Nirvana was an American rock band formed in Washington State in the late 1980s around Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and, later, Dave Grohl. The group became known for a sound blending grunge, punk rock, noise rock and pop melodies, driven by abrasive guitars, strong dynamic contrasts and Cobain’s vulnerable songwriting. With albums such as Bleach, Nevermind and In Utero, Nirvana became one of the most influential bands in alternative rock and one of the defining symbols of the 1990s grunge scene.