“Contempt”: The Nirvana song used to mock Guns N’ Roses
Grunge dominated the world of American rock music during the early 1990s, and it is easy to see why. Initially, the scene formed as something of a rebellion against the complacency of mainstream rock, which, during the 1980s, became a hyper-masculine scene focused on commerciality and arena tours. Pioneering grunge outfits like Mudhoney, Melvins, and, later, Nirvana took rock back to its abrasive roots, and they certainly were not scared to call out the hypocrisy of mainstream rock either.
Throughout his life, Nirvana songwriter Kurt Cobain always leaned towards rebellious, grassroots, and DIY music. A disciple of the punk movement, Cobain’s adolescence was soundtracked by groups like The Raincoats, Black Flag, and The Slits. As you can imagine, therefore, the intense success of groups like Guns N’ Roses during the mid-1980s was a particular cause of frustration for Cobain, along with the rest of the budding grunge scene.
Guns N’ Roses represented the antithesis of grunge. The brash overproduction of Axl Rose’s band, along with the toxic masculinity that the band’s attitude often inspired, were entirely at odds with the DIY ethos of Cobain and the grunge movement in Seattle. Furthermore, the homophobia and racism inherent in Guns N’ Roses tracks like ‘One In A Million’ exacted a good summation of why the grunge scene was so important; it offered an alternative to the intolerance of the mainstream.
By the time Nirvana achieved commercial success in 1991, with the release of Nevermind, Guns N’ Roses had certainly exited their golden age. Nevertheless, their impact on the American rock scene had not waned, which was the cause of some anger for Kurt Cobain. The songwriter took virtually every opportunity to denounce the complacency of the musical mainstream, and it was something he regularly explored within his own songwriting.
The 1993 album In Utero is not often given the credit it deserves, as it largely failed to match the intense success of Nevermind. However, the album features some of Cobain’s greatest songwriting efforts, including the distinctly experimental offering ‘Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip’, which was recorded during the In Utero sessions and later included on expanded versions of the album. Seemingly, the root of the song lies with Cobain’s detest for Guns N’ Roses.
Speaking in 1993, Cobain said of the song, “Well, I guess it’s a contempt for the hairspray, Guns N’ Roses poisoned scene that was going on in LA two years ago.”
Adding to this, the original title of the track was reportedly ‘I’ll Take You Down to the Pavement’, which referred to the threats made by Axl Rose to Kurt Cobain during the MTV Video Music Awards in 1992. According to Cobain, the lyrics of the song, which were “made that up on the spot”, are often introspective but also show sincere disapproval of the Los Angeles rock scene.
Ironically, Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagen had taken his first steps into the music world as a gigging musician in Washington’s hardcore punk scene. Performing with groups like 10 Minute Warning, The Fastbacks, and The Fartz, McKagen had a front row seat to the early essence of the grunge movement, before relocating to Los Angeles and joining bubblegum rockers Guns N’ Roses.
While ‘Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip’ might not be the most popular or influential Cobain composition, its lyrical content is essential to understanding the rebellion and ethos at the heart of the grunge movement. The song also encapsulates the sense of humour that Nirvana regularly imbued their music with, endearing them to legions of fans across the world without having to resort to performative masculinity of homophobia – take notes, Axl Rose.
