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The Earliest Performance List Edition #1 The Earliest Performance List Edition #1
The List Was Compiled By Leo P. Cailleteau, III
I Would Appreciate All Changes.
Last Update 4/27/1996
dadson@neosoft.com

Note #1 - What Is The Purpose Of The List?
The List Features The Earliest Recorded Version Of Virtually All Of The Songs Performed By Nirvana Between 1987 And 1994. I Used About Five To Ten Different Lists Of Shows While Compiling My List. There Are Probably Many Undocumented Recorded Shows, Which Is Why I Need Your Help Maintaining The List. When An Incorrect Dates Has Been Posted, Let Me Know, So I Can Make The Change, And The List Can Be As Accurate As Possible. The List Is For All Of The Nirvana Fans In The World, But I Ask One Thing, Do Not Claim The List Is Your Own Work. Use It However You Like, Just Do Not Do That.

Note #2 - What Is The Deal With The Satyricon Club Show In Portland, Oregon?
The Date Of 4/15 Is The Commonly Accepted Month And Date Of The Satyricon Club Show In Portland Oregon. The Debate Begins With The Year, Either 1990 Or 1989. However, Neither 4/15/1989 Nor 4/15/1990 Really Fit Into The Scheme Of Things.

Why Is 4/15/1989 Unrealistic?
I Support My Beliefs With The Facts That A Few Of The Songs Played, Molly's Lips (7/13/1989), Verse Chorus Verse (11/20/1989), Dive (7/8/1989), And Been A Son (9/1/1989), Would Not Reappear For Months After 4/15/1989, Especially Verse Chorus Verse, Which Would Not Reappear Until 11/20/1989. They Tried Recording Verse Chorus Verse Many Times, If It Was In A Finished Version In Which The Band Liked In April Of 1989, Why Would They Have Not Tried It During The Blew EP Session Of 1989 In September? They Tried It At Virtually Every Major Session.

Why Is 4/15/1990 Unrealistic?
I Support My Beliefs With The Facts That They Were In Ann Arbor, Michigan On 4/10/1990 And Would Not Trek All The Way From The Nevermind Demos Recording Sessions To Play A Gig In Portland, Oregon, Then Travel All The Way Back To Cambridge, Massachusetts To Play On 4/18/1990

What Is The Date Then?
I Believe The Date Is Probably Sometime In 1990, But Probably Either Very Early In The Year Of In The Fall Of The Year, When They Were Playing Around Washington And Oregon, In Places Like Seattle, Tacoma, And Olympia.

Note #3 - What Is Live? What Isn't Live
The List Was Compiled Based On Live Performances With A Real Audience In A Concert Situation. I Did Not Include Radio Performances Or Television Broadcasts, With The Exception Of MTV Unplugged. What Do All Of These Decisions Mean? It Means Opinion Was Not Played Live, And 11/03/1990 Was Not The First Live Performance Of Turnaround.

Note #4 - What Is The Actual Date For Performance #1 Of Rape Me And Play That Funky Music?
Rape Me Debuted During A Show In Santa Cruz, California During The Nevermind Sessions In June Of 1991. The Exact Date Of The Show Is Usually Marked By A Question Mark, But After Reviewing A Few Concert Chronologies, I Settled With 6/19/1991, Which May Not Be Correct, But It Is In The Range. Play That Funky Music Was Also Played 6/19/1991.

Note #5 - Which Way Do You Determine Performance #1?
When A Song Was First Played In Full By Nirvana, The Date Of The First Performance Of The Full Version Is Listed. For Example, During The 8/30/1992, Dave Grohl Plays The Drum Beat For Scentless Apprentice Before Aneurysm. The List Has Listed The First Performance Date As 1/23/1993, Not 8/30/1992 Because 1/23/1993 Was The First Full Performance. When A Song Was Played By Nirvana, But Not In The Full Version, It Was Listed By The First Short Performance, Like More Than A Feeling. A Full Performance Takes Preference Over Short Performances.

Note #6 - How Is The List Arranged?
Album

Song - Earliest Performance Date

Note #7 - Where Was Radio Friendly Unit Shifter From The Home Alive Compilation Recorded?
The Track Was Included With The Compilation Disc Set, Home Alive, The Art Of Self Defense, And It Was Recorded 2/18/1994 In Grenoble, France According To The Disc, Not 8/6/1993 Like Commonly Believed. The Best Part About The 2/18/1994 Recording, Is That It Means Geffen Was Recording Shows During The In Utero Tour, Which We Had Previously Thought Had Not Occurred At All. It Also Means, A Soundboard Copy Of The 2/18/1994 Show Will Eventually Surface.

There Are Additional Notes At The End.


