Nirvana did play BIG LONG NOW Live! I was there!

[@j.dviant]

Big long now is probably my favorite nirvana song. A real shame there's no high quality recording of this song live...

[@onwerslament]

Seriously that song is just amazing The best of the early stuff

[@Product59Lietz]

You were right John!

[@gabgarmon]

It's a shame that there aren't any bootlegs available where they played Big Long Now. According to Nirvanalive dot com, that song was played only twice in the band's lifetime (apart from the Krist's house rehearsal). Awesome you were there to experience it! Greetings from Mexico, amigo.

[@JohnPurkey1]

I remember being a little bummed and talking to them about it. Why didn't they put it on the album?

[@Safetysweet]

the Observer I read somewhere that Kurt felt there was already enough slow heavy stuff on Bleach, so he decided not to put it on there.

[@liam-ashton1]

A live audio clip has surfaced

[@Aryanof99]

Man, you were saying the truth. Lucky guy really, witnessed one of the most haunting nirvana song ever "Big Long Now"

[@K-aR-Oh]

Too bad iPhones weren't around back then, you would have recorded that. 2 huge songs BigLongNow and PaperCuts

[@kBlueberry2024]

A big long now live recording actually surfaced 2 years ago

[@ZeroZeppelin]

Paper cuts was played many times live in 1989. it actually made part of their setlist in almost every 89 shows.

[@personale-mail1393]

I love the lyrics to Big Long Now. One of my favorite songs on the Incesticide album for sure. Before youtube came along, I went through the same agony over finding a live version on Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle. Great Video, thanks for sharing. : )

[@dynjarren7523]

Big Long Now and Aneurysm are my favorite Nirvana songs! They are both very powerful songs although the first one is more of a slow trippy ballad! I saw a cover band play it on a KZbin and it’s sounds great live but you saw the real thing! Lucky you!

[@guitaristcam5573]

This is my favorite Nirvana song. That and Paper Cuts. It’s such an eerily heavy song apart from all the other songs they’ve recorded from then on. If Nirvana did a “reunion” again like they did at Cal Jam and played this song, the world of grunge would be complete.

[@grimmcalypso9457]

There has been speculation that BigLongNow was played at the Feb.89 KDorm show/party. Now we finally know for sure thanks to you!! I hope that full show surfaces one day, so far there's only been like 4songs from it that have surfaced, Paper Cuts being one of them

[@JohnPurkey1]

I saw them play it twice AND the band practice but that does not count

[@garrettlifespan180]

Well you just answered the last, long awaited curiosity that anyone has ever had about Nirvana playing Big Long Now live that's awesome thanks now I have closure.

[@alcastle8480]

Big long now is one of my favorite Nirvana songs .

[@JohnPurkey1]

YES

[@heathinvaderstudios]

There's a video of Nirvana playing at Krist's mom's house in December of 1988 where they played Big Long Now, followed immediately after by a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song". Chad Channing on drums. It's on the DVD part of Nirvana's With The Lights Out box set. That was said to have been filmed by Krist's brother. This is it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXjHZWOIrM6abtU

[@pabloconchetumare1753]

I love how Krist enjoys School in this footage.

[@LewisMcDonaldBass]

He was right

[@sugarhieroglyph]

Instant sub! Hey when Bleach came out i was 9 years old but i was like a fucking evangelist for Nirvana(was like that supppper HYPER SPAZ kid at yer school who would bite people(usually after asking but some morns i was nuts), same thing when Nevermind(best title and album cover ever, so far, some of the Dead Kennedys covers were awesome)anyways when the local tshirt place got the nevermind cover shirt with all the songs on the back, i swear to you not ONLY did i qear that shirt till it fell apart(and my mom STOLE IT(!?!)and made rags out of it(RAGSSSS AHHHHHH!)BUT By the time in utero came out the little guys pecker was just a hole cuz EVERY SINGLE PERSON i knew or met on the street wanted to pinch it, and i was of course like cest la vie, carpe diem, GO AHEAD pinch away but yeah she made that shirt and my sex pistols god save the queen shirt into FUCKIN RAGS!! Eh, i miss Nirvana a lot mosta my friends(well i only have 2 that are alive still but i digress)listen to rap/hip hop some of which i enjoy, others just whatever. I still listen to Nirvana often and gave my kid my cassette of Nevermind when she was 5, her mom told that's yer dads fave band EVER. Anyways rambling over. If you wanna watch my cat that hates being filmed or come to a vidiot game livestream some night yer totally welcome(well any and everyone is welcome, one rule, no dicks, be an evolved human not an ape wearing a human suit)I just remembered this video is 2 years old i hope you're still doing youtube, it'd cool to talk to you as i was like 4 years to young to go follow Nirvana around. I mean i was 12 when nvm

[@kurtjordan2800]

Their is proof now, I believed you any way though

[@mikemarsh7387]

Do you have any pictures of you and Kurt together?

[@stevemccandless8620]

Nirvana....big long now....yeah yeah - WHAT ABOUT BOB's HAND??? Is Bob gonna make it??? WHAT ABOUT BOB!!???!!!!

[@christinesoto3283]

Damn i wish i heard it live 🎊🎉🌟😀🤘🏼🌟🌟

[@JohnVullo]

So jealous! The first show was 2/89 which SUCKS because there are about 6 songs surfaced from that show. Is the other one 4/14/89 Hal Holmes Community Center in Ellensburg?

[@henriqueseixastattoo]

Awnsome you share this

[@cake6363]

do you have any dates or years that you can remember?

[@liam-ashton1]

1988

[@kBlueberry2024]

The audio of Big Long Now that surfaced was from Feb 7, 1989 (K Dorm Show) as i comment this today is actually February 7th lol

[@jtlemay4878]

They didn't play lounge act too any times either. One if the best

[@vickielynn1714]

Hi!! I didn't know that Nirvana played Big Long Now live? I guess I've been living in la la land for a while.

