Tonight, Paul McCartney will take the place of the late Kurt Cobain for the first Nirvana reunion performance in twenty years, according to The Sun.
We can’t vouch for the accuracy of their report (it can’t be true surely can it?) but if this is any truth in the story the reaction from Nirvana and McCartney fans will be interesting to say the least!
From The Sun: “Former Beatle Sir Paul will sing with [Nirvana] as they play a new song at a star-filled charity concert in New York. Macca, 70, has been secretly working with Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl and bassist Krist Novoselic after a recent session at a studio.”
Apparently, after ringing Grohl about another matter, McCartney was invited to come along to “jam with some mates”. The former Wings and Beatles song-writer and solo artist later suggested they “just make something up” and soon found himself in the unlikely but enviable position of playing with the legendary Grunge rhythm section of Grohl on drums and Krist Novoselic on bass. It’s reported that Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear will take up Cobain’s duties on the guitar, leaving McCartney to tackle the vocals.
Quoted by The Sun, McCartney apparently said: “I didn’t really know who they were. They are saying how good it is to be back together. I said ‘Whoa? You guys haven’t played together for all that time? And somebody whispered to me ‘That’s Nirvana. You’re Kurt.’ I couldn’t believe it.”
Neither can we Paul, neither can we.
But how might McCartney fare with the Nirvana back catalogue? We’ve hauled together a quick potential five track setlist to judge how he might handle some of the band’s biggest songs.
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit
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We actually think Macca might be able to put a decent effort into this one thanks to the song’s loud/quiet contrasts. He might need a bit of help for the chorus, mind.
Verdict: Off to a surprisingly good start.
2.Come As You Are
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Listening again to Come As You Are with McCartney in mind, something hits you that you’ve probably never suspected before – it’s a little bit Live And Let Die! Macca will be pleased.
Verdict: Live and let him carry him.
3. Breed
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From the opening pace of the drum roll, the former Beatle will realise he’s in for some trouble but it’s a surprisingly Macca-friendly vocal line. It’s got a few shout outs in the chorus for him to yelp in on. Let’s not forget, McCartney wrote and sang Helter Skelter – he’s got this!
Verdict: An unlikely match.
4. Territorial Pissings
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Now things are getting interesting! There’s no way McCartney could pull this one off is there? This would, of course, be the moment the time-space continuum imploded over the sheer impossibility of what was taking place, but regardless we’re predicting this would be the track in which McCartney suddenly began to look very lost and a little bit confused.
Verdict: This was a bad idea…
5. Been A Son
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Phew! Dual vocal harmonies, no screaming and a more standard song structure – safety for McCartney and his new-found Nirvana band mates.
Verdict: They might just make it.
What do you think of the McCartney Nirvana rumours? Is it all just too much or could it be true? …could it be any good?
What Nirvana songs would you have Macca take on?