The List

Bleach

  1. Blew - 12/21/1988- Hoquiam, Washington
  2. Floyd The Barber - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  3. About A Girl - 7/8/1987 - Chicago, Illinois
  4. School - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
  5. Love Buzz - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
  6. Paper Cuts - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  7. Negative Creep - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
  8. Scoff - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
  9. Swap Meet - 11/25/1990 - Seattle, Washington
  10. Mr. Moustache - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
  11. Sifting - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
  12. Big Cheese - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
  13. Downer - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
Nevermind
  1. Smells Like Teen Spirit - 4/17/1991 - Seattle, Washington
  2. In Bloom - 4/2/1990 - Chicago, Illinois
  3. Come As You Are - 5/29/1991 - Los Angeles, California
  4. Breed - 9/1/1989 - Tijuana, Mexico
  5. Lithium - 8/19/1990 - San Diego, California
  6. Polly - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
  7. Territorial Pissings - 3/8/1991 - Vancouver, British Colombia
  8. Drain You - 6/13/1991 - San Francisco, California
  9. Lounge Act - 8/20/1991 - Cork, Ireland
  10. Stay Away - 5/14/1990 - Lincoln, Nebraska
  11. On A Plain - 5/29/1991 - Los Angeles, California
  12. Something In The Way - 8/27/1991 - Bremen, Germany
  13. Endless, Nameless - 6/20/1991 - Portland, Oregon
Hormoaning
  1. Turnaround - 4/17/1991 - Seattle, Washington
  2. Aneurysm - 11/25/1990 - Seattle, Washington
  3. D7 - 10/23/1990 - Birmingham, England
  4. Son Of A Gun - 10/11/1990 - Olympia, Washington
  5. Even In His Youth 9/13/1989 - Denver, Colorado
  6. Molly's Lips - 11/17/1989 - Negativ, Germany
Incesticide
  1. Dive - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
  2. Sliver - 9/22/1990 - Seattle, Washington
  3. Stain - 8/26/1989 - Seattle, Washington
  4. Been A Son - 9/1/1989 - Tiajuana, Mexico
  5. Turnaround - 4/17/1991 - Seattle, Washington
  6. Molly's Lips - 11/17/1989 - Negative, Germany
  7. Son Of A Gun - 10/11/1990 - Olympia, Washington
  8. Polly - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
  9. Beeswax - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  10. Downer - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  11. Mexican Seafood 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  12. Hairspray Queen - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  13. Aero Zeppelin - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  14. Big Long Now - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  15. Aneurysm - 11/25/1990 - Seattle, Washington
In Utero
  1. Serve The Servants - 4/9/1993 - San Francisco, California
  2. Scentless Apprentice - 1/23/1993 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
  3. Heart-Shaped Box 1/23/1993 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
  4. Rape Me - 6/19/91 - Santa Cruz, California
  5. Frances Farmer - 4/9/1993 - San Francisco, California
  6. Dumb - 10/14/1991 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
  7. Very Ape - 7/23/1993 - New York, New York
  8. Milk It - 4/9/1993 - San Francisco, California
  9. Pennyroyal Tea - 8/25/1991 - Hasselt, Belgium
  10. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter - 10/18/1993 - Phoenix, Arizona
  11. All Apologies - 11/30/1991 - ?, Scotland
  12. Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Thru The Strip - It Was Never Recorded Live.
MTV Unplugged
  1. About A Girl - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
  2. Come As You Are - 5/29/1991 - Los Angeles, California
  3. Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam - 9/25/1991 - Providence, Rhone Island
  4. The Man Who Sold The World - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
  5. Pennyroyal Tea - 8/25/1991 - Hasselt, Belgium
  6. Dumb - 10/14/1991 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
  7. Polly - 7/8/1989 - Chicago, Illinois
  8. On A Plain - 5/29/1991 - Los Angeles, California
  9. Something In The Way - 8/27/1991 - Bremen, Germany
  10. Plateau - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
  11. Oh Me - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
  12. Lake Of Fire - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
  13. All Apologies - 11/30/1991 - ?, Scotland
  14. Where Did You Sleep Last Night - 10/14/1991 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Common Rarities
  1. Ain't It A Shame - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  2. Anorexorist - 12/14/1987 - Seattle, Washington
  3. Baba O'Riley 12/7/1991 - Rennes, France
  4. Bambi Slaughter - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  5. Beans - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  6. Bikini Twilight - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  7. Blandest - 7/12/1989 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  8. Born In A Junkyard - 9/13/1989 - Denver, Colorado
  9. Buffy's Pregnant - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  10. Clean Up Before She Comes - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  11. Marigold - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  12. Rock Whore - 11/28/1991 - Sheffield, England
  13. Curmudgeon - 11/23/1991 - Ghent, Belgium
  14. D7 - 10/23/1990 - Birmingham, England
  15. Dazed And Confused - 11/26/1989 - Mezzago, Italy
  16. Do You Love Me - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  17. Donuts - 10/27/1990 - Nottingham, England
