Krist Novoselić and Nirvana receive MTV Video Vanguard Award

Krist Novoselić—the son of Croatian immigrants with roots in Veli Iž and Privlaka—received the prestigious MTV Video Vanguard Award alongside his Nirvana bandmates.

The co-founder and bassist of one of the most influential rock bands of all time spent part of his youth in Zadar. As a 15-year-old, he tuned in to Italian radio stations, listened to the BBC, and discovered music that would, just a few years later, help connect him with Kurt Cobain.

Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselić, and Pat Smear took the stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, where Chuck D of Public Enemy presented them with the award.

Nirvana became the first rock band since Duran Duran in 2003 to receive the Video Vanguard Award, which recognizes artists whose work has had a significant impact on music videos and popular culture.

The honor came 34 years after Nirvana's first appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Croatian was his first language

Novoselić arrived in Zadar in the summer of 1980, at the age of 15. His parents were Croatian immigrants: his father, Krsto, was from Veli Iž, while his mother, Marija, was from Privlaka.

Croatian was his first language. He began learning English only after he started attending an American preschool.

While living in Zadar, Novoselić stayed with his aunt and attended Juraj Baraković Gymnasium. The year he spent in the city left a lasting mark on his musical development.

He spoke about his time in Zadar in a 2008 interview with historian John Hughes, preserved as part of the Washington State oral history project. Novoselić recalled the frequent moves, changes of environment, and the feeling of not belonging.

"I think there was one thing that practically saved me, and that was music," Novoselić said.

Discovering music on the 12th floor in Zadar

Novoselić remembered the apartment on the 12th floor of a Zadar building for its excellent radio reception. Italian radio stations could be picked up across the Adriatic, while he searched the shortwave bands for BBC rock programs.

He listened to Elvis Costello, Madness, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath, along with local bands. According to a biography by historian Peter Blecha, the year he spent in Europe drew him toward punk and new wave, including the Sex Pistols and the Ramones.

Novoselić would record radio programs onto cassette tapes and take them to parties.

When he returned to the United States in 1981, the local school administration did not recognize the academic year he had completed in Zadar. As a result, he had to make up the lost ground through additional classes.

A few years later, he met Kurt Cobain, and Nirvana was formed in 1987.

From Nevermind to a worldwide phenomenon

The MTV recognition came just days after the 35th anniversary of the release of Nevermind, which was released on September 24, 1991.

The album, featuring songs such as "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Come As You Are," and "Lithium," turned Nirvana into a worldwide phenomenon and helped bring alternative rock to an audience of millions.

MTV played an important role in that breakthrough. The video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" went into frequent rotation, while Nevermind reached No. 1 on the Billboard album chart in January 1992.

A year later, the band recorded its legendary acoustic performance, MTV Unplugged.

Novoselić: "Kurt was unique"

After an archival recording in which Kurt Cobain spoke about the creation of Nirvana's videos, Krist Novoselić took the stage to speak on behalf of the band.

He recalled the period when the videos for "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "In Bloom," "Come As You Are," and "Heart-Shaped Box" were created.

"The ideas for these videos came from the vision of one of the greatest artists of all time, Kurt Cobain. Kurt was unique," Novoselić said.

He said none of the band members could have imagined how much their sound and aesthetics would come to mean to audiences, or how their music would continue to take on a life of its own over time.

"Nirvana still resonates so strongly because people are still hungry for authenticity. Something real, something uncompromising, something that says it's okay to be who you are. Kurt would like such a legacy," he said.

Grohl, Novoselić, and Smear did not perform during the awards ceremony.

From the 15-year-old listening to distant radio frequencies from the 12th floor of a building in Zadar to the MTV stage in Los Angeles, Krist Novoselić's musical journey crossed two continents—but an important part of that journey remained connected to Croatia and Zadar.

Taylor Swift wins Video of the Year

The night's top competitive award, Video of the Year, went to Taylor Swift for "The Fate of Ophelia."

Swift also received recognition for Best Director for "Opalite" and the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors for her directorial work.