Novoselic Quits Music Biz

[AKA]

Novoselic Quits Music Biz

Former Nirvana bassist considers political career

By Augustin Sedgewick
Rolling Stone

"As far as the music industry goes," says former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, "I quit." Writing on the Web site of his current band, Eyes Adrift, Novoselic announced last week that he's fed up with the business and disbanding the project.

"While Eyes Adrift is an artistic success, the commercial side is anything but successful," Novoselic says. The band, which also includes Meat Puppets principal Curt Kirkwood and former Sublime drummer Bud Gaugh, formed in 2002 and released their debut last September, a frustrating experience for Novoselic. "After the release of the album the dynamic changed. Being on an independent label created many challenges for us . . . there was very little money for promotion. Our tour was in the red. My lot in life is that every band I've ever been in just falls apart.

"I can't read the magazines, listen to the radio or watch music television without feeling like I've just come in from outer space," Novoselic continues. "I just don't get it and I probably never did."

What instead? Novoselic, the president and founder of the Joint Artists and Music Promotions Political Action Committee (a first amendment advocacy group), plans to dedicate himself to more to political causes. "I'm relatively young," the thirty-eight-year-old writes, "and I want to follow my compulsions. I have big plans for 2004. Next year will be a pivotal year politically for every one of us in the USA and for myself, even more so. I see some real opportunities to make change. If you've been following my politics, you know that I will continue to work for inclusion, fairness and freedom."

(August 5, 2003)

[AKA]

Originally written by Krist Novoselic
Dear Friends,

Thank you all for your posts on the board. I am happy that there are so many wonderful people who like Eyes Adrift.

The board is a free for all. Remember what Col. Kurtz said about judgment? There is much judging, many stones cast from the safety of anonymity.

Are some posts anonymous? Yes and no. Being on the inside gives me a perspective gained from real information. The anonymous put forth speculation gleaned from who knows where? Perched behind the veil of the internet, they enjoy the freedom to construct theories about real people whom they know little about. These real people, Curt, Bud and myself (Krist) have put our faces on the main page of this site. Those are our eyes gazing at you on top of this page. You know our names. We created music and chose to share it with you all. We don’t need anonymity because we know who we are.

Watching what people do with the freedom of anonymity and how they abuse it, it's plain to see that they ultimatly reveal themselves. Isn't freedom wonderful!!!! I’m glad that people have a forum to express themselves, free of the sieve of a moderator.

So what’s up with Eyes Adrift? Pretty much nothing.

We came together in 2002 as three musicians who like to play. We came together as three people who shared common life experiences.

While Eyes Adrift is an artistic success, the commercial side is anything but successful.

Our First tour in the spring of 2002 was great. We played great shows, met great people and had great fun. We drew people just on our past histories. We had no product (except for silly T-shirts.)

After the release of the album the dynamic changed. Being on an independent label created many challenges for us. We were working outside of a very insular system. While our collective pasts did give us an advantage, it wasn’t enough to overcome the fact that there was very little money for promotion. We chose to put our money into creature comforts like a first class tour bus.

Turnout to our shows would range wildly, one night packed, the next sparse. Still , every night, we met with all of the people who wanted to say hi. I must have literally met a thousand people – you know who you are.

The turnout issue transformed into a financial one. Our tour was in the red. All indications were that Europe would be the same. It was that reality which ultimately kept us from going over there. I am still deeply disappointed, especially when I think of all of the wonderful people I met on the two US tours. I am disappointed that I will not make new friends in Europe—at least not soon.

I recall too many stories of people simply not being able to find the CD in stores. I know of many who just downloaded. Mixed reviews didn’t help the fact that we really didn’t sell many CD’s. I can’t honestly tell you how many we’ve sold but I can’t imagine it’s over 20,000 units.

A flop? No way!!! At this rate we’ll go gold in about a hundred years. Too long you say but isn’t music eternal? I’m in no rush.

The overwhelming majority of people don’t even know that there is an Eyes Adrift. People walk up to me and ask me about Sweet 69 or Sweet 76 or whatever tortured recollection of that musical triumph they can muster. I’ve found that people do get turned on to Eyes Adrift and that’s fulfilling.

