Krist Novoselic

American rock musician

Krist Novoselic is an American musician and activist best known as the co-founder and bassist of the grunge band Nirvana. He has also been involved in various other musical projects and political activism throughout his career.

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About the Krist Novoselic

Krist Anthony Novoselicis an American musician and activist. Novoselic co-founded and played bass for the rock band Nirvana.

Novoselic and Kurt Cobain formed the band Nirvana in 1987 along with drummer Aaron Burckhard, whom they recruited. Through the late 1980s, Nirvana established themselves as part of the Seattle grunge scene. In 1989, the band released its debut album, Bleach. Nirvana released their second studio album Nevermind in 1991. The band achieved worldwide fame through the success of Nevermind and the lead track off the album, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. The band’s third studio album, In Utero (1993), was also a major success. Nirvana abruptly ended in 1994 following the death of Kurt Cobain. Novoselic has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Nirvana, and has also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a member of the band.

After Nirvana disbanded, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 in 1995 and Eyes Adrift in 2002, releasing one album with each band. From 2006 to 2009, he played in the punk rock band Flipper, and in 2011 he contributed bass and accordion to the song “I Should Have Known” on the Foo Fighters’ studio album Wasting Light. From 2017 to 2020, he played

bass and accordion for the band Giants in the Trees.

Outside of music, Novoselic has been active politically. From 2007 through 2010, he wrote a weekly column on music and politics for the Seattle Weekly website. Novoselic has served on the board of the electoral reform organization FairVote and has served as its chair. In 2020, he became board chair of Zocalo Public Square. He joined the Forward Party in 2023 and became the party’s leader in Washington after the resignation of Chris Vance. In 2024, he founded the Cascade Party of Washington.

Frequently Asked Questions

Krist Novoselic is an American musician and activist who co-founded the rock band Nirvana and played bass for the group.

Krist Novoselic was born on May 16, 1965.

Krist Novoselic co-founded Nirvana and played bass for the band, which achieved worldwide fame in the early 1990s.

After Nirvana disbanded, Krist Novoselic formed the bands Sweet 75, Eyes Adrift, and Flipper, and also contributed to the Foo Fighters’ album Wasting Light and the band Giants in the Trees.

Krist Novoselic has been politically active, serving on the board of the electoral reform organization FairVote and becoming the leader of the Forward Party in Washington in 2023.

Krist Novoselic has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Nirvana and has received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the band.

Nirvana achieved worldwide fame through the success of their second studio album, Nevermind, and the lead single ,Smells Like Teen Spirit, in 1991.

29 Quotes by Krist Novoselic

  1. 1.

    We remember Kurt for what he was: caring, generous and sweet.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  2. 2.

    I wanted to stimulate thought instead of throwing things out or try to give a perspective. I just put stuff up and it’s up for two or three weeks and I get tired of it, so I take it down and put something else up.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  3. 3.

    I don’t know about the time those songs were written. But he was jamming with someone in Colorado or San Francisco, and I’m sure he was working on the lyrics right up to the show because they were really relevant for the situation.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  4. 4.

    I can’t remember the last time I looked at a Nirvana web site.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  5. 5.

    This band is a real collaboration, and I’m greatful to anybody who can appreciate our music. It doesn’t have to be a certain kind of fan or person or anything. I think there’s a little bit of something for everybody on this record.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  6. 6.

    Our idea is simply to play the songs and to emphasize our musicianship.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  7. 7.

    Sunshine Cake is just a fun hobby thing. That’s about it.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  8. 8.

    I’m really into Sweet 75 right now, and I dig playing Nirvana, don’t get me wrong. Even if Kurt never died, more than likely I’d be in Sweet 75 today still.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  9. 9.

    The only way you do anything is to become really active. And the most effective way to get your message to your elected representatives is to make campaign contributions and develop relationships with them.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  10. 10.

    It felt like being in the center of the world, and I felt like I was a witness to history and I knew that the whole world was watching on television. So, I could feel the collective consciousness of the world focused on this little strip of land called Seattle.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  11. 11.

    We asserted ourselves as a music community, and showed legislators that music is positive. Especially if you’ve sold 300 million records worldwide and pay taxes.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  12. 12.

    But this is pretty new for me, both songwriting and singing.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  13. 13.

    When I perform, I like to immerse myself in the music, and I just try to get off on the diversity of music.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  14. 14.

    And Seattle isn’t really crazy anymore. It’s a big dot-com city.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  15. 15.

    Let’s keep the music with us. We’ll always have it.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  16. 16.

    Just the other day I pulled out this old cassette of Ragged Glory and I popped it into my cassette player and I was digging it. They were just a great rock and roll band, one that presents the song ahead of everything else – there’s no grand idea or concept behind it.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  17. 17.

    I think pot should be legalized, but I think the promotion of party culture is irresponsible.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  18. 18.

    But my role is to just apply the skills I’ve learned over the years: you listen to the guitar, you listen to the vocal melodies, you listen to the rhythm, and you come up with something that helps you take the song somewhere.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  19. 19.

    I live out in the country now and it’s quiet and it’s a place where I can think a lot.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  20. 20.

    Mike Watt and I had the same teacher. Mr. Tanaka.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  21. 21.

    But remember, guitar players are a dime a dozen.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  22. 22.

    I kind of discovered my voice for the first time, and the more I did it, the better it got.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  23. 23.

    I’m just really happy, because I think we’re a great band, and I really like great bands.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  24. 24.

    Theodore Roethke was a poet I was raised with so he has a lot of sentimental value for me.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  25. 25.

    We’re all players and musicians and we sure all get along good. We just clicked right off the bat. We started playing and then we almost immediately started recording.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  26. 26.

    But whenever history is in the making, there’s some kind of intangible feeling.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  27. 27.

    No band is special, no player royalty.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  28. 28.

    Don’t follow a trend. Follow your heart.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician

  29. 29.

    If you’ve got a guitar and a lot of soul, just bang something out and mean it. You’re the superstar.

    Krist Novoselic

    American rock musician