Grohl, who was making a documentary about the history of recording studio Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, assembled musicians to write and record songs for the film.[2] Among them were McCartney, the former Beatle; plus two musicians who had played with Grohl in Nirvana: Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear. "Cut Me Some Slack" began as a jam between these four; McCartney later described it as a "Nirvana reunion".[2] In addition, Krist Novoselic referred to the partnership as "Sirvana",[3] a portmanteau word of Sir Paul McCartney and Nirvana.
The song was first performed at the 12-12-12 benefit concert by the four,[4] and was released on December 14, 2012, through YouTube.[5] The four performed the song on Saturday Night Live in 2012, and again on June 19, 2013, along with a number of Beatles songs at a McCartney concert in Nirvana's home town of Seattle.[6]
The song was received well by critics. Allmusic called it a "tune with an immediate hook [and] melody".[7]