Another fact that works against us is that we all live so far apart from each other. We are all connected to our respective homes and leaving is difficult.

I got to play with Curt and Bud. We made an awesome record. Bud is a great drummer and Curt a master songwriter and guitarist. In my life I’ve been extremely fortunate to have worked with some great talent. Yes friends I am very content. I am very honored. I’ve been to the mountain and let me tell you, the view is glorious. I want to thank all of the great players who shared their talent with me and I will forever hold these experiences near and dear to my heart.

What next? As far as the music industry goes, I quit. I can’t deal. I can’t read the magazines, listen to the radio or watch music television without feeling like I’ve just come in from outer space. I just don’t get it and I probably never did. My lot in life is that every band I’ve ever been in just falls apart. That hurts but I’ve got a thick hide from years of conditioning. Now please take note that I haven’t quit music, I’ve just quit the business. (I can’t complain about the business side of Nirvana. I’m not crying a river by any means.) I want to play more with Curt and Bud, they’re too good for me not to plug in my bass thus plugging into the cosmo-stream of transcendental rocking good times that those two charge me with.

I’m relatively young (38) and I want to follow my compulsions. I have big plans for 2004. Next year will be a pivotal year politically for every one of us in the USA and for myself, even more so. I’ve come off of nine years of political success and see some real opportunities to make change. You’ll all hear about my plans soon enough. If you’ve been following my politics, you know that I will continue to work for inclusion, fairness and freedom.

Friends, thank you all again. Please continue to speak freely on the Eyes Adrift board. Rant, rage and reveal. Pour out your heart or piss all over – freedom gives you the option!!! Freedom is a huge responsibility so please remember to respect it.

Krist Novoselic
July 27, 2003

[SBTB Geek]

I wish him the best. His work with Nirvana will never be forgotten.

[ABlairican Pie]

It's too bad things haven't worked out for him in the past ten years since the end of Nirvana. The music industry is in such weird straits anyway, so... Politics does seem to be his forte. I hope he's able to do some good in this upcoming year, because it will be pivotal, as he says.

It is strange, though, that Dave Grohl has been successful with the Foo Fighters, but Krist hasn't been too successful. At least he isn't quitting the music biz the way Kurt did.

[~*Hannah_Lee*~]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
It's too bad things haven't worked out for him in the past ten years since the end of Nirvana. The music industry is in such weird straits anyway, so... Politics does seem to be his forte. I hope he's able to do some good in this upcoming year, because it will be pivotal, as he says.

It is strange, though, that Dave Grohl has been successful with the Foo Fighters, but Krist hasn't been too successful. At least he isn't quitting the music biz the way Kurt did.

I agree with all of that. I mean, maybe since things havent been working out for him, that's a sign that he needs to move on to something else. He seems to have a very positive outlook on a lot of things, and that is what makes him so different from the way Kurt was. I'm sure Krist will be around for a while to come. I wish him the best of luck and hope that maybe his political career will be what he's looking for.

I'm sure he'd make a better candidate for Governor of California than Larry Flynt....

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by ~*Hannah_Lee*~
I agree with all of that. I mean, maybe since things havent been working out for him, that's a sign that he needs to move on to something else. He seems to have a very positive outlook on a lot of things, and that is what makes him so different from the way Kurt was. I'm sure Krist will be around for a while to come. I wish him the best of luck and hope that maybe his political career will be what he's looking for.

I'm sure he'd make a better candidate for Governor of California than Larry Flynt....

Maybe Krist will make a better candidate than Gary Coleman or
AHHHH-nold.....

You got to hand it to Larry Flynt for one thing, he nailed the Republicans who were trying to impeach Clinton by exposing their own *youthful indiscretions"....

[~*Hannah_Lee*~]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
Maybe Krist will make a better candidate than Gary Coleman or
AHHHH-nold.....

You got to hand it to Larry Flynt for one thing, he nailed the Republicans who were trying to impeach Clinton by exposing their own *youthful indiscretions"....

I respect these people for trying to get involved with politics...but I wouldn't do it when my movie was still in theaters....it seems to come off as more of a publicity thing that way.