Nirvana’s first US Billboard 200 number-one album was Nevermind.
Released on September 24, 1991, Nevermind initially entered the chart below the top position but rose rapidly as “Smells Like Teen Spirit” became a worldwide hit. It eventually displaced Michael Jackson’s Dangerous at number one in January 1992.
Nevermind transformed Nirvana from an independent Seattle band into an international rock act and helped bring grunge into the mainstream. Its success also increased attention on other Pacific Northwest bands, including Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains.
A common mix-up is confusing the album’s chart success with its release date: Nevermind was released in 1991, but it did not reach number one until 1992. The album was later certified diamond in the United States.