History of Grunge

The History of Grunge

Grunge is associated with the alternative music genre, particularly alternative rock with first emerged in the mid 1980's in America, especially in Seattle, where its other name (Seattle Sound) originates from. It revolved around the independent record label and in the 90's it had become widely popular. Bands most famous for contributing to this movement are Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam. Grunge rock became the most popular form of hard rock at the time. 

Grunge is often identified for its guitar sounds that use high levels of distortion, and also 'fuzz'. However, it also involves much slower tempos, dissonant harmonies, and more complex instrumentation—which is reminiscent of heavy metal. Lyrics are typically angst-filled,often addressing themes such as social alienation, apathy, confinement, and a desire for freedom. This fits in with my target audience, the 'Strugglers' and 'Explorers' as they seek escape. 

A man named Paul Rambali first used the term 'grunge' in 1978 in an issue of NME to describe mainstream guitar rock however Mark Arm, the vocalist for the Seattle band Green River—and later Mudhoney—is generally credited as being the first to use the term grunge to describe this genre of music.