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Tweet Spirit: Seattle teen posts rare photos of Nirvana’s first show, internet explodes

Rare photographs from Nirvana's first concert in March 1987 have been unearthed and shared by an unlikely source: Maggie Poukkula, the 19-year-old daughter of Tony Poukkula, a member of Seattle band Laytem who grew up with Kurt Cobain and hosted the fledging outfit's first show in his basement. Last week, Poukkula tweeted a photo strip featuring three snapshots from the 1987 gig in Raymond, Washington, along with the caption, "Pictures of my dad and Kurt Cobain playing together back in the day." At the time, Nirvana's lineup consisted of Cobain, bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Aaron Burckhard, though that night, Poukkula reportedly joined the outfit on guitar for, at least, two Led Zeppelin covers. "I had no idea that those were during Nirvana's first concert," Poukkula tells Rolling Stone. "My dad showed me them a while back, but he never mentioned that's what was going on in the photos. I found out because of all the articles. I didn't realize it was such a historical thing. I thought they were just cool pictures of my dad and Kurt jamming together." Poukkula said she found the photos tucked away inside her father's biographies of Cobain and Nirvana.

Just when you think you’ve seen everything there is to see about Nirvana, a Seattle teenager shakes up the music world with a tweet. Last week, 19-year-old Maggie Poukkula tweeted out a few photos from Nirvana’s first-ever gig, and as expected, the internet has gone wild.

The images are from a March 1987 basement show in Raymond, Washington. Tony Poukkula, Maggie’s father, member of the band member of Seattle band Laytem, and a high school classmate of Kurt Cobain, joined the band for a few songs and reportedly hosted the show.

The daughter found the photos hidden away in her dad’s copies of Cobain’s biography and shared them with the world, with the caption “Pictures of my dad and Kurt Cobain playing together back in the day” — not realizing the historical significance.

“I had no idea that those were during Nirvana’s first concert,” Maggie Poukkula says to Rolling Stone. “My dad showed me them a while back, but he never mentioned that’s what was going on in the photos. I found out because of all the articles. I didn’t realize it was such a historical thing. I thought they were just cool pictures of my dad and Kurt jamming together.”

As Metro UK points out, Nirvana’s lineup back then consisted of Cobain, bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Aaron Burckhard, with Poukkula reportedly joining in on guitar for two Led Zeppelin covers.