Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins Recorded At Studio

A Kickstarter campaign has started to support the creation of a documentary detailing the history of Smart Studios, the now-defunct recording facility in Madison, Wis., that yielded some of the biggest alternative-rock albums of the 1990s and ’00s.

The studio was cofounded by producers Steve Marker and Butch Vig — both of whom later led ’90s alt-rock group Garbage — in the ’80s and drew an impressive roster of underground and popular acts during its two-decade run.  Albums recorded there included Death Cab for Cutie’s “Plans” and “Narrow Stairs” albums, Smashing Pumpkins’ debut “Gish,” Fall Out Boy’s “Take This To Your Grave,” and most famously, portions of Nirvana’s breakthrough release, “Nevermind.” (Vig produced “Nevermind,” along with several other top-shelf alternative albums of the ’90s.)

The studio, located on East Washington Avenue within the sights of the state Capitol, closed its doors in 2010.

The film, titled “The Smart Studios Story” is seeking $120,000 to complete the documentary, with the drive slated to end on March 30.

Among those being interviewed are Vig, Marker, former Nirvana drummer/current Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan. According to Rolling Stone, Garbage’s Shirley Manson, L7’s Donita Sparks, Death Cab’s Chris Walla and Laura Jane Grace of Against Me have also been interviewed.

For more information about the drive, visit the Kickstarter page.

Watch the Kickstarter trailer:

Note: David’s music column, Soundbytes, appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio’s website. This column was originally published there.

©Copyright 2014 by David Hyland. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.