Nirvana formed in 1987, released their first LP in 1989, and unintentionally tore the music world asunder two years later with the video and single for "Smells Like Teen Spirit." At the time, MTV and rock 'n' roll in general were largely dominated by vapid hair metal acts. Nirvana, with their thrift-store clothes and pawnshop guitars, represented a much-needed return to punk-inspired rock and at the same time validated the indie rock scene that had failed to breach the mainstream in the previous decade. A meteoric rise followed, attended by all of the predictable professional and personal pitfalls. Two and half years after the release of "Teen Spirit," leader Kurt Cobain, age 27, killed himself and the ride was over. Today, Nirvana and Cobain transcend generations, not unlike Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and other artists who met premature ends. The band's story and music fascinate kids whose parents were among Nirvana's early fans. Coinciding with the twentieth anniversary of their final LP, Nirvana: The Complete Illustrated History is the first to treat fans to a stylishly designed illustrated biography of the band. Performance and off-stage photography, handbills, singles, backstage passes, gig posters, and other memorabilia complement a narrative detailing the band's tumultuous history, as well as sidebar album reviews, gear breakdowns, and mini synopses of Cobain's 50 all-time favorite albums. Nirvana's ride was a wild one--and all too brief. Here, finally, is the book that breaks that history down and presents it from an objective perspective.

Charles Cross is a music journalist and the author of several acclaimed biographies, including Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix and Cobain Unseen. He was editor of the Rocket in Seattle for fifteen years during the height of the Seattle music scene. His 2001 biography of Kurt Cobain, titled Heavier Than Heaven, was awarded the 2002 ASCAP Award for Outstanding Biography.

Gillian G. Gaar has written for numerous publications, including Mojo, Rolling Stone, and Goldmine. Her previous books include She’s A Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll, Entertain Us: The Rise of Nirvana,Return of the King: Elvis Presley’s Great Comeback, and The Doors: The Complete Illustrated History, and Boss: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band — The Illustrated History. She lives in Seattle.

Bob Gendron (Chicago, IL) is a frequent contributor to the Chicago Tribune and Down Beat.

Mark Yarm is the author of Everybody Loves Our Town: The Oral History of Grunge.

Todd Martens (Los Angeles, CA) is the pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times.

Andrew Earles is a writer and humorist based in Memphis, Tennessee. His work has appeared in several media outlets, including Spin, The Onion, Pitchfork, McSweeney’s, Harp, Paste, Magnet, and Alternative Press. Andrew lives in Memphis, Tennessee.

Greg Kot has been the Chicago Tribune's rock music critic since 1990. He co-hosts the nationally syndicated rock 'n' roll talk show Sound Opinions (soundopinions.org) on public radio and is the author of Wilco: Learning How to Die and Ripped: The Digital Music Revolution.

Jim DeRogatis is the pop music critic at the Chicago Sun-Times, co-host of Sound Opinions, and the author of several books about music and culture, including Velvet Underground (Voyageur Press) and Let It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs.

Alan di Perna is a freelance journalist, a frequent contributor to Guitar World magazine, and the Author of Green Day: The Ultimate Unauthorized History (Voyageur Press). He lives in Arizona.