Closing Time (Hole song)

Last updated
"Closing Time"
Song by Hole
RecordedJanuary 21, 1993 at BMG Ariola Ltda in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Genre Alternative rock
Length3:10
Songwriter(s) Courtney Love, Kurt Cobain, Patty Schemel
Producer(s) Craig Montgomery

"Closing Time" [1] (also referred to as "Drunk in Rio" and, incorrectly, "It's Closing Soon") is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, drummer Patty Schemel and Love's husband, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

Contents

Origin and recording

The song's origins are obscure due to lack of official information, however, the earliest known recording of the song dates back to January 1993, at which time Hole were writing new material for their second studio album, Live Through This (1994). The in-studio performance was recorded in Studio B at BMG Ariola Ltda., a recording facility in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 21, 1993. [2] The session was a pre-production studio session, produced by Craig Montgomery, for Nirvana for their forthcoming album, In Utero (1993) and lasted for three days. On the third and final day of the session, Love and Schemel joined the band in-studio and were given the opportunity to practice and record new Hole material during Nirvana's session breaks. [3] At least three other Hole songs are known to have been recorded; "Miss World," which featured Cobain on bass, "Softer, Softest," "She Walks on Me" and "I Think That I Would Die," which featured Nirvana touring guitarist Big John Duncan on bass. Towards the end of the session "Closing Time" was recorded. This recording, circulating unofficially in bootleg trading circles, featured Love on vocals and lead guitar, Cobain on bass and Schemel on drums and lead to the song being referred to as "Drunk in Rio," due to fact that all three musicians were intoxicated when recording. [1]

In 1995, Love forwarded a copy of the studio version of "Closing Time" to BBC radio host John Peel on cassette tape, after the death of Cobain, and broadcast it on his radio show, The John Peel Show on BBC Radio 1. It is assumed that the radio broadcast version of the song was recorded and then distributed to various bootleggers, leading to the song's inclusion on the Nirvana bootleg series Outcesticide , however Blue Moon Records, the label on which the bootleg series was released, claimed that the recording was sourced from Love's own tape. [4]

Composition

The original version of the song is completely improvised, both musically and lyrically, and the vocals are indecipherable due to their inaudibility in the recording mix and the mumbling vocal style. However, the song's three main chords (A-G-C) are repeated throughout the verses and choruses apart from a bridge which uses experimental chords. The song's theme is reputedly based on a bitter relationship and the term "closing time" is often seen as referring to the end of the relationship itself.

A more structured and lyrically-coherent version of the song was performed by Hole on various occasions throughout 1994 and 1995, [5] during their tours promoting Live Through This. These live versions also featured bassist Melissa Auf der Maur and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson and the lyrics of the song varied in performance.

Love, Schemel and Cobain also wrote and recorded various other songs unrelated to the recording session in Rio de Janeiro. A side project, known as Nighty Nite, arose the following month, in February 1993, in which Love and Schemel musicians "pretended [they] were two sisters from Marysville, [aged] seventeen and sixteen, [called] Dottie and Clara. [They] put the pitch way up on the four-track and [they] made up these really stupid songs" [6] and Cobain also contributed. Three songs are known to exist; "Lemonade Nation," "Hello Kitty" and "Twister." Copies of the recording were sent to Maximumrocknroll, Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, members of Bikini Kill and Fugazi, Calvin Johnson, and Slim Moon.

Related Research Articles

<i>Live Through This</i> 1994 studio album by Hole

Live Through This is the second studio album by American alternative rock band Hole, released on April 12, 1994, by DGC Records. Recorded in late 1993, it departed from the band's unpolished hardcore aesthetics to more refined melodies and song structure. Frontwoman Courtney Love said that she wanted the record to be "shocking to the people who think that we don't have a soft edge", but maintain a harsh sensibility.

You Know Youre Right 2002 single by Nirvana

"You Know You're Right" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by lead vocalist and guitarist, Kurt Cobain. It is the first song on the band's self-titled greatest hits album and the last song the band recorded before Cobain's death in April 1994. Released officially on October 2, 2002 via DGC Records - eight years after the song was recorded - it is the final single credited to the band.

<i>With the Lights Out</i> 2004 compilation box set by Nirvana

With the Lights Out is a box set by the American rock band Nirvana released in November 2004. It contains three CDs and one DVD of previously rare or unreleased material, including B-sides, demos, and rehearsal and live recordings. The title comes from the lyrics from Nirvana's 1991 single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

Patty Schemel American drummer and musician (born 1967)

Patricia Theresa Schemel is an American drummer and musician who rose to prominence as the drummer of alternative rock band Hole from 1992 until 1998. Born in Los Angeles, Schemel was raised in rural Marysville, Washington, where she developed an interest in punk rock music as a teenager. She began drumming at age eleven, and while in high school, formed several bands with her brother, Larry.

