Kathleen Hanna

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" / "Rebel Girl" (live)

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Dec 17, 2010

Well, this is a weird one. Punk icon and documentary subject Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre) took to the stage at Joe's Pub in New York City on Wednesday (December 15) to deliver a half spoken word, half sung set that found her waxing on her past.

In this clip, she discusses graffiti she and Kurt Cobain scrawled onto a fake abortion clinic, as well as her famous scribbling of "Kurt smells like teen spirit" on the Nirvana singer's wall, which of course led to the naming of the grunge mega-smash "Smells Like Teen Spirit." The riot grrl then jumps into a loungy, jazz-piano-driven cover of the tune.

A lengthy story involving feminism, touring, stripping and a hardcore band full of douchebags precedes a more rockin' version of the number. Hanna caps the event with a snarly take on her old band Bikini Kill's "Rebel Girl."

While the clip is worth watching for Hanna's hilarious journey down memory lane, it's her oddball tribute to Nirvana, including the unveiling of an alternate album cover for Nevermind, that make this vid essential for any '90s music fan.

Big thanks to TwentyFourBit for digging this one up.

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