Charles Peterson's 'Grunge' Gallery
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Nirvana, 1991: "Krist and Kurt at the Seattle record release of Nevermind at Beehive Records. An amazing intimate late afternoon show and the last time I (or anyone?) would photograph Nirvana live stageless." - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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Soundgarden, 1986: "Soundgarden at Seattle's Vogue Tavern on a "Sub Pop Sunday" night in 1986. This photo was used for the cover of their first EP, Screaming Life, and was the first photo of mine to really make people sit up and take notice with its larger than life, in your face, yet oddly artistic for underground rock and roll sensibility." - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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Alice In Chains, 1988: "The only time I shot Alice in Chains live was very early on, here at the Central Tavern in 1988. They weren't part of the Sub Pop scene and not really my cup of tea so to speak. But I love this shot of Layne taken through the hair of their decidedly more heavy metal headbanging audience than the other grunge bands." - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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Nirvana stagediver, 1990: "Taken at a 1990 Nirvana show in at the University of Washington HUB Ballroom, I remember tugging on this stagediver's pant leg as he climbed to the top of the p.a., and shouting to him "Don't to do it!" Since he wouldn't listen to me I set up for the shot. I'm glad he didn't take my advice!" - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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Nirvana, 1989: "Another back to nature shot with Nirvana for a promo shoot for their first LP 'Bleach.' They found the idea very silly and Krist started acting out, cracking up Kurt. Ya gotta love Kurt's Scratch Acid t-shirt!" - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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Green River, 1985: "An early days shot of the band that started it all, the mighty Green River that would spawn into Mudhoney and Pearl Jam. Here legendary producer Jack Endino reaches out to Mark Arm as he climbs on the monitor at Seattle's Ditto Tavern in 1985." - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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Mudhoney, 1988: "Mudhoney's third ever gig at Seattle's Central Tavern. In the background, arms overhead, is Sub Pop founder Bruce Pavitt, and ace illustrator Ed Fotheringham is holding the ubiquitous can of Schmidt beer. I love how the fish on the beer can mimics Mark Arms bendy moves!" - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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Soundgarden, circa 1987: "Soundgarden in the lily pads at Seattle's arboretum park for an early (1987?) promo shoot. It took forever to convince guitarist Kim Thayil (far right) to wade out. It looks like he's enjoying it but he actually griped the whole time!" - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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Bruce Pavitt & Kim Warnick, 1993: "Sub Pop's Bruce Pavitt talks with Kim Warnick of the Fastbacks next to the cigarette machine at Seattle's legendary Crocodile Cafe during a Sub Pop party in 1993. The Crocodile is one of the few remaining clubs from these days and a large print of this hangs there now as part of a permanent show of my work." - Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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Screaming Trees' Mark Lanegan: "[This is] Screaming Trees' Mark Lanegan for a Sub Pop shoto shoot in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood in 1992. Mark hates having his photograph taken so I posed (in other words hid) him in my 1967 Buick Special. He chain smoked the entire time, lighting one cigarette after another with the previous one. Classic." - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, 1991: "After the Beehive [Records] show [for Nevermind's release in 1991] ended Kurt slumped down outside exhausted and was beseiged by autograph seekers. It seemed quite alien to him and a portent of things to come." - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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The Fluid, circa 1989: "The Fluid from Denver, Colorado, were one of the first outside-of-Seattle bands signed to the Sub Pop roster. In the audience looking into the camera is UK music journo Everett True on assignment for the first time in Seattle for the Melody Maker feature that would break the Seattle scene to the rest of the world." - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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L7, 1990: "L7 from Los Angeles were another Sub Pop signing from outside the Pacific Northwest who fit in perfectly with what was going on at Sub Pop. This is at Seattle's Vogue Tavern in 1990. Guitarist Donita Sparks in full grunge hair glory." - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A
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Nirvana, 1992: "One of my personal favorite shots of Kurt Cobain form the UK Reading Festival in 1992. I was one of the few photographers allowed on the stage for the entire show and part way Kurt looked over, seemingly to check if everything was okay, as if the 45,000 screaming fans in front of him didn't exist. Priceless." - photographer Charles PetersonBack to the Charles Peterson Q&A