The Seattle DJ Who Introduced Nirvana to the World | I Was There

Marco Collins is a radio DJ credited with putting Seattle on the map in the 1990’s by breaking bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam during his time as Music Director at Seattle’s 107.7 ‘The End.’ Marco has been called the mad conductor behind the 90's grunge explosion and his contributions to music history even landed him a spot in The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. In this episode of I Was There, Marco talks about how his passion for supporting Seattle's underground music scene led to the international stardom of music's biggest rock stars like Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder.
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[@VICE]

WATCH NEXT: Cassadaga is a small town in Florida that’s just like any other bedroom community-except that it’s filled with psychics. - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJDPY4mMmpd6fpI

[@shawnwhite2120]

Loved this video 👍👍👍your extremely blessed and lucky to have those memories you’ve lived

[@v8trax]

I'll gladly let this guy build my Playlist for me

[@YSuniverse856]

I can’t get enough of nirvana stories it’s the origin story of the 90s imo

[@maudtimix2352]

Shame, i have THE BOOK OF STORY'S NIRVANA !Amazing

[@marc07112]

Facts and that's coming from a hip hop head

[@kYA00h]

nirvana wasnt the first..they were the first to go MainStream

[@casinozonesix]

Nirvana was so transcendent we played it in the hood. Shout out to all the white kids from the burbs that were in the football team that brought that flavor to the weight room. It literally opened us up to each other’s cultures.. long live Kurt. He brought a generation of misfit kids together

[@radtmpw]

Bro people act like nirvana is the only good grunge band it’s so ridiculous. Alice In Chains might even be better than them. Sound garden is really good too

[@wasatch0]

Back when radio mattered. Corporate ownership has killed the best part of radio.

[@rufohill]

Save for Seattle's KEXP

[@evertking1]

That and the internet has destroyed life but here i am typing this so.... But it definitely has taken the mystery outta life. If i could go back in time and remove internet, i would.

[@DOPEdwarf]

No, new technology killed radio

[@evertking1]

@@DOPEdwarf it killed EVERYTHING

[@rickcorlett]

KEXP

[@dwarfwatercraft8809]

"We were supporting the local scene..." *Vice shows an image of Blur*

[@startervisions]

woo hoo

[@adonaiyah2196]

Blur was all the way in North London

[@st.albans5560]

They also mentioned supporting alternative music as well.

[@GriseldaBSF410]

@@adonaiyah2196 that was his point

[@user-rn3yr7lc8l]

saw em couple times with Blink 182

[@ReisigSeeds]

Dear Marco Collins, Being clean for 4 years is a HUGE accomplishment. Maybe it’s not as famous as being Seattle music to the world, but it’s definitely something that took a lot more work. Keep it up. You can do it!

[@nogrecords]

Amen. We're all proud of what you did for grunge, for Nirvana, Beck and all those artists, for music period. AND we're all equally proud of you for your sobriety. Keep it up G 🤘

[@marcocollins3254]

Thank you Heather. Hardest thing I've ever done.

[@bradpnw1897]

@@marcocollins3254 that's what I thought about that short documentary that was really good the best thing in there was that you had for years clean that is f****** phenomenal and incredibly physically hard with being very soul searching sometimes for quite a long time. I'm still in recovery (from the hard stuff, still take weed in pill form and smoke whenever I want) after being in rehab from here to Florida and trying everything in between, doing so much better now. In the last two-and-a-half years I have just started to rebuild my life but so worth it. You probably already know but being honest is the most important thing in any long-term sobriety or recovery as it seems like you already are which is great. You obviously are a very giving and have been always a giving person it seams and now is time for you to give back to yourself and for you to continue on Your path of recovery and sobriety and not only to continue to help yourself but to help others which is such a fullfilling feeling. Remember you are a beautiful talented giving and loving person. You have so much more Life to Live and many more Journeys and accomplishments which sobriety is going to make those all that much better. Bravo, Marco

[@rachel3165]

@@marcocollins3254You rock!!! ❤

[@avablue1]

I was in the 11th grade and remember when the end started, living in the Seattle area it was such a big deal that all of this great new music was coming from here. And then all of these bands from L.A and the rest of the country were trying to claim Seattle as their home. It was such an awesome time. I recall the moment when it was announced about Kurts death, I was in such disbelief. My friends and I used to drive to the Seattle Cobain house a lot and just hang out at the park across the street. My husband and I got married at that very park, Denny Blaine Lake park in 1998 and just celebrated our 23rd Anniversary in September… time sure does fly by.

