When Nirvana were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, it was clear to everyone that there was going to be a big gap on stage when the band got up to play one of their most famous songs, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit.’ With the late lead singer Kurt Cobain having been gone for nearly 20 years, they would need someone who would be able to do the vocals justice. Shocking everyone watching, the band introduced the legendary Joan Jett as their singer for the performance.
Bringing out such a legendary artist may have been the only way the band could have approached performing their songs live, and Music Man readers will see that Joan captured the spirit of Kurt Cobain as well as anyone could hope to. Inserting extra grit and gravel into her voice and putting expression and emotionality at the forefront, just as Kurt did, Joan’s performance had one commenter sharing, “I literally cried watching this. Legendary. Kurt would be proud.”
As this was the first time the band had performed with a different singer after Kurt’s passing, I felt especially moved by how Joan’s confidence and stage presence seemed to put the other members at ease. It would be easy for any musician in Joan’s position to be terrified of putting a foot wrong, but I was amazed by how she owned the stage, as well as the way she connected with the other members of the band, clearly putting them at ease in what was sure to be a highly emotional moment.
While this was the first time a singer would be covering Kurt’s spot in the band, it would not be the last time that Joan Jett and Nirvana played together. They reunited in 2025 for FireAid 2025 to raise money for those affected by the Southern California wildfires, playing the Nirvana hit ‘Territorial Pissings.’ Once again, the band seemed thrilled to have Joan join them, with Krist Novoselic even getting down on his knees in front of her at the end of the song to show his appreciation.
Music Man fans, whether they are Nirvana fans or not, are sure to recognize how impossible a task it is to attempt to fill Kurt Cobain’s shoes. Despite having a gargantuan task ahead of her, it speaks volumes about her talent that she was able to win over Nirvana fans, who complimented her on capturing the song in just the way Kurt would have wanted. To have new singers come along and play with the band is one of the ways they have decided to keep Kurt’s legacy alive, and who better than artists like Joan Jett, who, like Kurt Cobain, stands as an iconic and influential figure in the musical landscape of the 20th century.