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Courtney Love is an American singer, songwriter, and actress best known as the frontwoman of the rock band Hole, which gained fame in the 1990s with albums like ‘Live Through This‘ (1994) and ‘Celebrity Skin‘ (1998). She was also famously married to Kurt Cobain, the late frontman of Nirvana. Love has been a controversial yet influential figure in rock music, known for her raw lyrics, distinctive voice, and outspoken personality. The singer has spent considerable time in the UK over the years and previously spoken about her affinity for British music, literature, and history.

A highlight of the evening was Love’s impromptu performance of Dylan’s classic ‘Like A Rolling Stone‘, accompanied by an acoustic guitarist. This performance occurred nearly six decades after Dylan’s own iconic rendition at the nearby Royal Albert Hall, adding a layer of historical resonance to the night.During the event, Love also addressed circulating rumors about a potential reunion of Hole. She firmly dismissed these speculations, stating that there are no plans for the band to reunite at this time. This clarification comes after previous hints in early 2024 about a possible reunion. However, the singer confirmed she’s been working on a new album since 2009 and will tour solo when it’s finished.

The London event underscored the timeless influence of Bob Dylan’s artistry and highlighted the unique perspectives of Love and Almond. Their reflections offered attendees a nuanced understanding of how Dylan’s work continues to resonate across different artistic mediums and generations. As Love prepares to finalise her British citizenship, fans can look forward to seeing how this new chapter unfolds for the legendary musician.

Last night (the 27th of February), 600 fans were treated to one heck of a show indeed.

The Coverups, who are a cover band, are comprised of Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong and touring guitarist Jason White, plus Bill Schneider and Chris Dugan on bass and drums, respectively – played a hit-packed 24-song set in north London, having only announced the show just last week.

As if that wasn’t enough of a treat, they were joined on stage midway through the show by Courtney Love — who said she’d been “living in a cave in Birmingham for about nine years”.

Lead singer of ‘Hole’ and a legend in her own right, Love joined the Coverups on stage and lent her signature vocals to covers of Cheap Trick’s He’s A Whore and Tom Petty’s Even The Losers, before she came back out again for another Cheap Trick cover, Surrender.

In an eventful night, The Coverups took on a number of hits from The Ramones to Nirvana and threw in a bonus performance of Love Is For Losers by another of Billie Joe’s projects, The Longshot.

Courtney Love made a surprise appearance at The Garage in London last night with Billie Joe Armstrong’s side-project The Coverups, performing songs by Cheap Trick and Tom Petty. https://t.co/1YqfbcBCz4 pic.twitter.com/fEi1svdooq

— Kerrang! (@KerrangMagazine) February 28, 2024

The Coverups will be playing again at the 100 club on Friday night, and who knows, fans might just be in for another treat.

The setlist in full:

1. A Million Miles Away (The Plimsouls)
   2. I Wanna Be Sedated (Ramones)
   3. Ready Steady Go (Generation X)
   4. I Think We’re Alone Now (Tommy James & the Shondells)
   5. Message of Love (Pretenders)
   6. Summer of ’69 (Bryan Adams)
   7. Walking Out On Love (Paul Collins Beat)
   8. I Fought The Law (The Crickets)
   9. Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) (Buzzcocks)
   10. I’m So Bored With the U.S.A. (The Clash)
   11. Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie)
   12. Dancing With Myself (Generation X)
   13. He’s A Whore (Cheap Trick) – with Courtney Love
   14. Even The Losers (Tom Petty) – with Courtney Love
   15. Neat Neat Neat (The Damned)
   16. Drain You (Nirvana)
   17. Last Nite (The Strokes)
   18. American Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
   19. Love Is For Losers (The Longshot)
   20. Fox On The Run (Sweet)
   21. Rockaway Beach (Ramones)
   22. Should I Stay Or Should I Go (The Clash)
   23. Surrender (Cheap Trick) – with Courtney Love

Encore:

24. Where Eagles Dare (Misfits)

Green Day themselves will be back in the UK this summer as part of the ‘Saviors’ tour, where they will be playing ‘American Idiot’ and ‘Dookie’ in full.

Tickets can be found here.

Hynde herself was inducted into the Hall of Fame back in 2005 as part of The Pretenders, but has since taken to social media to decry its relevance. She stated, “I don’t even wanna be associated with it. It’s just more establishment backslapping.”

She continued, “Other than Neil Young’s participation in the induction process, the whole thing was, and is, total bollocks. It’s absolutely nothing to do with rock ‘n’ roll and anyone who thinks it is is a fool.”

Despite being inducted back in 2005, Hynde seems to have always viewed the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in a negative light.

In her Facebook post, she stated, “I got in a band so I didn’t have to be part of all that. I was living a happy life in Rio when I got the call I was being inducted. My heart sank because I knew I’d have to go back for it as it would be too much of a kick in the teeth to my parents if I didn’t. I’d upset them enough by then, so it was one of those things that would bail me out from years of disappointing them. ( like moving out of the USA and being arrested at PETA protests and my general personality ).”

This discussion was sparked after Courtney Love called for more female acts to be inducted. Love shared her outrage at the lack of diversity on social media, telling the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to “GO TO HELL IN A HANDBAG BRO!”

@rockhall GO TO HELL IN A HANDBAG BRO!

I wrote this for the @guardian https://t.co/sjpCeYcqyY

— Courtney Love Cobain (@Courtney) March 17, 2023

Love, the lead singer of grunge band Hole, subsequently wrote an article for The Guardian in which she highlighted that “barely 8% of its inductees are female. The canon-making doesn’t just reek of sexist gatekeeping, but also purposeful ignorance and hostility.”

She continued, “the nominations for this year’s class, announced last month, offered the annual reminder of just how extraordinary a woman must be to make it into the ol’ boy’s club.”

Love also drew attention to the fact that “it doesn’t look good for black artists either.” “If the Rock Hall is not willing to look at the ways it is replicating the violence of structural racism and sexism that artists face in the music industry, if it cannot properly honour what visionary women artists have created, innovated, revolutionised and contributed to popular music – well, then let it go to hell in a handbag.”

Love responded to Chrissie Hynde’s Facebook post on Twitter, writing “principals b4 personalities!”

ARTISTS! Beef off the table. Principals b4 personalities! @chrissiehynde (blew my world into a rainbow in 79 #GOAT ) TBC. I would not accept, don’t need! @rockhall. BRO it isn’t 4 me I speak. THAT BOARD NEEDS A HOSE DOWN so women & poc can FEED THEIR KIDS. Not just Bon Jovi pic.twitter.com/LVJpPUa1g6 — Courtney Love Cobain (@Courtney) March 17, 2023

Love has continued her tyrade on social media, claiming she was previously “silenced by boos” when she has previously tried to speak her mind.

BRO! @billboard

Me @rockhall HOLDING MY TONGUE.

When I went to speak? I was silenced by boos… So, yeah. pic.twitter.com/2mHdeuNSF7

— Courtney Love Cobain (@Courtney) March 17, 2023

Hynde and Love have both been met with varying receptions from fans after sharing their controversial standpoints.

The Pretenders are rumoured to be releasing a new album this year titled Relentless with the release date yet to be confirmed.

See The Pretenders at Midnight Sun Weekender Festival. Tickets available here.