The pretender

I've previously written and indeed spoken about the fact that Nirvana's Nevermind was (true to cliche) the most significant album in the formation of my musical tastes - one that swiftly led to the discovery of countless other bands, as well as prompting a complete clear-out of what then passed as my record collection. Among the LPs unceremoniously binned were Appetite For Destruction and the Use Your Illusion albums. I later saw the error of my ways and reinvested in the former, but it nevertheless felt strange watching Dave Grohl guesting with typical gusto on 'Paradise City' at Guns 'N' Roses' gig in Tulsa this week, doing his best to distract attention from Axl Rose's ropey vocal performance. Kurt Cobain doubtless wouldn't have approved, but what the hell.

Grohl being invited on stage for a guest appearance at someone else's show makes a difference from Foo Fighters' CalJam festival last month, at which the curators came together with Liam Gallagher and Aerosmith's Joe Perry to cover 'Come Together' and also collaborated with Rick Astley for a mash-up of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. Cobain definitely wouldn't have approved of that...