Nirvana biographer spoke about the influence of Los Brujos on the song “Very Ape”

During the decade of the 90s, a myth began to circulate in the Argentine music scene. The story suggested that, during their only visit to the country before their concert at the Vélez Sarsfield Stadium, the members of Nirvana had witnessed a performance of “Kanishka” by Los Brujos and had incorporated elements of that melody in the song “Very Ape”, which was part of their album “In Utero”. Over the years, the remarkable similarities between the two compositions fueled speculation, but the big question remained: was it simply coincidence? Recently, Michael Azerrad, author of the biography “Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana”, confirmed this episode in an interview conducted on the podcast “Music Now”, sponsored by Rolling Stone magazine. Azerrad, whose name is on everyone’s lips due to the relaunch of his book, did not hesitate to address the subject that generated intrigue for decades. The story goes like this: Los Brujos, the band that had the honor of opening for Nirvana at an epic concert in Argentina in 1992, had conquered audiences with their rendition of ‘Kanishka,'” Zerrad revealed, before delving into the musical connection. If you listen to ‘Kanishka’ and then immerse yourself in ‘Very Ape’, you will notice certain musical similarities. However, I think Kurt Cobain took an initial idea and transformed it into something completely different,” he said. The story of Nirvana and Los Brujos in Argentina in 1992 became an essential part of the country’s musical mythology. Fans of both bands can continue to debate the real influence of “Kanishka” on “Very Ape”, but thanks to Azerrad’s words, they now have one more piece of the puzzle that helps to understand the rich history of alternative music in Argentina and around the world.

Original source in Spanish