On Sunday night (9.27,) the surviving members of Nirvana reunited at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) to accept the Video Vanguard Award.
Staged at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, it was Chuck D who presented bassist Krist Novoselic, drummer Dave Grohl, and guitarist Pat Smear with the prestigious prize.
“Nirvana never bent to the will of the mainstream; they always stayed true to their vision.” “Their sound was loud, beautiful, daringly open. The lyrics were raw and deeply human. Their music videos defined an era. They were completely original and always fearless at a time when the status quo got to the point of being formulaic. Today, their influence can be heard in virtually every generation of artists who follow,” said the the Public Enemy frontman.
After a compilation of Nirvana videos – including their 1991 ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and ‘In Bloom,’ along with 1993’s ‘Heart-Shaped Box’ – played for the audience, Novoselic gave a heartfelt speech in which he remembered late frontman Kurt Cobain, the band’s lead singer-songwriter who died by suicide in 1994 at the age of 17.
“Thank you so much to Nirvana’s fans around the world and to everyone at MTV. This award brings back so many memories of making those videos.” “We saw the dystopian pep rally with anarchist cheerleaders, our version of an Ed Sullivan’s TV appearance, performing in a Wizard of Oz-like field of poppies, and so many more,” adding that Cobain as “one of the greatest artists of all time”. “Kurt was one of one. None of us could have imagined that our band, our sound or our aesthetic would mean so much to so many people. But ultimately, the music had a life of its own. It charted its own course. Nirvana continues to resonate so deeply because people are still hungry for authenticity or something real, something uncompromising. Something that tells you it’s just OK to come as you are,” the 61-year-old stated, referring to the lyrics of the band’s 1992 single, Come as You Are. “Kurt would have loved that legacy. Thank you all so much,” stated the former bass player.
While Smear lit up and smoked a cigarette on stage, the Foo Fighters frontman Grohl stood stoically during the remarks.
Oft times called the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, previous recipients of the Video Vanguard Award include Mariah Carey, Katy Perry, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, and U2, among others.
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Author: Al Dente
Photo: P.B. Rage from USA