While former Nirvana skins-pounder Dave Grohl has stepped out from behind his drumkit to lead the Foo Fighters, his ex-bandmate Krist Novoselic is still avoiding the spotlight.
In his new musical endeavor, Sweet 75, Novoselic has switched from bass guitar to guitar but is still second-fiddle - this time to a vocalist/bass guitarist named Yva Las Vegas. Drummer Adam Wade (Jawbox, Shudder to Think) rounds out the trio's lineup."I never set out to be a front person," Novoselic said during a telephone interview with the Deseret News. "I just wanted to make music and it feels good doing it again. I'm looking forward to people discovering Yva."
It certainly helps that Sweet 75 is so different from Nirvana. Las Vegas had performed in rock and salsa groups, and her influences range from Janis Joplin to Nina Hagen. When she met Novoselic in late 1994, she pleaded ignorance to the music of his former band. Fortunately, the two turned out to have a lot in common.
"We had reckless lifestyles in our 20s and learned a lot," he said. "We try to be hopeful. Cynicism is a real turnoff."
Novoselic said he actually met Las Vegas at his 29th birthday party, where she performed. And though he was impressed by her voice, he was wary about being in another band, especially so soon after the death of former bandmate Kurt Cobain.
"What happened to me was intensely personal and it was hard trying to make sense of it," he said. "I had to build a big fence around my house because there were a lot of people coming around."
Eventually, what convinced Novoselic to come out of his self-imposed musical retirement was watching Grohl embrace success on his own terms.
"I think it took a lot of courage for him to put out a record so soon after Nirvana - and it was good. We benefitted from that."
- PERFORMANCE: Sweet 75 will perform with L7 on Sunday, Aug. 31, at Bricks Club, 579 W. 200 South.