When London Swung and Psychedelia Sung

Hold onto your flower crowns, folks! We're about to dive into the story of the original Nirvana – no, not the flannel-clad grunge gods, but the OG mind-benders from London's swinging '60s! Picture this: An Irishman (Patrick Campbell-Lyons) and a Greek (Alex Spyropoulos) walk into a London bar... No, it's not the start of a joke, it's the birth of a band that would make Buddha himself tap his feet!

As the first group to sign with Chris Blackwell's Island Records, Nirvana wasn't just dipping their toes in the psychedelic pool – they were doing backflips into it. They mixed Eastern philosophy with Western melodies faster than you can say "Om." Their debut album, The Story of Simon Simopath, wasn't just a record – it was a sci-fi adventure set to music. It's like they took a Tardis, picked up some sitar players, and crashed a 60s love-in.

Fast forward to 1996, and like a time capsule filled with groovy tunes, Orange and Blue emerged, packed with unrecorded gems. But wait, there's more! In 2023, Think Like A Key Music decided it was high time for a new generation to get their minds blown. They've reissued and expanded Orange and Blue, proving that good vibes never go out of style.

So, next time someone says "Nirvana," and you start humming "Smells Like Teen Spirit," remember – there's another Nirvana out there. One that was reaching musical enlightenment when Kurt Cobain was still in diapers. Nirvana UK: Because sometimes, to reach Nirvana, you need to take a trip back to the '60s. Flower power and headphones optional, but highly recommended!