Violet Grohl performed Heart-Shaped Box with the surviving members of Nirvana and guest performers St Vincent and Beck at an LA charity gala
When arts charity the Art of Elysium announced the lineup for its annual Heaven Is Rock and Roll Gala in
Los Angeles, the attention was on the second “reunion” of Nirvana: Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear would come together again for just the fourth time since the band’s demise in 1994. This time, St Vincent would join them (as she did at two 2014 performances heralding Nirvana’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), plus Beck. But it was the least starry name who stole the show: Grohl’s 13-year-old daughter, Violet.
The setting was somewhat more sterile than Nirvana’s febrile 2014 show at a tiny Brooklyn venue. Before the bands got under way, a host of celebrities walked the red carpet including Rufus Wainwright, Bella Hadid, Jack Black, Moby and photographer Mick Rock. The more generous guests had paid up to $50,000 (£38,000) to attend a dinner and a two-hour show, curated by host Linda Perry, to raise money for sick children. But the performances were valiantly potent in the face of a largely sedentary room: 80s feminist punks L7 played their still riotously relevant call-to-arms Shitlist. “Right you motherfuckers, this is a fucking rock show!” screamed singer Donita Sparks, urging half a dozen game diners to form a small circle pit at the lip of the stage.