The first Nirvana record ever played on the radio is going up for auction! This 7-inch vinyl test pressing from 1988 features Nirvana’s cover of “Love Buzz” by Shocking Blue. It was the band’s debut single, released by Sub Pop.
Scott Vanderpool, a Sub Pop employee, got his hands on the test pressing and played it on a local college radio station. In a certificate of authenticity, he shared, “While I was working at Sub Pop, any test pressing that came in I immediately took to the radio station to play on that show. So your Nirvana test pressing … has the distinction of being the first Nirvana studio recording played on the radio anywhere.”
This special “Love Buzz” test pressing is part of Goldin’s 2025 Fall Music Auction catalog. If you want more details, check out Goldin.co.
Nirvana’s cover of “Love Buzz” later appeared on their 1989 debut album, Bleach. The band went on to release two more iconic albums: Nevermind in 1991 and In Utero in 1993, before the tragic death of frontman Kurt Cobain in 1994. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of music history!