Fecal Matter was a short-lived punk rock band from Aberdeen, Washington. The group was formed in 1985 by Kurt Cobain, the future frontman of Nirvana, along with Dale Crover of the Melvins and drummer Greg Hokanson. Hokanson was removed from the band over his penchant for Schmidt beer and mini thins or "witch speed", and his ensuing negative attitude. Melvins members Buzz Osborne and Mike Dillard appeared in a later version of the band during rehearsals the following year.

"Opinion" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist, Kurt Cobain. Never performed in concert and not confirmed to have been recorded in the studio, the song was initially survived only by a heavily-bootlegged solo acoustic version, recorded by Cobain during his appearance on the KAOS (FM) Boy Meets Girl radio show in September 1990. in 2015, a brief clip of a second version, believed to be a demo, appeared in the Cobain documentary Montage of Heck, directed by Brett Morgan.

Beautiful Son 1993 single by Hole

"Beautiful Son" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written collectively by frontwoman Courtney Love, lead guitarist Eric Erlandson and drummer Patty Schemel. The song was released as the band's fourth single in April 1993 on the European label City Slang. To coincide with the song's lyrics, Love used a photograph of her husband, Kurt Cobain, at age 7 as the single's artwork.

Talk to Me is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain.

"Scentless Apprentice" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain, drummer Dave Grohl, and bassist Krist Novoselic. It is the second track on their third and final studio album In Utero, released in September 1993.

<i>My Body, the Hand Grenade</i> 1997 compilation album by Hole

My Body, the Hand Grenade is the first and only compilation album by American alternative rock band Hole, released on October 28, 1997 through the band's European label, City Slang Records. It was also imported for sale in the United States, where it was released on December 10, 1997. The album was compiled with the intent of tracking the band's progression from their noise rock beginnings to the more melodic songwriting that appeared on their second album, Live Through This (1994).

Doll Parts 1994 single by Hole

"Doll Parts" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love. The song was released as the band's sixth single and second from their second studio album, Live Through This, in November 1994 to accompany the band's North American tour. It was also the first single to be released following the death of bassist Kristen Pfaff in June 1994.

Miss World (song) 1994 single by Hole

"Miss World" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written by frontwoman Courtney Love and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson. The song was released as the band's fifth single and the first from their second studio album, Live Through This, in March 1994.

Softer, Softest 1995 single by Hole

"Softer, Softest" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written by frontwoman Courtney Love and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson. The song was released as the band's eighth single and fourth and final single from their second studio album, Live Through This, in December 1995. The single was released just as the band finished their extensive touring in 1995.

"Asking for It" is a song by the American alternative rock band Hole. It is the fourth track on the band's second studio album, Live Through This, released on April 12, 1994 on Geffen Records. The song was written by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson.

The Nirvana bootleg recordings are a number of audio CD recordings of musical performances by the American rock band Nirvana, which were previously not officially released by the band, or under any other legal authority. The recordings consist of both live performances and outtakes from studio sessions unavailable as a legal release.

Dive (Nirvana song) 1990 song by Nirvana

"Dive" is a song by the American rock band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic. It was released as the B-side to the band's second single, "Sliver" in September 1990. The same version was re-released as the opening track on the compilation album The Grunge Years in 1991, and again on the Nirvana rarities compilation, Incesticide, in December 1992.

Old Age (song) 1993 song by Nirvana (re-recorded by Hole)

"Old Age" is a song first released by the American rock band Hole, written by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana with lyrics later written by Courtney Love. At the time of Hole's recording of the song, Love was married to Cobain.

I Hate Myself and Want to Die Nirvana song

"I Hate Myself and Want to Die" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana, written by vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain. It was first released in November 1993 on the compilation album The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience.

"Jennifer's Body" is a song written and performed by American alternative rock band Hole, from their 1994 album Live Through This.

References

  1. 1 2 "Do you want to hear a song that me and Kurt and Patty wrote when we were drunk? It's really poppy. Do you wanna hear it? It's called 'Closing Time.' Do you wanna hear it? I wrote the good parts." Love, Courtney. Extracts from a transcription of a Hole concert on March 10, 1995 at Capri Music Theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina.
  2. ↑ "Hole Studio Chronology | A Hole recording database". The Hole Studio Chronology. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Live Nirvana | LiveNirvana.com Sessions History | Studio Sessions | January 19–21, 1993 - BMG Ariola Ltda., Rio de Janeiro, BR". LiveNIRVANA Sessions History. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  4. ↑ "7. It's Closing Soon (Kurt & Courtney, The Rio Tape) (date unknown) Special thanks to Courtney for providing the Rio tape.". Outcesticide II: The Needle and the Damage Done (CD). Nirvana. Blue Moon Records. 1995. p. 5. BMCD25.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ↑ "Holelive.com - The Ultimate Hole Trading Experience". Holelive.com. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  6. ↑ Brite, Poppy Z. (1997). Courtney Love: The Real Story . Simon & Schuster. p.  154. ISBN   978-0684848006.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.