  18. Dough, Ray, And Me - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  19. Down In The Dark - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  20. The End - 8/23/1991 - Reading, England
  21. Even In His Youth - 9/13/1989 - Denver, Colorado
  22. Love Gunn - 9/16/1991 - Seattle, Washington
  23. Formaldehyde - 10/14/1991 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
  24. Gypsies, Tramps, And Thieves - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  25. Help Me, I'm Hungry - 11/5/1989 - Amsterdam, Holland
  26. Here She Comes Now - 5/6/1990 - Atlanta, Georgia
  27. High On The Hog - 11/26/1989 - Mezzago, Italy
  28. I Hate Myself And Want To Die - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  29. If You Must - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  30. Immigrant Song - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
  31. In His Room - 11/25/1990 - Seattle, Washington
  32. It's Closing Soon - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  33. Jealousy - 1/23/1993 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
  34. Laminated Effect - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  35. Maiden Circle - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  36. Moist Vagina - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  37. Misery Loves Company - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  38. Moby Dick - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  39. The Money Will Roll Right In - 6/30/1992 - Stockholm, Sweden
  40. Montage Of Heck - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  41. More Than A Feeling - 8/30/1992 - Reading, England
  42. My Sharona - 2/16/1994 - Rennes, France
  43. Oh, The Guilt - 11/25/1990 - Seattle, Washington
  44. On The Mountain 10/23/1993 - Chicago, Illinois
  45. Opinion - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  46. Pen Cap Chew - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  47. The Priest They Called Him - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  48. Raunchola - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  49. Return Of The Rat - It Was Never Played Live.
  50. Sex Bomb - It Was Never Played Live.
  51. Spank Thru - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  52. Sweet Emotion - 1/23/1993 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
  53. Sweet Home Alabama - 1/20/1990 - Tacoma, Washington
  54. Talk To Me - 11/20/1991 - Barciella, Spain
  55. Token Eastern Song - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  56. Vendettagainst - It Was Never Recorded Live.
  57. Run Rabbit Run - 12-21-1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
  58. Verse Chorus Verse - 11/20/1989 - Linz, Austria
  59. Wild Thing - 4/17/1991 - Seattle, Washington
  60. Play That Funky Music - 6/19/1991 - Santa Cruz, California
A Few More Notes
  1. Most Bands Usually Play Covers Only In Concert, Which Means That Sex Bomb and Gypsies, Tramps, And Thieves Was Probably Only Played Live, But Until We Find More Documentation. I Will Continue To List These Tracks As Never Being Played Live.
  2. I've Made A Few Conclusions About Songs Which Are Actually A Song With A Different Title. For One, I've Concluded That New Poopy, Which Was Supposedly Played At MTV Rehearsals In 1992 Is Actually Tourette's. It First Perfectly In The Scheme Of Things.
  3. These Dates Are Not In Stone. The List May Say That I Hate Myself And Want To Die Was Never Played And Recorded Live, It May Have Been, But The Show Just Has Not Surfaced Yet.
  4. The Exact Date Of Europe 1991 Would Be Appreciated. Apparently, The Show Is Not 11/20/1991 As Previously Believed.
One Live Performance Songs
  1. Anorexorist - 12/14/1987 - Seattle, Washington
  2. Baba O'Riley 12/7/1991 - Rennes, France
  3. Beeswax - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  4. Blandest - 7/12/1989 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  5. Curmudgeon - 11/23/1991 - Ghent, Belgium
  6. Dazed And Confused - 11/26/1989 - Mezzago, Italy
  7. Downer - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  8. Love Gunn - 9/16/1991 - Seattle, Washington
  9. High On The Hog - 11/26/1989 - Mezzago, Italy
  10. If You Must - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  11. Immigrant Song - 12/21/1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
  12. Jealousy - 1/23/1993 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
  13. Lake Of Fire - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
  14. Moby Dick - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  15. More Than A Feeling - 8/30/1992 - Reading, England
  16. My Sharona - 2/16/1994 - Rennes, France
  17. Oh Me - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
  18. On The Mountain 10/23/1993 - Chicago, Illinois
  19. Pen Cap Chew - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  20. Plateau - 11/17/1993 - New York, New York
  21. Raunchola - 12/14/1987 - Tacoma, Washington
  22. Rock Whore - 11/28/1991 - Sheffield, England
  23. Wild Thing - 4/17/1991 - Seattle, Washington
  24. Play That Funky Music - 6/19/991 - Santa Cruz, California
  25. Sweet Emotion - 1/23/1993 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
  26. Run Rabbit Run - 12-21-1988 - Hoquiam, Washington
The List Was Compiled By Leo P. Cailleteau, III (dadson@neosoft.com), With Help From John Loughney (loughney@ntcgen01es.ntc.nokia.com) And Jeff Houser (HOUSER_JEF@CCSUA.CTSTATEU.EDU).

I'd Appreciate All Corrections And Changes. dadson@neosoft.com

Thanks to: Leo P. Cailleteau


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