[@blazed1945]

Me too is truly does I was in 11th grade as well in Orange County ca and for one moment the earth seemed to stop when his death was announced those were truly different times thanks for sharing this moment your absolutely beautiful too

[@avablue1]

@@blazed1945 thanks so much!!

[@blazed1945]

@@avablue1 anytime 😉

[@_-Zoe-_]

Happy 25th!

[@st.albans5560]

To me Nirvana changed the world so much so that I literally see the world like this: The world before Nirvana and then the world after Nirvana happened. I grew up in the 90's and never realized that Kurt was responsible for my fashion choice and why I fell in love with rock music post motley crue.

[@denverrandy7143]

Ditto👍

[@Meltedcheese567]

Literally?

[@lewkirk821]

Really? I think Alice in Chains are far better than Nirvana. Yeah Nirvana is good, but there are bands from that time that are just as good or better. Nirvana just happens to be the most palatable and thus popular.

[@st.albans5560]

@@lewkirk821 Never mentioned the word better once and I wasn't comparing bands.... Please stop being what's wrong with the internet sir.

[@SayHello2Kevin]

I was lucky enough to work with Marco in the radio biz around 2003-04, the dude is a legend.

[@ShainAndrews]

Back when there was such a thing as independent radio stations. Now you can fly to five different major markets and hear the same rotation.

[@alexlanphere7358]

Marco is now a DJ at KEXP Seattle. Excellent radio station, check it out!

[@matthewjames206]

Marco's show is on Thursday nights (10pm-1am) 👍👍

[@melorgomolox6828]

Yaaaay, I'm here in seattle! I can't wait to check it out this week

[@somerflowers]

I loved listening to the End growing up in Seattle. I remember all of this like it was yesterday. ❤️

[@SeaTK610]

Yes 107.7 was my thing and Kube 93 sucked haha

[@somerflowers]

@@SeaTK610 what, no T Man in the mornin for ya?! 🤣🤣🤣

[@breakthecycle5238]

ya I lived in Redmond and my radio alarm I would wake up to 107.7 THE END every morning. funny it took me years to realize why it was called "the end" bc it was the last frequency you could tune to on public fm radio 😆

[@Ron.Burgundy.]

I know! Like what happened?! it was awesome! Really revolutionized music. Love seattle for life ❤️

[@MathTravels]

I moved to Olympia Wa in 1993 and Seattle in 1994. I loved The End- I was 18-19 and The End played most popular alternative but also less commercial stuff. Sonic Youth- Bull in the Heather- heard it first on the End. They had local show and played Posies, Halobenders, Built to Spill, Bikini Kill, etc. The first time I heard about William S. Burroughs is when the End played his spoken word over Cobain's guitar feedback. I learned a lot about older music (older punk and new wave like Romeo Void and Violent Femmes) from regular history segments. For me personally the End became unlistenable after 1995-1996 when second wave of grunge hit with Bush and then with all nu metal/rap rock bands like Limp Bizkit and the second wave of pop punk etc in the late 90s. Basically when "alternative rock" stopped (in my opinion) being creative and just became another Top 40 sound. Fortunately there were different college and local radio stations that were more to my taste.But the End is an important part of my adolescence.

[@ChongtheNomad206]

Man. A true champion of Seattle music. Marco is still always on the lookout for great PNW artists. Remembers everyone and has the biggest library of music in his mind, it blows me away listening to him on KEXP. The best, truly.

[@marcocollins3254]

Thank you Alda! Such an honor to see you play the other day!

