An American rock band formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Washington (state) in 1987. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting being Dave Grohl, who joined the band in 1990.

In the late 1980s Nirvana became established as part of the Seattle grunge scene, releasing their first album Bleach for the independent record label Sub Pop in 1989. The band eventually came to develop a sound that relied on dynamic contrasts, often between quiet verses and loud, heavy choruses. After signing to major label DGC Records, Nirvana found unexpected success with Smells Like Teen Spirit, the first single from the band's second album Nevermind (1991). Nirvana's sudden success widely popularised alternative rock as a whole, and the band's frontman Cobain found himself referred to in the media as the spokesman of a generation, with Nirvana being considered the flagship band of Generation X. Nirvana's third studio album, In Utero (1993), featured an abrasive, less-mainstream sound and challenged the group's audience. The album did not match the sales figures of Nevermind but was still a critical and commercial success.

Nirvana's brief run ended following the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994, but various posthumous releases have been issued since.