The First Nirvana Song Ever Played on the Radio Is Up for Auction

Before “Smells Like Teen Spirit” blew up MTV and changed rock forever, Nirvana’s first moment on the airwaves came from something a lot scrappier: their 1988 cover of “Love Buzz.”

The song, originally by Dutch rock band Shocking Blue, was the band’s first studio recording to ever get radio play—and it marked the beginning of grunge’s slow climb from Seattle basements to global dominance.

Back in ’88, Sub Pop Records had just pressed a few test copies of the band’s debut single. One of those landed in the hands of Scott Vanderpool, a local DJ and Sub Pop insider. The minute it hit his mailbox, Vanderpool threw it on his Seattle radio show. That spin made music history, even if nobody realized it at the time.

That very same test pressing—a 7-inch vinyl stamped with the Sub Pop logo—is now up for auction.

As of last night, bidding had already hit $8,500 (and you might want to check if it’s climbed since). It’s a rare piece of early Nirvana lore, representing the moment they went from garage band to on-air artists.

“Love Buzz” went on to appear on Nirvana’s 1989 debut album Bleach, the raw, heavy record that first showcased Kurt Cobain’s growl and the band’s signature mix of punk energy and melodic hooks.

It might not have topped charts, but Bleach built the underground buzz that set the stage for Nevermind just two years later.

For fans of vinyl, Sub Pop, or Seattle’s legendary grunge scene, this auction isn’t just about owning a record—it’s about holding a piece of rock history. Not bad for a $1 single from a tiny indie label that once just hoped people would listen.