Here's a funny one. This year, the MTV Video Music Awards have dropped the show's Best Rock category for the first time in the show's 37-year history. But today, the folks at MTV have announced that the network's highest lifetime achievement honor, the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, will be bestowed upon Nirvana. Finally, some institutional recognition for Nirvana!
The Beatles got a Video Vanguard Award during the first VMAs in 1984, but that award has only gone to rock bands a handful of times, and it hasn't gone to any since Duran Duran in 2003. Usually, the Vanguard Award gives a pop legend an opportunity for a greatest-hits performance; that's what Mariah Carey did when she won it last year. I guess it's possible that Nirvana could do another TV performance with different guests. They've done that a few times in recent years, most recently with Post Malone at the SNL 50 concert last year.
Today happens to be the 34th anniversary of Nirvana's first VMA appearance. On this day in 1992, they performed "Lithium" after threatening to play "Rape Me," got into a backstage tiff with Guns N' Roses, and accepted the Best New Artist award from Boyz II Men and Wilson Phillips. They defeated Arrested Development, Tori Amos, and Cracker. Kurt Cobain wore a Daniel Johnston shirt. This year, Stella Lefty and Will Ferrell's son are up for that very same award.
This year's VMAs go down 9/27. They'll air on CBS and MTV and stream on Paramount+.