[@oh_kale_yeah1199]

Dudes we are getting old!! 😭😭😄

[@tessiepinkman]

So this is the man that I should thank just as much as the bands for saving my life? Well; I SALUTE YOU! And I know the struggle with drugs. Been clean from heroin for 1 year now, after living that HELLISH "life" for over 17 years (I'm 31). But since I've always been living for grunge, it's been helping me just as much through this hard time as the hard times in my youth.

[@dr.trixiecp5651]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻congrats to you! Well done! Keep on keepin on 🤩

[@blazed1945]

Hope your still sober people care

[@RichardReneeRachel]

In 1995/6, Marco played my band Haywire on the 7:30 spotlight as one of the best unsigned bands in Seattle. While we didn’t get to the level of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, etc, his support did propel us to great heights locally. (We did get contacted by Virgin Records, but that’s a story for another day.) Haywire transitioned to Radio Nationals and we had a GREAT run in the Pacific Northwest from the late 90s through 2005. Thank you Marco for the support!!!

[@inalavalamp]

Lucky enough to call Marco my friend. Congrats on sobriety!

[@marcocollins3254]

THANK YOU!

[@inalavalamp]

@@marcocollins3254 it’s Declan!

[@Stromboli15]

Yeeeaaaah Marco!! I very much had the pleasure of working with Marco at KWOD 106.7 in Sacramento after 2000. So great to see his early years!! 👌🤓❤️❤️❤️

[@adamneville9667]

whoever made this... CONGRATULATIONS you have put together a fucking brilliant documentary!

[@420villain]

There was a full length movie about him too a few years ago

[@miameramusic]

Marco is the coolest; he helped my band Severna Park so so much, putting us on his KNDD show when no one else would and introduced us to Modest Mouse + Harvey Danger who became huge influences on us.

[@ellenmacpherson361]

MARCO COLLINS, OMG, loved listening to you growing up! Thank you for your service 🤩

[@patrickreichert1442]

this is such a great synopsis of the legend Marco Collins

[@PopExpo]

Haha, 107.7 the end. In 6th grade the bus driver would have it playing in the morning and after school he would switch it to Kube 93.3, which was more hip hop/rap/pop. Lol, that bus driver

[@leorickt.9604]

Otto Mann

[@chrisbridston3438]

Ugh.. CUBE.. who was the annoying DJ who ran the morning show on cube .. he had this gravel voice

[@missc441]

@@chrisbridston3438 T-Man and Teri Free

[@Sonny1065LV]

Past the Cobain house just this morning on the way to SEA yesterday, it wasn't until I moved to Seattle that I realized how much Nirvana is truly loved here.

[@dannmarceau]

Mostly by posers that moved to my hometown of Seattle from elsewhere; 4/5 of Seattlites are now/ for the last thirty years are born elsewhere; you had to be here years before Nirvana and the rest of them to really be part of it. Seattle lost its "Seattle" years ago.

[@kYA00h]

@@dannmarceau bummer

[@rexx9496]

@@dannmarceau That's true of most cities these days. People are moving around more than ever. Hardly anyone will die in the city they were born in. You can go to almost any city and ask random people "do you plan to spend the rest of your life here" and most will say no.

[@artifactsandfungus1424]

Marco Collins has been following me on Instagram for years now. I just thought he was a Seattle radio dj... Didn't know he was THE Seattle radio dj. I'm honored.

[@brightlightbabe]

This brings back a lot of memories, I was fresh out of Art school, , loved this era!!

[@brandonriddett9783]

really cant get enough of Kurt’s voice, thank you so much for this video

[@mad27mike]

I remember living in Silverdale right out side of Bremerton when I first heard some of these bands on 107.7 the end

[@kingpharaoh2872]

Born in Seattle after this era, dope to see some of our culture on the mainstream

[@stopminormutilation]

We’ve advanced from listening to Radio shows to listening to KZbin in our headphones to ourselves.

