The Rutles Wiki
Advertisement
Spermatozoon!

Spermatozoon (also known as Kurt Cobain's Comedy Band) was an early comedic musical project led by the iconic musician and satirist Kurt Cobain alongiside Axl Rose and Eddie Vedder before the formation of his more famous parody band Nirvana. The band was initially conceived in the early 1980s as a light-hearted parody of rock music, infused with absurd humor and mockery of the rock industry. They were, in a way, a parody of Dirk McQuickly's Comedy Band.

Early Days and Formation[]

The formation of Spermatozoon was driven by Cobain's desire to experiment with absurd, slapstick humor through music. He was joined by Axl Rose and Eddie Vedder, two friends who, according to Cobain, "had no differences between them, and were the best of friends until I met Gale and Nichols." Cobain often joked about their harmonious yet unremarkable dynamic, saying, "They played the same way, they sang the same way, they were the same person until the day Axl left."

The band, with its satirical approach to rock, played many small venues around the Seattle area. Their music was a comedic reflection on rock clichés, incorporating over-the-top lyrics, outlandish performances, and exaggerated musical styles. They often parodied other rock bands, poking fun at the tropes that would later be critiqued in Nirvana.

Band separation[]

In 1985, after Axl Rose's departure to join Guns N' Roses, Cobain found himself growing disillusioned with Spermatozoon. He was ready for something more serious. He spoke with Eddie Vedder, expressing his frustration with the comedic nature of the project and his desire to form a "real" band. Together, they decided to dissolve Spermatozoon and move on to pursue more genuine musical endeavors.

This decision ultimately led Cobain to form the parody band Nirvana a few years later, alongside David Gale and Christian Nichols.

1993 Reunion[]

Reunion 1993

Photo from this reunion

In 1993, Spermatozoon reunited for a brief but memorable session where Kurt Cobain introduced his ex-former bandmates Axl Rose and Eddie Vedder to his new friends and new bandmates, David Gale and Christian Nichols. This meeting took place during the production of the Nirvana mockumentary, which had already begun the previous year. By this time, Cobain and his new collaborators had written several songs, including tracks that would later become integral to the mockumentary’s storyline.

During the session, Cobain played his new songs for Rose and Vedder. Axl Rose, known for his sharp and occasionally sarcastic wit, commented on the songs by saying, “They sound like shit; love them.” While this remark was clearly meant to provoke and was typical of Rose’s irreverent style, it did not lead to a major conflict. Cobain, though initially irritated by the comment, did not escalate the situation. Instead, he continued with the session, recognizing that despite Rose's harsh critique, the comment was still a form of endorsement from a close friend and former bandmate.

Advertisement