Mark Henderson answered
Grunge was not invented by anybody in particular, instead it was a term used to describe the sound of alternative rock bands hailing from Seattle from the mid to late 1980s to the middle of the 1990s. Mark Arm (the vocalist of early grunge band Green River) was credited with having first coined the term.
Grunge - which is a sub-genre of alternative rock - was born out of a fusion of punk, heavy metal, indie rock and hardcore.
The songs are usually characterized by introverted lyrics, heavy guitar distortion, contrasting dynamics and themes of alienation, apathy and depression.
Grunge became huge in the early 1990s with the release of Nirvana's "Nevermind" and Pearl Jam's "Ten". Both albums are two of the best alternative rock albums of all time.
Soundgarden were the first gunge band to sign to a major record label. Alice in Chains and Screaming Trees followed them in the late 80s, but none of these bands hit the big time with their initial releases.
Then came Nirvana, who signed a major record deal in 1990. In September 1991, the band released its album "Nevermind" - which was at best hoped to be a minor success. However, with the release of the album's lead single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", Nirvana went global and "Nevermind" began selling 400,000 copies a week.
By 1992, "Nevermind" had replaced Michael Jackson at the top of the charts, ushering in the grunge movement.
Prominent Grunge Bands
- Nirvana
- Alice In Chains
- Green River
- Mad Season
- The Melvins
- Mother Love Bone
- Mudhoney
- Pearl Jam
- Screaming Trees
- Soundgarden
- Tad
- Temple of the Dog
- Hole
- Stone Temple Pilots
Grunge - which is a sub-genre of alternative rock - was born out of a fusion of punk, heavy metal, indie rock and hardcore.
The songs are usually characterized by introverted lyrics, heavy guitar distortion, contrasting dynamics and themes of alienation, apathy and depression.
Grunge became huge in the early 1990s with the release of Nirvana's "Nevermind" and Pearl Jam's "Ten". Both albums are two of the best alternative rock albums of all time.
Soundgarden were the first gunge band to sign to a major record label. Alice in Chains and Screaming Trees followed them in the late 80s, but none of these bands hit the big time with their initial releases.
Then came Nirvana, who signed a major record deal in 1990. In September 1991, the band released its album "Nevermind" - which was at best hoped to be a minor success. However, with the release of the album's lead single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", Nirvana went global and "Nevermind" began selling 400,000 copies a week.
By 1992, "Nevermind" had replaced Michael Jackson at the top of the charts, ushering in the grunge movement.
Prominent Grunge Bands
- Nirvana
- Alice In Chains
- Green River
- Mad Season
- The Melvins
- Mother Love Bone
- Mudhoney
- Pearl Jam
- Screaming Trees
- Soundgarden
- Tad
- Temple of the Dog
- Hole
- Stone Temple Pilots