[@theboyoofoly]

If you think that's bad you should hear what 107.7 is playing now, their slogan used to be "107.7 the END, Seattle's alternative" idk wtf it is now, maybe an alternative to decent music? 20 tracks of white people rapping then 1 Nirvana song (usually "Come as you are") the station is one of the worst in western Washington now, it used to be my favorite

[@okirrama3587]

And its way waaay accessible now compared back then

[@ImaCatMaia]

Devolution 😟

[@sequoia1171]

Hey Marco congratulations on your sobriety dude, keep after it

[@TrueCrimeQueen]

RIP KURT COBAIN 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️❤️

[@QueyBan]

courtney did it!!

[@massttrshrdrharmonicminor2002]

Teenage angst has payed off well But now I'm bored and old

[@bradleydenherder8361]

Oh my goodness. I grew up on 107.7 the end. My heart is so full tonight. I miss Seattle deeply tonight. It’s a great part of my life. Grateful you have 4 years Mr. so glad you’re clean today. Hugs 🤗

[@QueyBan]

Bro bro i'm in the very same boat with you right now. What a thing the END was for us in that time- I felt real joy those days. A soundtrack or friend to whatever else was popping. I miss seattle too, and it's still not there the way it was.

[@bradleydenherder8361]

@@QueyBan agreed. We moved away finally because it has gotten so bad and isn’t the same. I used to be able to nap in Cal Anderson park and not get robbed before! Ahaha oh so many memories!

[@kirkcobain7813]

SEATTLE SOUND! 🔥

[@joeButterfield]

Grew up listening to Marco!

[@psiklops71]

Marco i miss you best Seattle DJ ever

[@jeffreynichols6367]

He is not gone. Just left big corporate radio, now on KEXP, Thursday nights

[@ao1645]

90s were really good! Best music we ever had! Marco is a legend! Thank you!!

[@kianna270]

i miss this. i miss when music and the scene was like this. i wish there was a rock craze again, i’m tired of trap and rap and pop always being on top now. we’re overdue for a rock craze again 🖤

[@DMServant]

All music is amazing, modern day hip hop hits different with homies packed in a car bumping on subwoofers.

[@abhaysaurav7499]

@@DMServant lmao, try playing some nirvana or metallica in the car and bangin heads with the homies, the vibe is different and the lyrics actually mean somthing

[@mikeharris6722]

@Kianna Well I heard that the Montreal music scene is starting to get really hot

[@andreieugenio4757]

Wow, what I would have done to be in Seattle in the 90's.

[@MathTravels]

I was there- you know what, it was cool but every decade has its own thrills. See , listening to the radio and going to shows (saw Eliot Smith in a college cafeteria), it didn 't seem to me like I was witnessing history. I just loved music and had friends who were very knowledgable and I would go to shows with them. Pay attention to what's going on and some day you will have cool memories, too (if you don't have them already).

[@deketk]

This is great time warp stuff. I lived on Magnolia, work took me to Chehalis, Aberdeen, or Wenatchee. Racing back home late into the night; I had 107.7 going all the time This guy was like my ride or die for like 3 years!

[@gabe1254]

What did you do for work in Chehalis?

[@deketk]

@@gabe1254 I worked for a heavy equipment dealer. Road building, clearing, forestry-logging machinery.

[@gabe1254]

@@deketk Nice, I remember listening to 107.7 The End in the early 90’s as a kid in East Lewis county, we could still pick it up out there in the sticks. Burning batteries as we had no electricity at that time, Good times

[@deketk]

@@gabe1254 Outside of Port Angeles everything was static...so pretty out there though...I miss those days.

[@crystalchurch1810]

sweetness! i’m stoked to know more about all this! thank you 😊!!!

[@sense_maker1816]

RIP Kurt Cobain, one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived.

[@kevinlaguna2023]

Blow brain like Cobain

[@john-smith.]

@@kevinlaguna2023

[@Bettie_Rage]

Nope. Rip Layne Staley

[@IJFlores]

@@Bettie_Rage - RIP both. And Andy Wood, and Scott Weiland. And Chris Cornell. And….

[@melorgomolox6828]

Much strength to Marco Collins and his struggle with addiction. You're epic & as a Seattlite I want to thank you for your work and audacity. Misfit gold

[@issaquahwa]

Marco is the best. He introduced me to such wonderful music on The End. He still has a great ear for music.

