Which Band Would Have Been Bigger If...

[BulleTheory]

Which band would have been bigger if their frontman had not died?

i hope this one is close.

[kazuma_ootaro28]

If Nirvana continued to this day without Kurt Cobain dying, they would eventually turn out to sound as bland as current U2.

[jtresk26]

If Nirvana continued to this day without Kurt Cobain dying, they would eventually turn out to sound as bland as current U2.
I agree with you about their sound turning very banal, but to compare it to U2 is right. Their last album had some cool interesting sounds no band has done ever or in a long time, but that's your opinion. Plus, Bradley Nowell had such a good voice compared to Kurt Cobain's trainwreck voice, but it fit Nirvana well.

[Loge182]

I voted Nirvana but i meant Sublime. Nirvana wouldnt have lasted much longer. Kurt was hating it. He himself may have done some big things to change the way we look at music, but as a band...Sublime would have gotten bigger.

[jtresk26]

I voted Nirvana but i meant Sublime. Nirvana wouldnt have lasted much longer. Kurt was hating it.
Exactly. The popularity of Nirvana got so big and it seemed that he hated what he created. The popularity got to him.

[Shin Akuma]

If Nirvana continued to this day without Kurt Cobain dying, they would eventually turn out to sound as bland as current U2.

you are WRONG my friend!!!! read this from wikipedia and if you are smart enough you ll get the point ....

"Butch Vig's first high-profile production work was in 1991, when he produced The Smashing Pumpkins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smashing_Pumpkins)' Gish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gish) and Nirvana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_%28band%29)'s Nevermind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevermind). Butch Vig incorporated overdubs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overdubbing) and vocal doubletracking, whereas Nirvana's previous album, Bleach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleach_%28album%29) (produced by Jack Endino (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Endino)) had a more "lo-fi" sound. Kurt Cobain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain) originally refused to double-track his vocals and guitars but Vig reportedly got him to comply by saying "John Lennon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon) double-tracked". Cobain would later criticize Vig for the album's slickness, although this might be due to Andy Wallace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Wallace_%28producer%29)'s mixing of the album."

[tommy's ghost]

Bigger? Nirvana.
Better? Arguably, Sublime. Band had a ton of talent.

[kazuma_ootaro28]

you are WRONG my friend!!!! read this from wikipedia and if you are smart enough you ll get the point ....

"Butch Vig's first high-profile production work was in 1991, when he produced The Smashing Pumpkins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smashing_Pumpkins)' Gish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gish) and Nirvana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_%28band%29)'s Nevermind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevermind). Butch Vig incorporated overdubs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overdubbing) and vocal doubletracking, whereas Nirvana's previous album, Bleach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleach_%28album%29) (produced by Jack Endino (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Endino)) had a more "lo-fi" sound. Kurt Cobain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain) originally refused to double-track his vocals and guitars but Vig reportedly got him to comply by saying "John Lennon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon) double-tracked". Cobain would later criticize Vig for the album's slickness, although this might be due to Andy Wallace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Wallace_%28producer%29)'s mixing of the album."

I was not necessarily talking about how the production would have sounded if Kurt Cobain was still releasing material with Nirvana, but more about how bland the album itself would have been written (U2 may have used "million-dollar production" or what-not for their latest album, but the album tracks itself does not sound that exciting). But in regards to Kurt's complaints about double-tracking and polished production (if that's what you were pointing out), I would not be surprised if he were to contradict his past self and easily give in to what he despised so much. There are a number of artists that have done such a thing, though not as necessarily regarding the production of their music.

[makeshiftmind]

I'd say Nirvana, I loved their last album, and You Know You're Right showed how Kurt was maturing as a songwriter, and showed great promise

[joeag1985]

Nirvana. Clearly.

[doppelganger]

nirvana

[11:11]

Nirvana went out on top, and showed no sign of slowing down. They would have probably gotten even bigger. Still one of my favorite bands to this day.

[BulleTheory]

i really think Sublime would have come out on top. I think Sublime was really starting to breakout with their self-titled album, and if Brad was still alive today, i feel that they would be a huge band

[Theseventhson]

Nirvana

[andrewjman]

First off I just read like 10 posts of people using the word "Mature" ....they were maturing....that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Bands change their sound, they don't mature. Events change how bands sound. Shut it, Nirvana wins by a landslide.

[jbergamotto]

First off, I'd like to say this is one of the best poll questions I've seen on this website in a while. This was a bit tough but I chose Sublime because of the music they play. I have a place in my heart for Nirvana but I think that if Kurt survived longer than he did, the grunge movement would pass on. Bradley Nowell's voice along with Sublime's style of music would produce more hits on the radio. Labels have been capitalizing on the whole feel-good "summer time" jams (e.g. Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson) even today. Like it or not, commercial viability is a determinate factor in how big a band becomes and Sublime's got the goods.

