk rock band Flipper. His collaborations extended to Dave Grohl; in 2011, he contributed bass and accordion to the Foo Fighters' song "I Should Have Known" on the album Wasting Light. From 2017 to 2020, he toured with Giants in the Trees, again playing bass and accordion. Politically, he wrote a weekly column for Seattle Weekly from 2007 to 2010. He served as chair of FairVote, became board chair of Zócalo Public Square in 2020, joined the Forward Party in 2023, and founded the Cascade Party of Washington in 2024.

Did You Know?

• Novoselic's original Croatian surname was 'Novoselić' before the spelling was changed to 'Novoselic' during immigration.
• He spent the year from 1980 to 1981 living with relatives in Zadar, Yugoslavia, where he discovered punk rock bands like the Sex Pistols and Ramones.
• During Nirvana's performance at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, Novoselic staged a reaction to being hit by his bass guitar after failing to catch it during a toss attempt.
• He contributed bass and accordion to the Foo Fighters' song 'I Should Have Known' on their 2011 album Wasting Light.
• In 2024, Novoselic founded the Cascade Party of Washington state.

The Genesis of Grunge: From Aberdeen to Global Phenomenon

Krist Novoselic was born on May 16, 1965, in Compton, California, to Croatian immigrants Kristo Novaselić and Marija Mustać. His family moved to San Pedro when he was one year old, then to Aberdeen, Washington, in 1979. A pivotal moment occurred in 1980 when his parents sent him to live with relatives in Zadar, Croatia, where he first encountered punk rock bands like the Sex Pistols and Ramones. Returning to Aberdeen in 1981, he connected with Kurt Cobain, who had noticed loud music coming from the Novoselic household. Their friendship solidified over a shared appreciation for local band Melvins. After Krist listened to a demo tape of Cobain's former group Fecal Matter, they agreed to start a band together in 1987. The early lineup included drummer Aaron Burckhard until October 1987, followed by Dale Crover and Dan Peters, before Dave Grohl joined as the fifth and final member. This solidified lineup recorded "Bleach" (1989) for Sub Pop, establishing them in the Seattle scene.

Post-Nirvana Musical Ventures and Collaborations

Following the end of Nirvana in April 1994, Novoselic immediately sought new creative paths. In 1995, he formed Sweet 75 with Venezuelan musician Yva Las Vegass, releasing one album in 1997. He also recorded a cover of Willie Nelson's "Time of the Preacher" for the tribute album Twisted Willie in 1996. In 2002, he formed Eyes Adrift with Curt Kirkwood and Bud Gaugh, releasing an album before encountering a namesake conflict in Australia. His punk roots returned from 2006 to 2009 when he played bass for the band Flipper. Novoselic maintained strong ties to his former bandmates; in 2011, he contributed bass and accordion to "I Should Have Known" on the Foo Fighters' album Wasting Light. From 2017 to 2020, he performed with Giants in the Trees, playing both bass and accordion.

A Legacy of Recognition and Defining Moments

Novoselic's contributions to Nirvana earned him induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 10, 2014. On February 4, 2023, he joined Dave Grohl and Pat Smear to accept a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for the band. His songwriting credits include lyrics for "Dive," "Hairspray Queen," and "Aneurysm" on the compilation Incesticide (1992), as well as co-writing "Polly." During the recording of Nevermind, he helped write "Big Me" and "February Stars" with Dave Grohl when Cobain was absent. A defining live moment occurred at the 1992 MTV Video Awards during a performance of "Lithium," where his failed "Bass Toss" resulted in him faking an injury to the amusement of the crowd, drawing concern from Brian May. The band also released MTV Unplugged in New York (1994), featuring Novoselic on acoustic bass and accordion, which won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Performance.

Activism, Politics, and Civic Engagement

Outside of music, Novoselic has been deeply involved in political activism. From 2007 to 2010, he wrote a weekly column on music and politics for the Seattle Weekly website. He served on the board of the electoral reform organization FairVote, eventually becoming its chair. In 2020, he took on the role of board chair for Zócalo Public Square. His political engagement continued to evolve in 2023 when he joined the Forward Party and became the party's leader in Washington state following Chris Vance's resignation. Demonstrating a commitment to new political structures, Novoselic founded the Cascade Party of Washington in 2024.