Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Video: Paul McCartney And Nirvana Premiere "Cut Me Some Slack"
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 13, 2012
Modified Dec 13, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Getty Images
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 13, 2012
Modified Dec 13, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Most people greeted the news that Paul McCartney would be teaming up with the surviving members of Nirvana (Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear)—for a special performance at last night's 12-12-12: The Concert For Sandy Relief show—with a righteous mix of terror and morbid curiosity. The end result turned out to be a lot less scary, and a lot more musically interesting, than anyone could have imagined. Watch it below!
The quartet played only one new song together, "Cut Me Some Slack," that was like a mix of "Helter Skelter" (which opened McCartney's closing set) and "Scentless Apprentice." The song wasn't really that catchy, but it ended up with a fantastic outro that pointed to its roots as a jam session between some incredibly talented musicians. If anything, it had more in common with McCartney's work with The Fireman than anything Beatles-related. A shouty McCartney looked like he was having a ball—but the best part was Grohl's snare-smashing, jackhammer-like drumming. Ringo could never hit as hard as that.
For her part, Courtney Love was quoted as saying she's "not amused" by McCartney performing with the surviving members of Nirvana. "Look, if John were alive it would be cool," she said, according to TMZ. We've contacted her for follow-up, as we know she's a fan.
Tagged
12/12/12
grunge
hurricane sandy
macca
macvana
Music
nirvana
paul mccartney
rock
sirvana
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
Spoiler alert: It's still 26.2 miles.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 2:36 p.m. ET
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .