EMP Museum in Seattle, Part II: Nirvana, taking punk to the masses

There’s a big exhibition about Nirvana at the EMP Museum. Apparently, it changes quite often, so don’t assume that it is going to be the same when go there. I had no idea what I’ll find, and there’s a lot of stuff that would have been cool to see. There’s some puzzle pieces,  fun stories, interviews with people close to the band… Anyway, these are my highlights:

First songs recorded

First contract Nirvana signed with Sub Pop

BLEACH

Original picture taken for the cover of the album

Design annotations

And here’s the final result

NEVERMIND

Notes on the cover for the album…

“If anyone has a problem with his dick we can remove it”

“We can take out the pool floor just to make it blue water”

Sweater that Kurt Cobain wore during the ‘Smells like teen spirit’ video

IN UTERO

Used for the cover of the album

Guitar smashed by Kurt Cobain (one of many…)

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EMP Museum in Seattle, Part I: SciFi

There’s a museum that you don’t want to miss if you ever go to Seattle: The EMP Museum, which is all about music, science fiction and pop culture. I had no doubt I’d make the tour because they currently have an exhibition about Nirvana, but to our surprise, they  had a SciFi exhibition and a Video Games one, that were pretty entertaining too.

Another cool thing about this museum is the actual building, and specifically:

• Its architect, Frank Gehry (also know by teh Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Dancing House in Prague, or the MIT Ray and Maria Stata Center in Cambridge, amongst others)
• The monorail, which goes through the museum.
• I know I was lucky with the weather, but when the light gets reflected in the surface of the building it creates this beautiful effect on the stairs, in front of the same.

The SciFi Exhibition

Here’s a collection of items that can be found at the EMP Museum SciFi exhibition. I have to admit that I am not that much a science fiction fan, but I was able to recognize some of the following:

An authentic alien

Superman

A laser sable handle

An ax… that once belonged to Jack Nickolson

Terminator

And some Star Treck stuff

Seattle, here we go!

They say Seattle is a beautiful city, and I am sure it is, but it is not the reason why I have always wanted to visit it.

I missed the era of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and all the others, I missed it because I wasn’t a teenager yet, and I first listened to ‘About a girl’ just a few months after Kurt Cobain died. I rapidly became addict to the sound of Nirvana, and discovered Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Sonic Youth, Alice in Chains, Temple of the Dog,…

And THIS is why I’ve always wanted to visit Seattle so badly, because it had- and I know it’s not they same, but they say it still has- an absolutely crazy and amazing musical scene.

Listening to Nirvana while writing this post, I remember when I asked my mother to knit a striped black and red sweater when I was sixteen. A sweater that I still wear today.

Anyway, here’s a few things I am planning to visit this weekend: The Sound Garden, Easy Street Music Records (West), Experience Music Project, Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Black Dog Forge, Sub Pop Records HQ, Reciprocal Recording Studio, Crocodile Cafe, The Garage, and The Showbox.

And of course some non-music related places: Space needle, the locks, and the Chihuli Garden and Glass.

I am loading my phone with a few albums that I am going to listen as I wander through the city. I’m watching “Hype” tonight. And then, I will be ready for the adventure. Seattle, here we go!

And no, I won’t be going to Aberdeen, unfortunately there isn’t time for everything. Next time maybe.

Have I already said that I am so excited? Because I am.