1. Grunge Music Late 1980s – Early 1990s

2. The Grunge scene Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle Sound) is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the US state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, and apathetic or angst-filled lyrics. Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle Sound) is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the US state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, and apathetic or angst-filled lyrics.

3. The early grunge movement coalesced around Seattle independent record label Sub Pop in the late 1980s. Grunge became commercially successful in the first half of the 1990s, due mainly to the release of Nirvana’s Nevermind and Pearl Jam’s Ten. The success of these bands boosted the popularity of alternative rock and made grunge the most popular form of hard rock music at the time. However, many grunge bands were uncomfortable with this popularity. Although most grunge bands had disbanded or faded from view by the late 1990s, their influence continues to impact modern rock music. The early grunge movement coalesced around Seattle independent record label Sub Pop in the late 1980s. Grunge became commercially successful in the first half of the 1990s, due mainly to the release of Nirvana’s Nevermind and Pearl Jam’s Ten. The success of these bands boosted the popularity of alternative rock and made grunge the most popular form of hard rock music at the time. However, many grunge bands were uncomfortable with this popularity. Although most grunge bands had disbanded or faded from view by the late 1990s, their influence continues to impact modern rock music.

4. Where it started The road had been opened in the late 1980s by Seattle bands Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Melvins and Mudhoney, with four distinctive styles. The road had been opened in the late 1980s by Seattle bands Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Melvins and Mudhoney, with four distinctive styles. Many used grunge as a descriptive term rather than a genre term, but it eventually came to describe the punk/metal hybrid sound of the Seattle music scene. Many used grunge as a descriptive term rather than a genre term, but it eventually came to describe the punk/metal hybrid sound of the Seattle music scene. Hype video Hype video

5. Characteristics Grunge is generally characterized by a sludgy guitar sound that uses a high level of distortion, fuzz and feedback effects. Grunge fuses elements of hardcore punk and heavy metal. Grunge is generally characterized by a sludgy guitar sound that uses a high level of distortion, fuzz and feedback effects. Grunge fuses elements of hardcore punk and heavy metal. The music shares with punk a raw sound and similar lyrical concerns. However, it also involves much slower tempos and dissonant harmonies. The music shares with punk a raw sound and similar lyrical concerns. However, it also involves much slower tempos and dissonant harmonies.

6. Lyrics Lyrics are typically angst-filled, often addressing themes such as social alienation, apathy, confinement, and a desire for freedom. A number of factors influenced the focus on such subject matter. Many grunge musicians displayed a general disenchantment with the state of society, as well as a discomfort with social prejudices. Lyrics are typically angst-filled, often addressing themes such as social alienation, apathy, confinement, and a desire for freedom. A number of factors influenced the focus on such subject matter. Many grunge musicians displayed a general disenchantment with the state of society, as well as a discomfort with social prejudices.

7. Live shows Grunge bands rejected the complex and high budget presentations of many musical genres, including the use of complex light arrays, pyrotechnics, and other visual effects unrelated to playing the music. Grunge bands rejected the complex and high budget presentations of many musical genres, including the use of complex light arrays, pyrotechnics, and other visual effects unrelated to playing the music. concerts did involve a level of interactivity; fans and musicians alike would participate in stage diving, crowd surfing, headbanging, and moshing. concerts did involve a level of interactivity; fans and musicians alike would participate in stage diving, crowd surfing, headbanging, and moshing.stage divingcrowd surfingheadbanging moshingstage divingcrowd surfingheadbanging moshing

8. Nirvana For a while, it seemed there were nothing but grunge bands: Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Green River, Screaming Trees-- and virtually all of them hailed from Seattle. For a while, it seemed there were nothing but grunge bands: Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Green River, Screaming Trees-- and virtually all of them hailed from Seattle. Nirvana, with their flannel overshirts and ripped jeans and greasy hair, would be lumped in with the movement. Nirvana, with their flannel overshirts and ripped jeans and greasy hair, would be lumped in with the movement.

