Nirvana 'captured lightning in a bottle'

REM frontman Michael Stipe last night described Nirvana as having "captured lightning in a bottle" as he inducted them into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

And late frontman Kurt Cobain’s widow abandoned her planned speech to hug his bandmates Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, seeming to bring decades of feuding to an end.

The band’s contribution to music was celebrated with an all-star tribute act featuring the surviving members plus Joan Jett, Kim Gordon, Lorde and Annie Clark.

Stipe said: “The potency and the power of their defining moment has, for us, become indelible. That voice – Kurt, we miss you. I miss you. Nirvana defined a moment.”

Grohl said: “I was lucky enough to grow up in a musical family in an environment that encouraged music. Parents that never told me not to listen to fucking Slayer.”

Novoselic told the crowd: “Nirvana fans walk up to me every day and say thank you for the music. When I hear that, that reminds me of Kurt.”

Love, visually moved, simply said: “ I just wish Kurt was here to hear this. He really would have appreciated it.”

Nirvana was inducted at a ceremony in Brooklyn alongside Kiss, Peter Gabriel, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens, the E Street Band and Hall and Oates.

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.