While many music fans are aware that Nirvana had a penchant for obscure cover songs, Rolling Stone has shared footage of the band rolling through a version of the Devo song “Turn Around” at a performance at the O.K. Hotel in Seattle on April 17th, 1991. The concert was also notable as it was the first time that Nirvana played “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” a song that went on to become one of the most iconic pieces of music from the alternative explosion of the early 90’s. “Turn Around” was originally released as a B-side to the legendary “Whip It” single in 1980, a song that made Devo one of the most popular new wave bands at the time. Eventually, a recording of the song would surface on the Nirvana rarities collection Insecticide. Kurt Cobain always shared a fondness for Devo and would mention how much he liked the band during numerous interviews after Nirvana’s big breakthrough in 1991.
24 years after they played their final show, demand for rare Nirvana tracks is still incredibly high, with an old friend of the band releasing series of demo tapes from the bands early years. A few months ago a rare acoustic set was released to the public, one that saw Cobain and drummer Dave Grohl playing an intimate concert in Scotland.
You can watch footage of Nirvana ripping through “Turn Around” from the show at the O.K. Hotel in the player below.
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