Effective period / Period of releases: 1988 - 2023

Members: Dave Grohl, Chad Channing, Dan Peters, Dale Crover, Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, Jason Everman, Aaron Burckhard, Dave Foster (14)

Rock band from Aberdeen, Washington, USA, formed in 1987. Emerging from the Seattle grunge scene of the late 1980s/early 1990s, Nirvana was a power trio of musicians who brought a new aesthetic to the rock scene of the time. They had already released their debut LP "Bleach" with Sub Pop, but their 1991 major-label debut for DGC/Geffen Records, "Nevermind" broke the band and grunge into the mainstream of America. Singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain's death by suicide in April 1994 brought the band to an end.

The band's names in a chronological order:
Skid Row (6) (start (March 1987) - June 26, 1987)
Pen Cap Chew (2) (June 27, 1987 - August 8, 1987)
Bliss (108) (August 9, 1987 - January 1988)
Ted Ed Fred (January 1988 - March 18, 1988)
Nirvana (March 19, 1988 - end (April 5, 1994))

There were two other short-used band names before Nirvana: Throat Oyster and Windowpane (no official proofs for it though)

Final line-up:
Kurt Cobain – lead guitar, lead vocals (March 1987 (start)–April 5, 1994 (end); died April 5, 1994)
Krist Novoselic – bass (March 1987 (start)–April 5, 1994 (end)), accordion (1993–1994)
Dave Grohl – drums, backing vocals (September 25, 1990–April 5, 1994 (end))

Former members:
Aaron Burckhard – drums (March 1987 (start)–October 1987)
Dale Crover – drums (December 1987–February 15, 1988, August 10, 1990–August 25, 1990), backing vocals (1988)
Dave Foster (14) – drums (February 16, 1988–May 24, 1988)
Chad Channing – drums (May 25, 1988–June 1990)
Jason Everman – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (February 5, 1989–July 19, 1989)
Dan Peters – drums (June 1990–August 1990, September 1990–September 24, 1990)

Touring musicians:
John Duncan – guitar (July 15, 1993–July 31, 1993)
Lori Goldston – cello (July 15, 1993–January 8, 1994)
Pat Smear – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (September 23, 1993–April 5, 1994 (end))
Melora Creager – cello (February 5, 1994–April 5, 1994 (end))

Session musicians:
Mark Pickerel – drums (1989)
Kirk Canning – cello (1991)
Kera Schaley – cello (1993)

Live guest musicians:
Tony Poukkula – guitar (1987)
Ryan Aigner – guitar (1987) (also was the band's first manager)
Antony Hodgkinson (aka Dancing Tony) – dancing (1990, 1991, 1992)