The Commodore Ballroom celebrated its 90th birthday yesterday, December 3rd. With that, the rest of Vancouver celebrates Commodore Ballroom day, so in honour of the Canadian legend that is the Commodore Ballroom, let’s revisit some of the most iconic bands and artists to perform live inside. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana opened for Mudhoney and the Screaming Trees on March 8th, 1991. Nirvana at the time was still a small band and had not changed rock history yet as the iconic album Nevermind would release on September 24th of the same year. However, this opening performance is a piece of Canadian rock history as it is the only time Nirvana ever opened at the iconic ballroom. A recorded version of the performance is available on YouTube, or you can follow this link here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBh0onCowww.

Vancouver got its first taste of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on December 30th, 1988. Followed by 4 other performances within a year at the Commodore. The band has not returned to the Commodore Ballroom for a performance since September 8th, 1989. Showing just how big the band became in the 1990s. Chris Cornell and Soundgarden played the Commodore two times, once in 1990 and once in 1992. Chris played a solo show at the Commodore in 2009, which was the last time Cornell blessed the commodore with his presence. Some of rap’s biggest names have played at the commodore as well. Snoop Dogg started it off by performing at the Ballroom on June 19th, 2008, and the rest was history. 

Names such as Ice Cube, Mac Miller, 2 Chainz, and Public Enemy have all performed inside the Commodore Ballroom. With 90 years of rich Vancouver history inside, the Commodore Ballroom located at 868 Granville St will forever be embedded in Vancouver’s music culture. Once the pandemic is finished, it will resume its place as Vancouver’s most coveted music hangout.