“If it brings back memories and feelings for people, that’s the magic of music.” Watch ex-Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic perform the grunge gods' debut single Love Buzz in Kurt Cobain’s hometown

The Bona Fides Band
(Image credit: Club Concerts YouTube)

Krist Novoselic's new band, The Bona Fide Band, played their first shows last week, and the bassist evoked memories of his previous band by performing a cover of Love Buzz, a song previously covered, and released by, Nirvana.

The new group - in which Novoselic is joined by ex-Screaming Trees drummer Mark Pickerel, vocalists Jillian Raye and Jennifer Johnson (both members of grunge supergroup 3rd Secret), and guitarist Kathy Moore, leader of Seattle Washington's The Kathy Moore Super Power Trio - made their live debut on June 20 at at Easy Street Records in Seattle, and followed this up by playing in Aberdeen, Washington, on June 21, as part of the town's Make Music Day celebrations. Aberdeen is globally famous as the birthplace of Nirvana, and the former hometown of Novoselic and Kurt Cobain.

While the quintet's set on June 21 largely consisted of songs by 3rd Secret and Novoselic's Giants in the Trees, they also made room in their setlist for a cover of Dutch pysch-rock band Shocking Blue's single Love Buzz, covered by Nirvana and released in 1988 as their debut single on Sub Pop.

You may like

Watch footage of the performance below:

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

According to Billboard, Novoselic formed The Bona Fide Band in an effort to raise awareness for his new political party, The Cascade Party.

The bassist told Seattle's KOMO News, that in order to establish the Cascade Party as a bona fide political party, he needs to host conventions, and secure 1,000 valid signatures, which is where the Bona Fide Band’s live appearances come in.

“There’s not going to be hardly any speeches from the stage,” Novoselic told KOMO. "Basically, please sign the petition if you want to see a new party in Washington State."

Speaking of his hopes for the gigs, the bassist added, “If it brings back memories and feelings for people, that’s the magic of music.” 

Paul Brannigan
Contributing Editor, Louder

A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne's private jet, played Angus Young's Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal.

Read more
Dave and Violet Grohl
Watch Dave Grohl's daughter Violet front a surprise Nirvana reunion, and Billie Eilish join Green Day, at emotional FireAid concert in Los Angeles
Nirvana and Post Malone on SNL
Watch Post Malone join the surviving members of Nirvana for a frenzied blast through Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana and Post Malone perform in New York City on Friday, February 14, 2025
Watch official pro-shot footage of Post Malone and Nirvana members performing Smells Like Teen Spirit for Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary
Gary Lightbody
“It was like being plugged into an electrical socket that has charged me ever since.” Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody on the rock show that made him want to start a band
Billie Joe Armstrong, January 15, 2025
"Dance, drink, and be merry!" Green Day's "glorified karaoke" side-project The Coverups host a joyously messy party in London
Tony Hawk in 2024 and Kurt Cobain in 1993
“I wish Kurt Cobain were here so he could hold our wondrous grandchild”: Skate legend Tony Hawk reflects on “transformative” Nirvana show he saw in 1991
Latest in
Queen posing for a photograph in 1978
"Freddie’s ideas were off the wall and cheeky and different, and we tended to encourage them, but sometimes they were not brilliant.” Queen's Brian May reveals one of Freddie Mercury's grand ideas that got vetoed by the rest of the band
Mogwai
“The concept of cool and uncool is completely gone, which is good and bad… people are unashamedly listening to Rick Astley. You’ve got to draw a line somewhere!” Mogwai and the making of prog-curious album The Bad Fire
Adrian Smith performing with Iron Maiden in 2024
Adrian Smith names his favourite Iron Maiden song, even though it’s “awkward” to play
Robert Smith, Lauren Mayberry, Bono
How your purchase of albums by The Cure, U2, Chvrches and more on Record Store Day can help benefit children living in war zones worldwide
Cradle Of Filth performing in 2021 and Ed Sheeran in 2024
Cradle Of Filth’s singer claims Ed Sheeran tried to turn a Toys R Us into a live music venue
The Beatles in 1962
"The quality is unreal. How is this even possible to have?" Record shop owner finds 1962 Beatles' audition tape that a British label famously decided wasn't good enough to earn Lennon and McCartney's band a record deal
Latest in News
Queen posing for a photograph in 1978
"Freddie’s ideas were off the wall and cheeky and different, and we tended to encourage them, but sometimes they were not brilliant.” Queen's Brian May reveals one of Freddie Mercury's grand ideas that got vetoed by the rest of the band
Adrian Smith performing with Iron Maiden in 2024
Adrian Smith names his favourite Iron Maiden song, even though it’s “awkward” to play
Robert Smith, Lauren Mayberry, Bono
How your purchase of albums by The Cure, U2, Chvrches and more on Record Store Day can help benefit children living in war zones worldwide
Cradle Of Filth performing in 2021 and Ed Sheeran in 2024
Cradle Of Filth’s singer claims Ed Sheeran tried to turn a Toys R Us into a live music venue
The Beatles in 1962
"The quality is unreal. How is this even possible to have?" Record shop owner finds 1962 Beatles' audition tape that a British label famously decided wasn't good enough to earn Lennon and McCartney's band a record deal
Lizzo and Sister Rosetta Tharpe onstage
"This is my baby, my passion – because Rosetta deserves": Lizzo to play rock'n'roll pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in upcoming biopic