Sliver (song)

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“Sliver”
“Sliver” cover
Single by Nirvana
from the album Incesticide
B-side "Dive"
Released September 1990
Format CD, 7", 12"
Recorded April-July 1990
Genre Grunge
Length 18 min 53 s
Label Sub Pop (SP-073)
Producer Jack Endino
Nirvana singles chronology
"Love Buzz"
(1988)
"Sliver"
(1990)
"Candy/Molly's Lips"
(1991)

"Sliver" is a song by the band Nirvana. It was originally released as a non-album single in 1990 by Sub Pop (SP-073, outside the USA through Tupelo). It later appeared on their compilation album Incesticide in 1992 and their 2002 'best of' album Nirvana. DGC re-released the song to radio to support the release of Incesticide, resulting in significant airplay.


A live performance is included on the 1992 "In Bloom" single, another live performance can be seen on the 1994 home video Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! (released on DVD in 2006), and a third live performance was included on the live album From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah in 1996. An early acoustic version would later appear on the 2004 box set With the Lights Out as well as on Sliver: The Best of the Box released in 2005.

[edit] Chart positions

Sliver was released as a non-album single in 1990 making the top 100 in the UK. Retail singles were not re-released for Incesticide, however the song charted in Ireland two years after release, shortly after the success of Nevermind. A music video was made for "Sliver" as promotion for Incesticide in March 1993. The video starts with Kurt Cobain's daughter Frances Bean Cobain dancing to the opening bassline and the band in a small, dark, cramped room playing their instruments. Kurt sings to the camera and his movements change with the music, with Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl in the background of the room. In between shots there are scenes of the baby and a cymbal-banging monkey toy; similar to the battery bunny, which claps to the beat with its cymbals. The video ends with Cobain destroying objects in the room.

Year Single Chart Position
1993 Sliver Hot Modern Rock Tracks (US) No. 14
1992 Sliver Official Irish Singles Chart No. 23
1991 Sliver UK Singles Chart No. 90 [1]

[edit] Single

The following songs appeared on the single:

  1. "Sliver" (Peters, Cobain, Novoselic)
  2. "Dive" (Cobain, Novoselic)
  3. "About a Girl" (live February 9, 1990, on 12" and CD versions only)
  4. "Spank Thru" (live February 9, 1990, on CD versions only)

The single was recorded using equipment owned by the band Tad, who had left it in the studio while on a dinner break. The entirety of the recording was completed during the hour that Tad was away.

"Sliver" features drummer Dan Peters of Mudhoney. "Dive" and the live tracks feature drummer Chad Channing.

[edit] Accolades

  • Ranked #6 in NME's "Top 20 Nirvana Songs" (2004)
  • Ranked #4 in Q's "10 Greatest Nirvana Songs Ever" (2004)