[Say Nothing]

Okay, I say Sublime on this one. I think the impact of Nirvana was actually bigger since Kurt Cobain died, rather than if he had lived.

[VIVALAMATT]

I don't think Sublime would have went much further. They peaked imo. Nirvana just would've gotten bigger and bigger. But hey, at least we now have the Foo Fighters.

[jtresk26]

But hey, at least we now have the Foo Fighters.
Totally agree with you and I don't care what anyone else says.

[Ari Christos]

Nirvana would've been better, Sublime would've gotten more popular.

[SeanEBoy2686]

I actually think Sublime would've been bigger... but it would've all depended on their ability to follow up that awesome self-titled album. Nirvana would've lasted through the movement, but probably not much more. Sublime had a more marketable sound.

[Feenucks]

Bigger? Nirvana.
Better? Arguably, Sublime. Band had a ton of talent.

This.

[Radiology]

It's hard to say, I want to believe that Nirvana could have gotten bigger and better and changed their sound... but I doubt they would have. They would have stuck to their niche (Kurt never really showed any interest like Thom Yorke of Radiohead has in really pushing the boundaries). Sublime on the other hand probably would have really experimented a bit. It's really a tough call. I ended up voting Nirvana just because I really wish Kurt could have stayed alive and I would have been more interested to see where Nirvana was heading. Though I'm sure Sublime would have made a much more interesting product than Nirvana would have.

though, if anyone deserves to "rise from the dead" and would have really benefitted from being alive longer it would have to be Jeff Buckley. That man showed an infinite amount of potential and probably is one of the best vocalists of all time. Grace is absolutely divine and had it had a proper follow up or two Buckley probably would have been elevated to an even more monumental status than where he is now. it pains me that he died so soon.

[BulleTheory]

I actually think Sublime would've been bigger... but it would've all depended on their ability to follow up that awesome self-titled album. Nirvana would've lasted through the movement, but probably not much more. Sublime had a more marketable sound.
this. i also think sublime would have gotten much bigger then we could imagine. i feel they were on their start of their uprising. 40 oz. to freedom is an amazing album but their self-titled album brought them up so many levels. its hard to say how much they would have progressed from there.

[Undue Noise]

Still Nirvana.

[Chop[chop]]

If Nirvana continued to this day without Kurt Cobain dying, they would eventually turn out to sound as bland as current U2.

Wow - in my opinion it would have been the opposite. They would have hit the mainstream more, but they wouldn't have carried on making music if they could in any way be compared to U2.

[kdefrisc]

sublime is trash

[jawstheme]

sublime is trash

Your post is trash.

I like Sublime more but Nirvana was already huge, and only would have gotten bigger and credited with more things that they didn't originate.

[Indoor Living]

Nirvana, to my dismay. I wish I could say Sublime, but then I'm pretty sure I'd be wrong.

[batmannj]

I think Sublime would've never eclipsed Nirvana, but I do think that they could have gained even more popularity. Nirvana would have just grown larger and larger.

[Machu505]

Nirvana.

[Shin Akuma]

sublime is trash


yeah .... their trashy-dirty-lo fi-home-made music was AWESOME!!!! :wave:

[kdefrisc]

lol i should have known better than to make negative comments about anything on this website

[Poochemist]

Sublime became insanely popular without even touring for their best selling album. They had more potential for growth and success in my opinion.

[IceAge/HeatWave]

sublime was great for what they do, but not my cup of tea.
nirvana is one of the most important bands of all time, and made music that i thoroughly enjoy. i believe they would be bigger, but would have broken up sooner or later. that said, kurt cobain is rivaled only by thom yorke as far as artistic integrity goes in the past 30 years, and i think he was someone incapable of selling out. today, if he lived, he would be making something probably sounding entirely different from nirvana, that i believe a lot of people would truly love. but, at the same time, i couldn't see cobain living much longer than he did. seemed like he was very burnt out by the end of his life.

[IceAge/HeatWave]

Okay, I say Sublime on this one. I think the impact of Nirvana was actually bigger since Kurt Cobain died, rather than if he had lived.

lots of musicians have died, and not many have had the same amount of regard for their work as kurt cobain or nirvana.

[nerdvglc]

If Nirvana continued to this day without Kurt Cobain dying, they would eventually turn out to sound as bland as current U2.
my thoughts, although i kinda still like u2. i think nirvana would have stayed big for a while, but eventually everyone would have decided their shit all sounds the same and then they would become obsolete. meanwhile, sublime would have maybe not gotten huge, but they could have stayed important and relevant for years. kurt dying was the best thing that happened to nirvana (commercially, at least). and the foo fighters.