9. Nirvana songs don’t have all the actual attributes of true grunge music. Grunge, as we came to know it through MTV and commercial alternative radio, consisted of craggy and/or heavily reverbed, jangly guitars, mumbling ponytailed vocalists, and giant stadium drums. Nirvana songs don’t have all the actual attributes of true grunge music. Grunge, as we came to know it through MTV and commercial alternative radio, consisted of craggy and/or heavily reverbed, jangly guitars, mumbling ponytailed vocalists, and giant stadium drums. Nirvana are, a decade later, still regarded as the greatest and most legendary band of the 1990s. This band proved to a whole new generation that technical prowess has no bearing on quality, inspired their fans to seek out the music that slipped beneath the commercial radar Nirvana are, a decade later, still regarded as the greatest and most legendary band of the 1990s. This band proved to a whole new generation that technical prowess has no bearing on quality, inspired their fans to seek out the music that slipped beneath the commercial radar

10. In September 1991, the band released its major label debut, Nevermind. The album was at best hoped to be a minor success on par with Sonic Youth's Goo, which Geffen had released a year previous. It was the release of the album's first single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" that "marked the instigation of the grunge music phenomenon." Due to constant airplay of the song's music video on MTV, Nevermind was selling 400,000 copies a week by Christmas 1991. In September 1991, the band released its major label debut, Nevermind. The album was at best hoped to be a minor success on par with Sonic Youth's Goo, which Geffen had released a year previous. It was the release of the album's first single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" that "marked the instigation of the grunge music phenomenon." Due to constant airplay of the song's music video on MTV, Nevermind was selling 400,000 copies a week by Christmas 1991.NevermindGooSmells Like Teen SpiritNevermindGooSmells Like Teen Spirit The success of Nevermind surprised the music industry. Nevermind not only popularized grunge, but also established "the cultural and commercial viability of alternative rock in general.“ The success of Nevermind surprised the music industry. Nevermind not only popularized grunge, but also established "the cultural and commercial viability of alternative rock in general.“ Live Sold Out Tonight video Live Sold Out Tonight video

11. The Smashing Pumpkins Out of Chicago also came the only hard-rocking band that could compete with the popularity of Seattle's grunge: the Smashing Pumpkins Out of Chicago also came the only hard-rocking band that could compete with the popularity of Seattle's grunge: the Smashing PumpkinsSmashing PumpkinsSmashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (1993) gave the idea psychological depth and dramatic emphasis: languid melodies were delivered in a neurotic register by Billy Corgan while James Iha's guitar screeched a wall of noise. Siamese Dream (1993) gave the idea psychological depth and dramatic emphasis: languid melodies were delivered in a neurotic register by Billy Corgan while James Iha's guitar screeched a wall of noise.

12. Australian Grunge Notable Australian albums of grunge included Magic Dirt’s Friends In Danger (1997), and Silverchair's Frogstomp (1995) Notable Australian albums of grunge included Magic Dirt’s Friends In Danger (1997), and Silverchair's Frogstomp (1995)

13. Seattle Grunge Alice in Chains Alice in Chains Alice in Chains Alice in Chains Blood Circus Blood Circus Blood Circus Blood Circus Green River Green River Green River Green River Gruntruck Gruntruck Gruntruck Hammerbox Hammerbox Hammerbox Love Battery Love Battery Love Battery Love Battery Mad Season Mad Season Mad Season Mad Season Malfunkshun Malfunkshun Malfunkshun Melvins Melvins Melvins Mono Men Mono Men Mono Men Mono Men Mother Love Bone Mother Love Bone Mother Love Bone Mother Love Bone Mudhoney Mudhoney Mudhoney My Sister's Machine My Sister's Machine My Sister's Machine My Sister's Machine Nirvana Nirvana Nirvana Pearl Jam Pearl Jam Pearl Jam Pearl Jam Screaming Trees Screaming Trees Screaming Trees Screaming Trees Skin Yard Skin Yard Skin Yard Skin Yard Soundgarden Soundgarden Soundgarden Tad Tad Tad Temple of the Dog Temple of the Dog Temple of the Dog Temple of the Dog Truly Truly Truly The U-Men The U-Men The U-Men The U-Men