Krist Novoselic is born.

Kurt Cobain is born.

Dave Grohl is born.

Kurt meets Krist. They play in several bands together, including Stiff Woodies.

Kurt, Krist and drummer Aaron Burckhard form the original lineup of Nirvana in Aberdeen, Washington.

Nirvana records a 10-song demo with the “Godfather of Grunge,” legendary Seattle producer Jack Endino. Sub Pop co-honcho Jonathan Poneman hears the tape and offers to put out a Nirvana single. The band accepts.

Kurt smashes his first guitar.

Bleach is released on Sub Pop. Nirvana embarks on a month-long U.S. tour.

Dave Grohl, former drummer for Washinton, D.C.’s Scream, joins Nirvana.

Nirvana briefly tours England with L7.

Nirvana signs with DGC Records.

Nirvana opens for Sonic Youth on a European festival tour, which includes a landmark performance at the Reading Festival. The tour is documented in the film 1991: The Year Punk Broke.

Nevermind is released.

Nevermind is certified a gold album.

The band starts a six-week European tour as Nirvanamania sweeps the United States. MTV airs “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video constantly; the song is hailed as an anthem for a generation.

Nevermind hits No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Nirvana tours Australia, Japan and Hawaii.

Nirvana appears on the cover of Rolling Stone.

Nirvana tours Europe.

Incesticide, a collection of B-sides and rarities, is released. It goes gold the following spring.

Nirvana plays a concert at San Francisco’s Cow Palace to raise awareness of and generate aid for rape survivors in Bosnia-Herzegovina. L7, the Breeders and Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy are also on the bill.

In Utero is released.

Nirvana starts a three-month tour of North America.

Nirvana tapes an all-acoustic show for “MTV Unplugged” at Sony Studios in New York. Cris and Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets sit in on three Meat Puppets songs.

MTV airs Nirvana’s “Unplugged” show.

Nirvana plays the Seattle Arena. It will be the band’s last U.S. show.

Nirvana embarks on a tour of Europe.