--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The R.E.M and Nirvana successes don't…" description: "\"The R.E.M and Nirvana successes don't mean much to me except as a potential distraction for bands who want to cash in on the trend. Don't try to sound ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/greg-ginn-18222_band_the-r-e-m-and-nirvana-successes-don-t-me_2821849.png" --- # The R.E.M and Nirvana successes don't mean much to me… ![“The R.E.M and Nirvana successes don't mean much to me except as a potential distraction for bands who want to cash in on the trend. Don't try to sound like someone else. R.E.M and Nirvana don't sound like anyone else.” quote by Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/greg-ginn-18222_band_the-r-e-m-and-nirvana-successes-don-t-me_2821849.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/greg-ginn-18222_band_the-r-e-m-and-nirvana-successes-don-t-me_2821849.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/greg-ginn-18222_band_the-r-e-m-and-nirvana-successes-don-t-me_2821849.png) > “The R.E.M and Nirvana successes don't mean much to me except as a potential distraction for bands who want to cash in on the trend. Don't try to sound like someone else. R.E.M and Nirvana don't sound like anyone else.” [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Originality matters; copying trends dilutes authenticity, as true innovators stand apart. **In simple terms:** Be original; copying others loses authenticity. Key Takeaway Cultivate unique voice, avoid imitation. Themes creativity authenticity originality Mood defiant inspired Type musical philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - artistic projects - branding - personal style Key Concepts music culture psychology Questions to Reflect On - What unique element defines your work? - How do you balance originality with market expectations? A Different Perspective Innovation can be risky without audience support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Nirvana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nirvana/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Trends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trends/) ## Related quotes > [The REM and Nirvana successes don't mean much to me except as a potential distraction for bands who want to cash in on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/the-rem-and-nirvana-successes-don-t-mean-much-to-me-except-as-a/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [Hang in there. If you believe what you're doing is unique. Otherwise give up or sound like Nirvana or Pearl Jam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/hang-in-there-if-you-believe-what-you-re-doing-is-unique-otherwise/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [I know when I started I would have been happy to sound like the Beatles or Joe Tex or whoever. You want to sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-anderson/i-know-when-i-started-i-would-have-been-happy-to-sound-like-the/) [Jon Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-anderson/) > [I was big into grunge, like Nirvana and Hole, when I was younger, which has been a really huge inspiration because of its rawness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-lo/i-was-big-into-grunge-like-nirvana-and-hole-when-i-was-younger-which/) [Tove Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-lo/) > [If you take a band like Nirvana, their biggest hits are structurally the same as even a hair metal band's biggest hits. The structure's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-osborne/if-you-take-a-band-like-nirvana-their-biggest-hits-are-structurally/) [Buzz Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-osborne/) > [After watching a couple of live performances of bands like Nirvana, I was really excited and inspired by how raw and powerful it was.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/panda-bear/after-watching-a-couple-of-live-performances-of-bands-like-nirvana-i/) [Panda Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/panda-bear/) > [I like Nirvana, but I couldn't say that I was influenced by them. I like to tell a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-alexakis/i-like-nirvana-but-i-couldn-t-say-that-i-was-influenced-by-them-i/) [Art Alexakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-alexakis/) > [Punk helped musical fringes get attention. Stuff like Nirvana could never have happened without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/punk-helped-musical-fringes-get-attention-stuff-like-nirvana-could/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [Weird Al was something that kids would listen to. It's funny, super funny, smart. It's just kind of jokey. I remember hearing 'Smells Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/weird-al-was-something-that-kids-would-listen-to-it-s-funny-super/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [Bands like Nirvana had theatrical sensibilities, playing with image, challenging assumptions people were making about them, the apex being Kurt Cobain in a dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-palmer/bands-like-nirvana-had-theatrical-sensibilities-playing-with-image/) [Amanda Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-palmer/) > [People act like Nirvana invented grunge; they just took it and personified it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/people-act-like-nirvana-invented-grunge-they-just-took-it-and/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [I always like to think that I make movies that are like Nirvana songs. They have a slow verse, and then they pop into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/i-always-like-to-think-that-i-make-movies-that-are-like-nirvana-songs/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) > [I blow my own mind like Nirvana, and go the whole nine like Madonna.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-pun/i-blow-my-own-mind-like-nirvana-and-go-the-whole-nine-like-madonna/) [Big Pun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-pun/) > [The idea of starting a band because of Nirvana and thereby trying to sound like Nirvana is totally not the case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/the-idea-of-starting-a-band-because-of-nirvana-and-thereby-trying-to/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [I never wanted to start a band to sound like Nirvana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/i-never-wanted-to-start-a-band-to-sound-like-nirvana/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) ## More by Greg Ginn > [There's not much music I'll listen to if it doesn't have pretty heavy swing. Rhythm is so important. Punk rock would have more power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/there-s-not-much-music-i-ll-listen-to-if-it-doesn-t-have-pretty-heavy/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [It is a fact that each song an artist creates is unique and although fans tend to be loyal, ultimately the quality of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/it-is-a-fact-that-each-song-an-artist-creates-is-unique-and-although/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [There are several books out on punk history, but I haven't read any of them. I was there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/there-are-several-books-out-on-punk-history-but-i-haven-t-read-any-of/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [People from major labels were afraid to go to Black Flag gigs throughout most of the bands existence. They treated our gigs as something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/people-from-major-labels-were-afraid-to-go-to-black-flag-gigs/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [The public is usually slow to catch on to new things, and it's important that musicians stick to their guns and not look for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/the-public-is-usually-slow-to-catch-on-to-new-things-and-it-s/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [Black Flag was formed in 1977. We first recorded in 1978.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/black-flag-was-formed-in-1977-we-first-recorded-in-1978/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [I didn't have a lot of overtly political songs. I think it was more the actions of the group that were threatening to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/i-didn-t-have-a-lot-of-overtly-political-songs-i-think-it-was-more/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [I didn't want to wait around for some business entity to come around and give me money and tell me what to do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/i-didn-t-want-to-wait-around-for-some-business-entity-to-come-around/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [The small companies who feel that the majors are a threat, or are predators, will use that as an excuse for their eventual downfall.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/the-small-companies-who-feel-that-the-majors-are-a-threat-or-are/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [I had business experience. I had made my living designing and building electronic equipment. Basic business was not new to me, but the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/i-had-business-experience-i-had-made-my-living-designing-and-building/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [I listen to everything that comes in. I'm not real worried about demo sound quality. I can hear through that sort of thing. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/i-listen-to-everything-that-comes-in-i-m-not-real-worried-about-demo/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [As a label, you have to treat every group and every record as a unique entity. I think that that has been our success,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/as-a-label-you-have-to-treat-every-group-and-every-record-as-a-unique/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [Stores can be indifferent to something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/stores-can-be-indifferent-to-something-new/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [It took us two years to get our first real gig. That was a big dream. We ended up booking a lot of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/it-took-us-two-years-to-get-our-first-real-gig-that-was-a-big-dream/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [We've gotten involved in cat rescue we take them in and find homes for them. I've always loved cats. I saw how homeless cats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/we-ve-gotten-involved-in-cat-rescue-we-take-them-in-and-find-homes/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) [Explore all 35 Greg Ginn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. 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