On Saturday night, HBO aired the full 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Because the internet is awesome, you can watch the full 40-minute segment of Nirvana’s induction complete with a moving introduction from Michael Stipe, Courtney Love’s cringe-worthy antics, and a guest-riddled set of some of the band’s most-loved hits.
The whole thing starts with a highlight reel of early footage and choice soundbites like, "Nirvana didn't go to the mainstream. The mainstream came to Nirvana and that was our big crisis" (from Krist Novoselic and the other respective band members). Michael Stipe then takes the stage to induct the band with a deadpan, but actually pretty great speech on their history and significance in modern popular music.
Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic both give their thank you speeches with a candor and insight that the "old rock n' roll figures getting huge awards" could use a little more of. Wendy O'Connor, Kurt Cobain's mother, does much of the same before Courtney Love walks up to a roar of boos, somehow managing to suck the life out of the room before speaking a word. At one moment, she points back to give thanks to everyone onstage, calling Grohl "Krist" before giving him and awkward, sloppy hug and finally ending her meandering diatribe.
The real meat of the ceremony starts at about 17 minutes where the remaining members and longtime comrade Pat Smear play a succession of greatest hits with a rotating cast of female figures subbing in for Cobain. Joan Jett kicks it off with "Smells Like Teen Spirit," followed by Kim Gordon doing "Aneurysm," Annie Clark taking on "Lithium," then Lorde plus the first three for "All Apologies".
Check it Nirvana's induction below, or, you know, get a friend's login info and watch the whole ceremony over on HBOGO (not that we'd know anything about that.)