Krist Novoselic Timeline: 2005 to Today

When our homepage bio leaves off, it’s 2002 and Krist has just put out the one and only Eyes Adrift album. A lot has happened since then! This page is our year-by-year rundown of what Krist has been up to in music, politics and life, from punk tours with Flipper to the Cascade Party. Every entry links to an outside source so you can read more.

Last updated October 2026.

2005–2006

  • FairVote board. Krist joins the board of the election reform group FairVote in 2005, building on the voting-reform work covered in our Political Career section. (FairVote)
  • Joining Flipper. In November 2006, word gets out that Krist will play bass for San Francisco punk legends Flipper, starting with a tour of the UK and Ireland. (Wikipedia)

2007

  • Krist the columnist. In November 2007, Krist starts writing a weekly column about music and politics for the Seattle Weekly website. He keeps it going until September 2010. (example column, Seattle Weekly, Wikipedia)

2008

  • Chairing FairVote. In January 2008, FairVote names Krist chair of its board of directors, taking over from former Congressman John B. Anderson. (FairVote press release)
  • Goodbye, Flipper. On September 22, 2008, Krist steps away from Flipper because of responsibilities at home, and the band calls off its fall tour. The studio album he recorded with them, Love, comes out in 2009, along with the live album Fight. See our original news post and Flipper releases. (Tiny Mix Tapes, Wikipedia)

2009

  • The “Grange Party” protest. In June 2009, Krist files to run for Wahkiakum County clerk under the made-up label “Grange Party.” He is protesting a Washington rule that lets candidates claim any party preference they like. He withdraws a few days later, saying his point has been made. (Krist in the Seattle Weekly, The Spokesman-Review, Ballot Access News)
  • Leaving the Democrats. Also in 2009, Krist leaves his post as chair of the Wahkiakum County Democratic Central Committee and goes independent. (KIRO Newsradio / MyNorthwest)
  • On the big screen. Krist makes a cameo as a newspaper vendor in World’s Greatest Dad, the Robin Williams film shot in Seattle. (Wikipedia)

2011

  • Foo Fighters guest spot. Krist plays bass and accordion on “I Should Have Known” from the Foo Fighters album Wasting Light. (Sound On Sound, Wikipedia)

2012

  • “Sirvana.” Krist, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear team up with Paul McCartney on the new song “Cut Me Some Slack” for Grohl’s Sound City documentary. They play it live at the 12-12-12 Hurricane Sandy benefit and on Saturday Night Live. See our 12-12-12 post. (Rolling Stone)

2014

  • A Grammy. “Cut Me Some Slack” wins the Grammy for Best Rock Song in January 2014. The credited writers are Grohl, McCartney, Novoselic and Smear. (Recording Academy, Los Angeles Times)
  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On April 10, 2014, Nirvana is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Krist, Dave and Pat play Nirvana songs with Joan Jett, Kim Gordon, St. Vincent and Lorde on vocals. (Rolling Stone, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)

2016

  • College graduate. Krist completes a bachelor’s degree in social sciences through Washington State University’s online program, graduating magna cum laude. (WSU Global Campus, Chinook Observer)
  • “Helter Skelter” with Sir Paul. On April 17, 2016, Krist joins Paul McCartney on stage in Seattle for “Helter Skelter.” (Wikipedia)

2017

  • Giants in the Trees. Krist forms Giants in the Trees with Jillian Raye, Erik Friend and Ray Prestegard, a band that started as a jam at the Skamokawa Grange. The first single, “Sasquatch,” arrives in July and the debut album later that year. (WSU Global Campus, Wikipedia)
  • More guest work. Krist plays bass on Invitation, the debut album by Filthy Friends. You’ll find it, along with his other releases, in our Complete Discography. (AllMusic, Wikipedia)

2018

  • Pilot upgrade. Already a licensed pilot since 2002, Krist earns a multi-engine pilot certificate in February 2018. (Wikipedia)
  • Cal Jam reunion. On October 6, 2018, at Foo Fighters’ Cal Jam festival in San Bernardino, Krist, Dave and Pat play a six-song Nirvana encore with Joan Jett and Deer Tick’s John McCauley. Giants in the Trees also play the festival. (Billboard, Pitchfork)

2019

  • Volume 2 and butterflies. Giants in the Trees release their second album, Volume 2. Krist also releases an album with author and lepidopterist Robert Michael Pyle as Butterfly Launches From Spar Pole. (WSU College of Arts and Sciences, Wikipedia)

2020

  • Zócalo Public Square. In May 2020, Krist becomes board chair of Zócalo Public Square, the nonprofit ideas-and-journalism organization. (Zócalo Public Square, ASU News)
  • Giants take a break. Giants in the Trees wind down in 2020, which Krist puts down to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Wikipedia)

2022–2023

  • 3rd Secret. A forgotten CD of jams from 2001 turns into a new band. 3rd Secret brings Krist together with Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron, Bubba Dupree, Jillian Raye and Jennifer Johnson. Their self-titled debut comes out in April 2022, followed by The 2nd 3rd Secret in June 2023. (SPIN, 3rd Secret official site)
  • Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. On February 4, 2023, Krist, Dave and Pat accept the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Nirvana. Krist gives the speech and thanks a whole new generation of Nirvana fans. (Rolling Stone, Louder)
  • Forward Party. In May 2023, Krist joins the national board of the Forward Party and takes over as its Washington state lead. (Forward Party, KUOW)
  • The Nevermind cover lawsuit. In December 2023, a federal appeals court revives Spencer Elden’s lawsuit over the Nevermind album cover, which names the band’s surviving members. (Ninth Circuit opinion)

2024

  • Founding the Cascade Party. In spring 2024, Krist founds the Cascade Party of Washington, a centrist third party. To win official party status, which Washington only allows in a presidential election year, he launches a symbolic run for president. The party qualifies on August 24, 2024, and he drops out. See also Krist and Politics. (Cascade Party, Wikipedia)

2025

  • Cascade Party convention. On January 11, 2025, the Cascade Party holds its organizing convention in Seattle, adopts a platform and elects Krist as chair. (Cascade Party)
  • FireAid. On January 30, 2025, Krist, Dave and Pat reunite at the FireAid benefit for Los Angeles wildfire relief, with St. Vincent, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett and Violet Grohl taking turns on vocals. (Variety, Pitchfork)
  • SNL50. On February 14, 2025, Krist, Dave and Pat join Post Malone for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” at the SNL50 Homecoming Concert in New York. See our post about it. (Rolling Stone)
  • Lawsuit dismissed. On September 30, 2025, a federal judge dismisses the Nevermind cover lawsuit with prejudice. Elden files a new appeal in October 2025. (court order via Courthouse News, appeal docket)

2026

  • The Cascade Party on the ballot. In 2026, the Cascade Party has candidates on the ballot, including Jeff Kelly for State House in the 38th District and Damon Townsend for Pierce County Auditor. It also endorses candidates in contested Washington Supreme Court races, and Krist pitches the party’s owl logo as a third option next to the donkey and the elephant. (KIRO Newsradio / MyNorthwest, MyClallamCounty, MyNorthwest)
  • MTV Video Vanguard Award. On September 27, 2026, Chuck D presents Krist, Dave and Pat with MTV’s Video Vanguard Award for Nirvana at the VMAs. Krist is the only one to speak, and credits Kurt’s vision behind the band’s videos. There is no performance. (Rolling Stone, Billboard)

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