The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame 2014 induction ceremony is currently underway at the Barclays Center in New York and the question everyone wants to know is ‘who will be fronting Nirvana for their induction performance?’
The answer it seems is not just one frontman filling in for Kurt Cobain’s sizeable shoes, or even – as previously suggested – Joan Jett, but instead a whole medley of female performers … including 17-year New Zealand sensation, Lorde.
Nothing is official until the surviving Nirvana members – Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear – close the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in a matter of hours, but according to Cleveland.com’s live blog of the event, the performance looks likely to be “a medley of women including Joan Jett and others.” Meanwhile, CBS’s Detroit station 104.3 WOMC lists performances including “Nirvana with Joan Jett, Lorde and others.”
There’s other signs that point to ‘yes’ for Lorde’s involvement. The ‘Royals’ hit-maker is definitely on a plane to somewhere, tweeting yesterday that she was “in a van on the way to the airport” after performing in Mexico City. And she’s definitely heading to America to perform at Coachella 2014 this weekend.
The notion that she’s jetting to New York for a stopover to front the Seattle grunge icons is certainly surprising (and that’s an understatement) but not inconceivable.
Lorde has met both Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, at the 2014 Grammy Awards, and last month footage of the Nirvana basssist performing Lorde’s ‘Royals’ on an accordion understandably went viral, demonstrating the mutual admiration for the singer. Now you can set your imaginations run wild as to how Lorde gets to return the favour (what best suits her sultry tones? ‘Heart Shaped Box?’, ‘Lithium?’)
While Lorde is unconfirmed for the ‘Nirvana medley’, Annie Clark – better known to the music world as St. Vincent – is confirmed to be part of the band’s Hall of Fame performance. “St. Vincent confirms she practiced with and is performing with Nirvana tonight,” writes Cleveland.com‘s on-site reporter, pointing out that the Australia-bound singer-songwriter had to can a gig in order to take on the historic opportunity.
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Hi everyone, sorry for the confusion but the rescheduled Cleveland & Columbus dates are now 9/30 @ House of Blues &10/1 @ Newport Music Hall
— St. Vincent (@st_vincent) April 8, 2014
You may recall St Vincent has already performed a cover of ‘Lithium’ on the 20th Annivesary of Kurt Cobain’s death last Saturday with her trademark fiery, inventive guitar in full force. A Rock Hall of Fame encore perhaps?
Along with Lorde (maybe) and St. Vincent (definitely), the other female hotly tipped to fill in for Kurt is Joan Jett, after Foo Fighters shared images of the singer-guitarist’s distinctive axe lined up with their own instruments at a rehearsal for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame performance, while rumours persist that REM frontman Michael Stipe – who is inducting the band – could perform with the reunited Nirvana lineup too.
UPDATE 11/4: Consequence Of Sound is now reporting that Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon is also joining the roster of females fronting Nirvana’s induction performance. St Vincent has also described her rehearsals with Grohl, Novoselic, and Smear as a “surreal moment,” noting “all those guys were feminists.”
Clark confirmed her participation during a Q&A prior to tonight’s ceremony. “Nevermindcame out when I was 9 and it changed my life. I wouldn’t be playing music without it,” she told reporters. She described being in rehearsals with the Grohl, Novoselic, and Smear as a “surreal moment” and added that “All those guys were feminists.”
At the time of publication, Peter Gabriel had just been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who then joined Gabriel for a duet of ‘Washing Of The Water’ together. “If you’re exploring making music and looking at us old timers getting our declarations, I’d say two things: Dream big and let your imagination guide you,” said Gabriel during his acceptance speech.
Other artists set for 2014 induction include KISS, Hall and Oates, Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, iconic managers Brian Epstein (Beatles) and Andrew Loog Oldham (Rolling Stones) plus Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band – complete with a live performance with the Boss.