Music history was made on February 14 when Nirvana’s surviving members—Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear—unexpectedly reunited on stage for Saturday Night Live’s 50th-anniversary concert. But the real shocker? They brought in none other than rapper-turned-rocker Post Malone to take the mic.
Introduced by comedian Adam Sandler as Post Nirvana, the legendary trio launched into a blistering performance of Smells Like Teen Spirit, with Malone delivering raw, impassioned vocals. The full pro-shot footage of the performance is now streaming on Peacock, but clips have already taken over social media, sparking waves of nostalgia and debate among fans.
Post Malone’s love for Nirvana is no secret. Back in 2020, he performed a full set of Nirvana covers in a livestream with Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker—an event that was so well received, it’s getting a vinyl release this April for Record Store Day. Even Dave Grohl has acknowledged Malone’s deep appreciation for the band, once saying, “Even the die-hard Nirvana people that I know were, like, ‘Dude, he’s kind of killing it right now.’”
This wasn’t the first time Grohl, Novoselic, and Smear joined forces to resurrect Nirvana’s legacy. Just weeks earlier, on January 30, they performed at the FireAid benefit concert, where an all-star lineup of singers stepped in for the late Kurt Cobain—St. Vincent belted out Breed, Kim Gordon delivered a fiery rendition of School, Joan Jett tackled Territorial Pissings, and Grohl’s daughter, Violet, closed with an emotional All Apologies.
Reunions like these have happened on rare occasions over the years. In 2014, Nirvana’s core trio played together at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, featuring vocals from Jett, Gordon, St. Vincent, and Lorde. And in 2020, they surprised fans with a five-song set at The Art of Elysium charity gala, where Beck, St. Vincent, and Violet Grohl helped bring Nirvana classics like In Bloom and Heart-Shaped Box back to life.
Though Kurt Cobain’s absence is irreplaceable, moments like these remind the world just how timeless Nirvana’s music remains. And with Post Malone stepping in for one of their biggest anthems, it’s clear that their influence is still alive and thriving—crossing genres, generations, and expectations.
