Kurt Cobain may have lost his passion for his music, but his grieving fans have not. Sales of Nirvana records have climbed since the singer was found dead Friday.
Current album In Utero sold 40,149 copies last week and rises to No. 27 from No. 72 in Billboard next week, according to SoundScan, which tallies over-the-counter sales. Nevermind jumps to No. 56 from No. 167, with sales tripling to 20,000. Incesticide, a batch of B-sides and rarities, sold 8,000 to re-enter at No. 147. Debut Bleach sold 9,000 copies, vs. 2,000 the week before.
Figures reflect sales ending Sunday, and retailers expect higher sales next week.
MTV and Geffen Records haven't discussed whether Nirvana's Unplugged will go to home video or if previously unreleased footage will be aired. This weekend, MTV's Week in Rock will address suicide prevention and feature reactions from peers Henry Rollins and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.
A second printing is underway of Michael Azerrad's Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. Re-orders depleted the first printing of 40,000 copies, says Doubleday's Stuart Applebaum. "Orders came in within an hour of the announcement of his death."
An instant bio, Never Fade Away: The Kurt Cobain Story (St. Martin's) by Seattle music writer Dave Thompson, is being rushed into print April 26.
