Where is Grunge Music From?
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Grunge music is a genre of rock that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a reaction to the polished sound of hair metal and the grungy, DIY aesthetic of punk rock.
The Birth of Grunge
Grunge music originated in the Seattle area in the mid-1980s. It was a combination of punk rock and heavy metal. Grunge music became mainstream in the 1990s with bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden.
The music scene in Seattle in the late 1980s
The music scene in Seattle in the late 1980s was characterized by a mix of styles, including punk rock, heavy metal, and indie rock. Called “grunge” by the media, it was considered a reaction to the polished sounds of popular music at the time.
The grunge movement began in the underground music scene of Seattle and quickly gained popularity with the release of Nirvana’s album Nevermind in 1991. Grunge music was marked by its raw, distorted sound and emotionally anguished lyrics. The style influenced fashion as well, with many grunge fans wearing flannel shirts and thrift store clothes.
The popularity of grunge was short-lived, however, as the deaths of Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley (of Alice in Chains) in 1994 signaled the end of the movement. While some bands continued to record and perform after this time, grunge as a musical genre faded from prominence.
The early grunge bands
The early grunge bands that would come to define the Seattle sound began to form in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Some, like the Melvins and Green River, had their origins in Aberdeen, Washington, a small logging town about 100 miles south of Seattle. Others, such as Tad and Mother Love Bone, were from Seattle proper.
The music these bands played was raw and aggressive, inspired by the punk rock of the late 1970s. But it was also infused with the heavy metal of bands like Black Sabbath and Kiss, as well as with the garage rock of bands like the Sonics and the Stooges. This mix of influences would come to be known as grunge.
Grunge first broke into the mainstream in 1991 with Nirvana’s album NEVERMIND. The album featured two massive hits, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are.” It propelled Nirvana’s frontman, Kurt Cobain, to superstardom and made grunge a household word.
In the wake of NEVERMIND’s success, other Seattle bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden also found commercial success. Grunge had arrived in a big way, and its impact would be felt for years to come.
The Mainstream Success of Grunge
Grunge music became popular in the early 1990s with the release of Nirvana’s album Nevermind. Grunge music is typically characterized by its heavy sound and lyrics that deal with angst and alienation. The success of Nirvana and other grunge bands brought this underground genre of music into the mainstream.
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was released in September 1991 as the first single from the band’s second album, Nevermind. The song was an instant success, propelling Nevermind to the top of the charts and making Nirvana one of the biggest bands of the early ’90s.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a pretty straightforward song, with a catchy chorus and a memorable guitar riff. But it also has a dark undercurrent that reflects the frustration and anger that many young people were feeling at the time. The song became an anthem for a generation of kids who felt like they didn’t fit in, and it helped make grunge one of the most popular music genres of the 1990s.
Pearl Jam’s “Alive”
“Alive” is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. The bandmembers co-wrote the song with the intention of evoking the feeling of being surrounded and outnumbered. “Alive” was Pearl Jam’s first single and it catapulted them into the mainstream success. The song peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming one of Pearl Jam’s biggest hits. “Alive” is often considered to be one of Pearl Jam’s defining songs and is frequently ranked high on lists of the greatest songs of all time.
Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun”
With their 1994 album, Superunknown, Soundgarden became one of the most successful grunge bands of all time. The album featured the singles “Spoonman” and “Black Hole Sun”, both of which helped the album achieve 5x platinum status in the US. “Black Hole Sun” in particular was a massive hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1995.
The Legacy of Grunge
Grunge music first came to the public eye in the early nineties. It was a new style of music that blended punk, metal and indie rock together. Grunge music was marked by its heavy guitars and angsty lyrics. The genre first became popular in Seattle and soon spread to the rest of the world. Grunge music had a short-lived but important legacy.
The influence of grunge on subsequent music genres
Grunge was a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the early 1990s. It was characterized by distorted guitars, heavy drums, and angsty lyrics. Grunge bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden became some of the most popular acts in the world, and their influence can still be felt today.
While grunge is often thought of as aflash-in-the-pan genre that died with Kurt Cobain, the truth is that its influence can still be heard in many modern music genres. For example, post-grunge bands like Foo Fighters and Bush borrowed heavily from the sound of grunge, while nu metal bands like Limp Bizkit took inspiration from both grunge and hip hop. Even today, there are plenty of bands that bring a distinctly grungy vibe to their music.
If you love grunge music, then you should definitely check out some of the great bands that keep its spirit alive today.
The grunge fashion style
The style consisted of plaid shirts, ripped jeans, and thrift store finds. Grunge fashion was unkempt, anti-fashion and anti-consumerist. The style from the Pacific Northwest was grungy, but not dirty.
Grunge fashion in the early 1990s was popularized by Seattle-based bands Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Kurt Cobain, the frontman of Nirvana, was especially known for his style which often included flannel shirts, cardigans, and hats. His unique style was emulated by grunge fashionistas around the world.
In the late 1990s, grunge fashion lost its appeal as high-end designers began to experiment with similar looks. Marc Jacobs’ “grunge” collection for Perry Ellis in 1992 is credited with starting the trend. But by the end of the decade, the look was played out and many people associated it with poor taste.
Nowadays, grunge fashion is occasionally seen on runways and in stores but it is no longer as prevalent as it once was. While the style has largely faded from mainstream popularity, it remains an important part of fashion history.