[@pullyourluck]

love the seattle bands.....life changing......Love love Eddie vedder..he's one of my music man crushes.....that crooning voice is very very tranquilizing/feelgood

[@AveMalo]

People like this is what the Seattle scene is missing rn. Shout Miss Casey Carter

[@missc441]

107.7 was the only station I listened to in my car. I miss those days and how cool Seattle was then.

[@leonardoneves7450]

The grunge movement gave us Layne Staley, one of the best singers that ever walked this earth.

[@lgwappo]

1991 I watched a cable music video channel that played things MTV would never play. That's where I first saw Nirvana & I thought these guys are about to go really big. A few months later they did. Even MTV started playing their videos. I also discovered Social Distortion on that channel.

[@Dazza768]

It’s baffling how much nirvana footage there is it seems there whole short career was recorded

[@TiffanyLeClair]

There’s something to be said for someone that has so much conviction with music choices to give the preverbal middle finger to anyone who doubted, and inevitably made such an impact on “rock” music to the point of one of practically creating one hell of an impactful sub-genre that’s admired, to this day. I know my words are falling short, but damn! Effing legendary!

[@braedenbmx]

In grade 3 I used to plug my radio antenna into the wall socket grounding port to get the end from vancouver canada 1992

[@kevin_culver]

Born in Washington in 1990. Grew up listening to The End. My favorite radio station as a kid. Took a while to realize how lucky I was. 107.7, 104.9, 99.9.. between the 3 of them there was usually something great playing!!! Still listen to the music I first learned from these stations!

[@jeannagai5290]

Marco Collins! I’ve listened to this guy for 1000s of hours!

[@rossshields1619]

Just watched this. I celebrated a year yesterday! Great video!! Ahhh the memories ❤❤❤❤

[@indexoptions]

such a good grunge history video . rip kurt

[@brettcooper3893]

Lets not forget that Seattle at the time also had a pretty big pirate radio scene, thanks to the transmitters being sold by Stephen Dunifer out of Berkley. The pirates definitely had a role in breaking some of those bands.

[@Humble-iq5ue]

Great timing 👍 I've been on a nirvana kick lately and then this gets uploaded!

[@agent_ninety9]

Man, I was only probably 10 years old when this music came out I will never forget it. Talk about out with the old and with a new! So many amazing bands, I'm happy that I was able to live through it and it be part of my generation. God bless this DJ 🙂❤️

[@DiegoGonzalez-jo2tw]

We need more stories like these!

[@jasonfarrell3101]

This is great! I grew up listening to 107.7. Lots of great memories and music. Thanks Marco!

[@ImaCatMaia]

Ahhh, feckin' YEAH buddy!! 🤘🤘 Thank you for doing this, Vice! The End was my high school soundtrack

[@imee8843]

Depression sucks 😭😭 RIP Kurt 🙏🙏

[@o.o1775]

Seattle had so much much potential...

[@HASANALINZChannel]

Love it... Great memories..

[@rawsanity27]

Nirvana is the only music group/artist that I have whole Discography of. They are the best.

[@Trainy2]

That's not saying a lot, unless you count the bootlegs. They didnt have many proper albums.

[@radicalbeatz]

@@Trainy2 pipe down, the man said he has the whole discography

[@dougwilson6778]

I remember when the grunge scene was happening i was in high school and I wanted to go to Seattle to experience it first hand

[@supasaiyanmma]

This was awesome to watch thanks!

[@Aaron_leonard]

I cant imagine having local talent like that coming up at the same time

[@maxcullen3427]

Powerful video thanks 👏🏻

[@southwestxnorthwest]

Marco is a good guy, I remember listening to that fool on the radio when he still DJ'd for The End

[@40nights40daystv]

As a Seattle native the end was my no.1 radio station

[@brucelee4996]

Marco Collins, congratulations on your 4 years of sobriety. 👌👏

[@VisInteriora]

I really applaud your work and want to let you really shed light Marco. Hope you see this. :)

[@TheFatblob25]

@ 3:29 That's me in the middle between my friends Brandon & Phil. Trips me out to see this footage included in this segment!

