Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne recently opened up about unrealized collaboration plans with Dave Grohl. He discussed the period following Kurt Cobain’s death in an interview with New Noise Magazine.
Osborne reflected on how he coped with the loss of Cobain. He revealed details about potential musical arrangements that never came to fruition.
‘[Losing Kurt Cobain] was a big deal,’ Osborne said. ‘It wasn’t that long after it. And I just kept working.’
The Melvins leader then disclosed previously unknown details about discussions with the former Nirvana drummer.
‘There was talk of doing a double drummer thing at that point with Dave Grohl,’ he continued. ‘But it never really happened. I didn’t pursue it that hard. I mean, we’ve been thinking about the double drummer thing for a long time. Long time before we ever did it.’
This revelation provides deeper insight into the complex relationships and missed opportunities within the alternative rock community during one of its most turbulent periods.
Loudwire reported that Osborne revealed the collaboration plans extended beyond just double drumming. The surviving Nirvana members had actually rehearsed with Melvins for a project where they planned to perform Nirvana songs alongside the Melvins. The ambitious project would have potentially featured David Yow on vocals, creating a unique tribute to Cobain’s legacy.
However, the collaboration ultimately fell apart when Grohl failed to show up for rehearsals. Osborne expressed his frustration with the situation. He stated his disappointment in Grohl’s lack of commitment to what was originally the Foo Fighters frontman’s own idea.
‘It was his idea I didn’t appreciate that… I’m not sitting next to the phone in curlers, waiting for Dave Grohl to call me,’ Osborne said. This highlighted the personal tensions that emerged from the failed collaboration.
The connection between these musicians runs much deeper than many fans realize. Wikipedia documented that Grohl was actually a fan of the Melvins before joining Nirvana. He had befriended them while he played in the band Scream. It was Osborne who directed Grohl to Cobain and Novoselic after Scream’s breakup. This ultimately led to Grohl joining Nirvana. This historical context makes the failed collaboration even more significant. It represents a missed opportunity between longtime friends who had already shaped each other’s musical destinies.
