Barry Peak's ticket from the cancelled 1991 show
June 22nd 1992 and the high tide of Nirvana was about to break. They were playing the King’s Hall Belfast, with a supreme supporting cast – Teenage Fanclub and the Breeders, plus a heavily pregnant Courtney Love. There was theatre, illness, timeless and disaffected songs, ballet moves and a concert experience that was more akin to a wild ceremony of youth. A previous Belfast show had been cancelled and the ever-surging success of Nirvana meant that the venues just got bigger. Hence the King’s Hall. Kurt’s substance abuse was becoming public and the band was under duress. But still they played out of their skin and changed the lives of all present. For musicians like Tim Wheeler and Barry Peak it was transformational. For the future music publisher and DJ Jonny Tiernan it was the perfect initiation rite. A fan called Chris had his striped jumper commissioned by Courtney for Kurt. And for journalist David Cananagh, it was the chance to examine up close one of the most compelling bands and rock relationships at a pivotal, fractious moment
Stuart Bailie
