On 17 August 1991, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, Chris Novoselic and Dave Grohl gathered at GMT Studios in Culver City, California, to film the video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" — the lead single from their major-label debut album, Nevermind. The piece, drawn from recollections of those involved, revisits the making of a video that would go on to define the band's breakthrough and become one of the most iconic music videos of the era.

Cobain conceived the video as an anarchic "pep rally from Hell", drawing loose inspiration from the Ramones' film Rock 'n' Roll High School and the cult teen rebellion movie Over the Edge, and reportedly sketched out every shot in advance. The band mimed the song in front of a gymnasium crowd of extras whose chaotic energy became central to the clip's enduring appeal, with contributors recalling the excitement and sense of occasion on set that day.