Post Malone Covering Nirvana for Virus Relief? Bring on the ‘Bleach’
The woozy-singing pop superstar performed a faithful set of covers to raise money for the W.H.O.’s Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund, and won over the band’s bassist, Krist Novoselic.
April 25, 2020
On Wednesday, in a brief, vague video teaser, the immensely popular rap-adjacent superstar Post Malone announced that something called the “Post Malone Nirvana Tribute Livestream” would be happening on his YouTube channel on Friday evening.
Nirvana purists were skeptical. Sure, the 24-year-old born Austin Post has paid homage, or at least lip service, to the rock gods before, breaking through with a catchy smash called “Rockstar” and quickly becoming the go-to guitar-wielding 20-something representing his cohort in feel-good intergenerational awards show performances (with Red Hot Chili Peppers at last year’s Grammys; with Aerosmith at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards).
On the other hand, Post Malone was born a year after Kurt Cobain died, makes narcotically sing-songy tunes and writes lyrics about wearing Versace boxers and 50-carat rings on a superyacht. It was anyone’s guess what that guy’s cover of “Heart-Shaped Box” was going to sound like.
Post Malone held a Nirvana tribute concert that raised over $500,000 for coronavirus relief
Post Malone raised more than $500,000 for coronavirus relief by livestreaming a Nirvana tribute concert on YouTube.
Malone, who sang and played guitar, was joined by three socially distanced band members, drummer Travis Barker of Blink 182, bassist Brian Lee and guitarist Nick Mack. The four performed from different rooms in Post’s house in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The makeshift band performed 15 songs during an 80-minute set on Friday, including such Nirvana classics as “Come As You Are,” “About a Girl,” and “Heart-Shaped Box.”
“Thank you to the gentlemen who wrote these beautiful songs,” Malone said, before kicking off the concert with “Francis Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle,” a track from Nirvana’s last studio album, “In Utero.”
Courtney Love, widow of Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, congratulated the band for raising thousands of dollars to help with the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
“Goosebumps … Go have a margarita Post Malone. Nothing but love from here,” Love said on Instagram after the livestream.
Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselić shared his approval on Twitter, applauding Malone and Barker, and mentioning how proud he was of them.
“I don’t think these fellows can play any better. They are on fire!!!!” Novoselić tweeted during the event, adding that he was “holding emotions back the whole show.”
The money raised from the concert will help “ensure patients get the care they need, frontline workers get essential supplies, and accelerate efforts to develop vaccines, tests, and treatments,” Post Malone said on the YouTube video.
Google matched $2 for each $1 donation. The event raised $500,000, including Google’s match, Lauren Resnick, a spokesperson for YouTube Music, told CNN.
Over $4.3 million has been raised in total for the United Nations Foundation’s Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund for The World Health Organization.
Correction: An earlier version of this story and headline included an incorrect amount for donations raised by Post Malone’s Nirvana tribute concert. The concert raised $500,000.
Stream Post Malone’s Coronavirus Relief Nirvana Tribute Performance
The benefit has raised over $2.7 million USD.
Announced earlier this week, Post Malone held a Nirvana tribute performance to raise money for Coronavirus (COVID-19) relief efforts.
Livestreamed via YouTube, the set by the Hollywood’s Bleeding artist raised money for the United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization. Additionally, Google will be matching total donations at a 2:1 rate, up to $5 million USD. As of now, the benefit has raised over $2.7 million USD.
Broadcasted live from his home in Salt Lake City, Post Malone covered a range of classic Nirvana tracks accompanied by Travis Barker on drums, Brian Lee on bass and Nick Mac on guitar. Kicking off the benefit performance, Posty dressed in a flower dress, to honor the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, performed “Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle.” Playing a total of 15 songs, the band played everything from “Come As You Are” and “Heart-Shaped Box” to “About A Girl” and “Lithium.”
Watch Post Malone’s Coronavirus Nirvana tribute performance and catch Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and Courtney Love‘s thoughts on the show below.
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