[@agostocobain2729]

I just was thinking about paper cuts right before you brought it up,two very intense songs I would have to say.

[@thesweatleaf]

New question. How had Nirvana exceeded your expectations by the time you heard In Utero? Also, was there EVER any talk on the underground of replacing Kurt Cobain once he died?

[@JohnPurkey1]

I didn't really look at it like that. When in utero came out, I was stoked to hear another record. I loved it! Other then that it was just crazy how huge the band was and everything that goes along with it. No talk of replacing Kurt.

[@thesweatleaf]

Thank you for responding. I know the questions are kind of crazy, but I like to look at things from different angles to explore different possibilities. Thanks again, sir.

[@onwerslament]

Yesss :)

[@jakedarrin5249]

That sucks. Tell him I'm sorry and hope he gets better soon. ;)

[@Nick-on4hb]

I made a playlist of Bleach with Big Long Now between Swap Meet and Mr. Moustache to try and incorporate the song into the album and it's actually a great fit in my opinion. It adds some atmosphere to the last half of the record. Kurt should have allowed it on the album. It would have made the original album a nice even 12 tracks as well.

[@davidchez513]

According to LiveNirvana, originally the band wanted Bleach to be like this: Side A: Floyd the Barber Mr. Moustache School Scoff Sifting Side B: Love Buzz Swap Meet Paper Cuts Negative Creep About a Girl Blew

[@ef2389]

Do you have any info about the Mia Zapata show? Prob the only show from 93 there's no/little info on Thanks for all the cool Nirvana info. PS. They did play Paper Cuts in England with Dave in 1990 but that was one the last times it ever got played

[@JohnPurkey1]

She was a friend. In the film about Mia they interview Eric Greenwalt who was the singer of Subvert. I knew her but not as well as Eric

[@ricksanchez4709]

Advice for my new band? (We're all in highschool)

[@cprXcor]

Give up

[@ash_aiden]

@@cprXcor damn

[@cprXcor]

Lol I love u JK

[@thursdaynightcrank]

Just saw your video about leaving questions on the newest videos. Sorry lol. But did you know Mia Zapata or any of The Gits?

[@JohnPurkey1]

YES!! Mia was a very sweet person. The Gits were close to Subvert! Part of our Seattle punk gang for sure

[@thursdaynightcrank]

the Observer ever thought about doing a video on Mia? I wish I knew more about her. Frenching the Bully is an outstanding record start to finish

[@stephenkane2464]

Hey John! Are you aware of the journalist Richard Lee? What do you think of him?

[@JohnPurkey1]

man, that guy came out right away with the theories. I remember it was weird? If you have watched all of my videos then you remember the paranormal experience thing. That was the first time I heard anyone use the big word with the M! If you know what I mean

[@stephenkane2464]

Right, he might have been the first to go public. Especially for broadcasting through his community access tv show the footage of Kurt in the greenhouse, and made sure to point out the lack of blood compared to what was reported at the time as a point-blank shotgun blast to the head. And he brings up a lot of striking points!!!!

[@frogs4335]

you are literally the luckiest person i know. you fucking rule

[@deusfaust]

Thanks for all the great videos :) I was wondering if you ever heard Kurt listening to weird 80's synth, I heard he liked Devo and maybe Joy Division?

[@JohnPurkey1]

I wish my memory was better for detail like that. We could have listened to devo but more punk rock stuff.

[@deusfaust]

Thanks man

[@90sArchive]

Raymond Nelson Kurt never listened to Joy Division, he stated so in an interview

[@jtlemay4878]

Cant remember where I read kurt saying they only played it a few times because it was too difficult. That's saying a lot because Kurt's ability to play and sing totally different rhythms at the same time was uncanny

[@davidchez513]

Late but no, it's more like they hated that song for being too slow. There's two shows where a long time fan of the band requested Big Long Now twice (once in 1989 and another time in 1992) and both times Krist just told him: "We don't play that one anymore"

[@DodongaDongara]

I really don't know what it is, but maybe it's your voice, you just sound and look like such a genuine guy!

[@afrikakorps8362]

Cancer God John is the real deal! I was skeptical at first but he has blown me away...

[@mattt2581]

Angel Witch t-shirt?

[@JohnPurkey1]

yes

[@mattt2581]

Nice!

[@sudoapt8561]

Hi.

[@cross27]

IM SHOOK ADAD

[@dive_in_me226]

Hi i was wondering if I could speak to you personally? I'm hugely inspired by (the) Melvins, Nirvana, and Soundgarden (just to name a few). I have so many questions about creating my own original music in the same vein as these bands and you seem to be the perfect guy to talk to. I hate to get all gushy in the comments section but I eat sleep and breathe this style of music, I feel like if i'm not jotting lyrics or strumming out riffs i'll croak lol. Hope to hear from you!

[@JohnPurkey1]

I am happy to answer any questions. I want to keep my number private. I hope you understand.

[@dive_in_me226]

haha I meant more like maybe like talking on facebook or email?

[@jtlemay4878]

Papercuts!!

[@landoflogic107]

Were these both in '89?

[@JohnPurkey1]

it would have been 88 maybe or 89. I would have to look at the dates of those shows

[@landoflogic107]

the Observer well, here is the frustrating part. If it was the K Dorm show in '89, then it was almost taped. The '89 show has a circulating recording from the show featuring around 5 songs, but the recording is incomplete. We were that close to getting Big Long Now live. There is allegedly an uncirculated video, but who knows how complete that is.

[@boofert.washington2499]

So, no real proof? Got it.