By Bryan Hood | Well, this is unexpected: Paul McCartney is joining Nirvana. For one night, that is. The former Beatle and the surviving members of the legendary grunge group will play together at tonight’s “12-12-12″ Hurricane Sandy benefit concert, reports the Guardian. McCartney will, of course, fill in for Kurt Cobain, who took his life in April 1994. This will be the first time that Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic have played Nirvana songs together since the frontman’s death, and McCartney and the duo will be joined on stage by former Nirvana touring guitarist (and Cindy Crawford buddy) Pat Smear. If you’re surprised by the pairing, you’re not the only one. McCartney didn’t really seem to realize who he was rehearsing with when he started playing with Grohl and Novoselic. ”I didn’t really know who they were,” he told the paper. “They are saying how good it is to be back together…And somebody whispered to me: ‘That’s Nirvana. You’re Kurt.’ I couldn’t believe it.” Pitchfork notes that a McCartney spokesperson, couldn’t fully confirm this. We don’t know how well this is going to turn out (Kurt Vile, Kathleen Hanna, even Lil B, probably would’ve been a better fit), but we’re definitely intrigued enough to tune in.
When “12-12-12″ was first announced last month, promoters promised it would feature “some of the biggest stars in rock and pop music.” That’s definitely proven to be the case. In addition to “Nirvana,” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, the Rolling Stones, Jon Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Kanye West, and a handful of other stars will appear at the benefit, proceeds from which will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, an organization set up to help distribute need to those affected by Sandy. “12-12-12″ takes place tonight at New York’s Madison Square Garden at 7:30 p.m. EST., and will be broadcast online, on TV, and theaters across the country.
Image: Paul McCartney/Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Image