[@RecoverArt_Ivan]

Ah the nostalgia! I was at the Seattle Center... those were my teenage years!

[@JohnPeel3904]

John Peel first played Nirvana in January 1989 on BBC Radio 1 in the UK. I don't think Marco Collins ever played Nirvana in the 80's, unless I'm completely wrong. In fact Dave Grohl in the BBC Nevermind 20th anniversary documentary (it's on KZbin and it's called When Nirvana Came To Britain) said that Nirvana became big in the UK before even in America. And that's due to John Peel exposure to Nirvana's music to the alternative rock/indie scene in the UK.

[@TheChrisLouis]

Such a different time. Great time to be alive.

[@kiekie84]

I was born in 1984 in Tacoma Washington I've lived here all my life I can remember listening to 107.7 the end and being 14 as I enjoyed the little bits of freedom I had snuck into life as a young teen living with her strict religious Christian mom and let me tell you it was amazingly fucking incredible and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

[@richlewis1879]

Unless you are alive or around at this time, people won't realize how big Nirvana was when they came out. Plus the whole story with Kurt just puts them in the pantheon of rock bands

[@Four_Eyes]

doubt anyone at Vice reads the comment section, but love this type of work from you guys.

[@candymanAM]

Grew up listening to the end loved this radio station still listen once in a while.

[@christianterrill3503]

My home town I remember listening to this guy as a kid

[@thedappercook]

It's extraordinary to think that there is a generation who have and never will set foot in a record store or get to smell the inside album sleeve or lyric booklet that comes with an album. The excitement of sifting through a bargain bin to find a bootleg or single or album that I haven't heard. I remember buying Nevermind and Oasis What's the Story Morning Glory two polar opposites yet at the same time the same in many ways and treasuring the hell out of those records in the 90s. I played the crap out of the cds (remember those!) And explored the booklets and sleeve notes that came with them. Incredible times!!

[@mrslonewolf1]

3:28 I still have that exact same Nirvana shirt

[@samsonchan1488]

What an incredible story ... thank you, Marco, for introducing a generation, my once misfit self included, to their anthem music.

[@Doggandbiblicalsluts]

Best times that i could get as teen.Best music,best movies,best friends,best fun.Im feel so lucky and grateful.

[@maxcullen3427]

Great man wish best in ur recovery

[@drpenrose]

The End was one of those corporate alternative radio stations that every city in the country had in the 90s. The station they should be talking about is KCMU. Look it up.

[@karid.4371]

I'm not sure if this is a real memory or something I've just imagined but I remember the Night 107.7 The End.. ended and for 24 hours they just played REM'S "Its the end of the world as we know it.. and I feel fine...: Man the 90s..... All these GEN Z'S loving everything 90s and thinking they are living it.. Honestly HAVE No Clue how special it really was.

[@gregmarquez8720]

What?!?! There's no more The End? Seattle area is home but I rarely ever get back since I left.

[@andreachung396]

The story about KC helping come out was fucking awesome. :")

[@JaneDoe42011]

We love you Marco!!! xoxo Seattle

[@MrMaybe1]

The 90´s ...... back when the world was a happy place ....

[@TheHSIHP]

Well, it wasn't but nostalgia will do that to you

[@MrMaybe1]

@@TheHSIHP was happier than now . . .

[@HASANALINZChannel]

Awesome.. great memories..Greating. NZ..

[@pikerkiler]

things were changing, and they put a quick stop to that

[@Reddyeforty]

Good to hear you are sober!

[@marcocollins3254]

Thank you! I'm glad I'm sober too!

[@idyllday]

thank you❤️❤️

[@terry2315]

I remember some guys I knew in a hair metal band getting ready to go to Los Angeles to meet record labels people. A few nights before they were to leave at a party that had someone (me) put on Nevermind. The party kind of stopped and everyone was sitting just listening to the music, blown away. Everyone knew then that music was going to be very different from here on out.