[Rest_Easy]

you are WRONG my friend!!!! read this from wikipedia and if you are smart enough you ll get the point ....

"Butch Vig's first high-profile production work was in 1991, when he produced The Smashing Pumpkins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smashing_Pumpkins)' Gish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gish) and Nirvana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_%28band%29)'s Nevermind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevermind). Butch Vig incorporated overdubs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overdubbing) and vocal doubletracking, whereas Nirvana's previous album, Bleach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleach_%28album%29) (produced by Jack Endino (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Endino)) had a more "lo-fi" sound. Kurt Cobain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain) originally refused to double-track his vocals and guitars but Vig reportedly got him to comply by saying "John Lennon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon) double-tracked". Cobain would later criticize Vig for the album's slickness, although this might be due to Andy Wallace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Wallace_%28producer%29)'s mixing of the album."


I'm sure this will come out extremely rude and callow but
You're an idiot for quoting wikipedia ftw.

If you didn't try to sound so big in the beginning I would have let it slip but really, you are dumb. (an open source editable page with information that is heresay.... "reportedly got him...")

[Rest_Easy]

Nirvana would have IF Kurt wanted to.
Cobain wanted to quit. He had been quoted saying he didn't have that feeling of awe any more when he walked out on stage and without that he didn't want to kid himself or his fans. That's why he refused to do Lollapalooza. (which caused many bands to beg them to participate and even caused a few serious threats).

But Nirvana has such a huge catalogue it's hard to compare. They have so many b-sides it's mind boggling. Each album had a large transition. Bleach (grunge at its core) - nevermind (more mainstream) - insesticide (mediocre but fun) - In Utero (much more complex; better than people remember) - Unplugged (artistic imho.)
There is no telling where they could have gone from there IF Kurt wanted to.
ALSO, what if the next record, or one after that involved more dave grohl so it was nirvana instead of foo fighters. That talent was present to last a long time.


Sublime I don't know as intimately as Nirvana. I can see them jamming it out. I just wonder if they'd end up like 311 or some jam band eventually. If their appeal would fizzle out. I really have no idea.

[jgord88]

sublime is trash


Agreed!

[kdefrisc]

Agreed!

yaaay i'm not alone!

[BulleTheory]

sublime is trash
Agreed!
just curious, what albums have you both listened to by them?

[kdefrisc]

just curious, what albums have you both listened to by them?

40 oz to Freedom and Sublime mostly, though I've listened to some of Robbin' the Hood as well. I used to like them in middle school but now it just doesn't do it for me, that whole reggae rock genre really gets on my nerves

ok, so maybe saying they are trash is a bit strong, i'm sure they can play their instruments fine its just not music that i want to listen to at all.

[denissuxx]

Obvious.

[FueledByRock]

Sublime, only because the way things seemed to be headed toward the end of it all Kurt seemed to be completely done with the mainstream attention he was getting. He probably would've split up with the band anyway. I heard in an interview that he was interested in just doing a different band with Courtney Love but that he would continue with Nirvana because it's what the people wanted. I agree with kazuma; they probably would've turned out pretty bland if Kurt decided to stay.

[beanmaru]

Okay, I say Sublime on this one. I think the impact of Nirvana was actually bigger since Kurt Cobain died, rather than if he had lived.


Wrong.

[Shoes]

Nirvana. Whether you like them more or not; they had far more commercial success than Sublime ever did when both singers were alive.

[BulleTheory]

Nirvana. Whether you like them more or not; they had far more commercial success than Sublime ever did when both singers were alive.
but that doesn't mean Sublime wouldn't have been more successful after their Self-Titled album was released. I honestly feel that Sublime would be a huge band if Brad was still alive.

[Shoes]

but that doesn't mean Sublime wouldn't have been more successful after their Self-Titled album was released. I honestly feel that Sublime would be a huge band if Brad was still alive.

Nah, I honestly don't believe that. Then again, I suppose we'll never know.

[Posthardcore]

you should've put ALICE in that poll.

[blinkme]

Nirvana. Whether you like them more or not; they had far more commercial success than Sublime ever did when both singers were alive.

Agreed. People all over the world will be listening to Nevermind for years to come. Sublime never reached the same amount of global success that Nirvana accomplished.

[Shoes]

Agreed. People all over the world will be listening to Nevermind for years to come. Sublime never reached the same amount of global success that Nirvana accomplished.
Exactly. Sublime would still be a cult band, whereas Nirvana blew up.