Nirvana’s “Nevermind” Achieves 700 Weeks on the Billboard 200 Chart.

Nirvana’s Achievements with Nevermind

Nirvana's “Nevermind” has spent an impressive 700 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart.

• READ MORE: Nirvana's 'Nevermind' at 30: A step-by-step guide from your favorite musicians

The groundbreaking 1991 album is only the ninth to reach this milestone and the fourth studio album, excluding greatest hits compilations. This translates to the album spending an inconsistent 13.4 years on the chart, where it currently ranks at number 120.

Other notable albums that have achieved similar longevity include Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” with 990 weeks, Metallica’s “Black Album” at 767 weeks, and Bruno Mars’ “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” with 706 weeks, as reported by Consequence.

Chart History and Impact

Additionally, greatest hits compilations also show remarkable staying power: Bob Marley and the Wailers at 865 weeks, Journey at 835 weeks, Creedence Clearwater Revival at 724 weeks, Eminem at 714 weeks, and Guns N’ Roses at 704 weeks.

“Nevermind” debuted in September 1991 and reached number one on the Billboard 200 the following January, surpassing Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous”. To date, the album has sold over 30 million copies.

During the album’s 30th anniversary in 2021, Dave Grohl discussed the writing process of “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Nirvana’s most iconic hit, with NME.

“I liked the riff that Kurt came up with because it’s percussive. Those muted, sharp sounds between the chords really matched the pattern of the drum riffs,” he explained. “To be honest, we were listening to a lot of Pixies at that point – it was the Bossanova era. And we were just having fun, really. We just came up with new song after new song every day. Krist Novoselic, I think, has tapes of all of this on his boombox – riff ideas that were never used, songs that were turned into songs for Nevermind (some of them).

“Of course, no one had any psychic foresight to imagine that the song would continue to do what it did,” Grohl continued. “We just fucking rocked it in a little rehearsal space that looked like a barn. I didn't know what the text was; Kurt's melody changed every time we played it, and it wasn't until we got into the studio to record it that I realized the power of the song. And not just lyrically or musically, but the rhythm of the song – it was really powerful. I think everyone was more focused on songs like “In Bloom”, “Lithium” or “Breed”; no one paid much attention to “Teen Spirit” while we were recording it. We just thought it was another cool song for the album.”

Steve Lamacq reviewed “Nevermind” for NME at its release in 1991, giving it a score of 9 out of 10. He described “Nevermind” as a record for those who want to appreciate Metallica but yearn for melody; it channels part of Pixies’ essence with captivating melodies and infuses the idea with fresh vigor. “A shock to the system,” he wrote. “Tracks like the excellent “In Bloom” and the best of the bunch, “Come As You Are,” demonstrate a deftness that combines tension and laid-back atmosphere to create cool, thoughtful turns.”

In other news, former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic’s new band, The Bona Fide Band, recently performed Nirvana’s debut single “Love Buzz” in Cobain’s hometown of Aberdeen, Washington.

Last year, Novoselic spoke with NME about the possibilities of the surviving members of Nirvana reuniting in the future. “I'd like to,” he stated. “There was a time after Kurt died when I said to myself, 'I'll never play these songs again.' This was part of the grief I went through. We don't want to overdo it; we try to make it special and be grateful.

“When the opportunity arises, we do it if we feel it’s right. For now, we just remember Kurt and do our thing.”

Tony Hawk recently reminisced about hearing “Smells Like Teen Spirit” for the first time in 1991, recalling, “Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked around,” he added, “And you just knew. You knew that was it,” he said.