The band Nirvana produced musical greats like Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl, but chances are you don’t know who Jason Everman is.
Yet, he was the guitarist for Nirvana until he decided to quit because he was no longer having fun. His story is quite exceptional.
Guitar Was Therapy
Everman’s sister said that they grew up in a home with an abusive, alcoholic parent and that Jason became depressed as a teenager.
He attended therapy to get over his issues and it was during a therapy session that he saw a guitar. His therapist allowed him to play one and he was hooked.
He never played on a Nirvana record, but did contribute $606.17 to the recording of Bleach and was for a short period their second guitarist. Oddly, he also played bass for Soundgarden before he quit the industry completely.
He Became A Ranger
A family friend told him there was no happier time in his life than being in the Navy SEALS. Everman decided that this might be the right direction for his life, too.
He joined the Army’s 2nd Ranger Battalion, did tours of Iraq and Afghanistan and was invited to join Delta Force, which he did.
Of his service, he recalled: “The deepest most meaningful relationships I even, to this day, still have, were men I served with in the military. Guys, I called brother. Guys I played music with, I never called them brother.”
He now works as a military consultant and his life in music is long past.
