September 24, 1991. Nirvana‘s major-label debut Nevermind catapults the band to legendary status and changes rock music forever. But it’s not the only notable release of the day.
Over the years–and understandably so, given its perfect-album status and the fact that it’s credited with bringing an entire musical movement into the mainstream–Nevermind‘s release has overshadowed a few other pretty important musical moments that took place on the 24th of September, 1991. And two of those moments came courtesy of of Nirvana’s direct contemporaries.
As Nevermind was being celebrated from coast to coast, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were further down the West Coast, releasing Blood Sugar Sex Magik on the exact same day. Oddly enough, both bands had breakthrough releases in 1989: Nirvana with their debut album Bleach and the Chili Peppers with their breakthrough album Mother’s Milk. But it was their 1991 efforts that would lead to both bands to super-stardom. Nirvana’s has been well-documented–as has RHCP’s–but it’s not mentioned often enough what a juggernaut of an album they had in Blood Sugar Sex Magik: Number 3 on the Billboard 200, five hit singles, videos blanketing MTV. Just absolutely massive.
Perhaps not on the same scale–but just as vital–Nirvana’s Seattle buddies Soundgarden unleashed their major-label debut Badmotorfinger on 9/24/91. And while the album didn’t see the same amount of commercial success as Nevermind or Blood Sugar Sex Magik, it’s importance can’t be understated. It’s a challenging listen, with it’s heavy metal roots, unique tunings, and offbeat time signatures. But it’s a rewarding album that, when grouped together with Nevermind and Pearl Jam’s Ten (released about a month earlier), showcased the wide range of rock exploding out of the Seattle scene.
So give Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Badmotorfinger their due today, just as you will Nevermind. And if you’re a proper music geek like me, make note of this: September 24, 1991 also saw the debut of Britpop trailblazers Blur with Leisure and A Tribe Called Quest‘s groundbreaking sophomore album The Low End Theory, which fused hip hop with jazz.