Grunge

What do you think of when you hear the word "Grunge"? I think of Kurt Cobain & Courtney Love, plaid, combat boots, and of course grey and foggy Seattle.

What does "Grunge" mean? Well, see the definition above. For me, it means rebellious rock that's dark, moody, and out of control. But let's go deeper into the topic.


Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore pubk, heavy metal, and indie rock, Grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song dynamics, and apathetic or angst-filled lyrics.

The grunge aesthetic is stripped-down compared to other forms of rock music, and many grunge musicians were noted for their unkept appearances and rejection of theatrics. Which may seem like a contradiction at first. The idea of moody angst can be associated with a sense of drama that some would consider theatre at it's best. But, if you look at a band like Hole the theatrics of prom queens and shattered ideals is presented in a punk influenced style that throws these ideas back in your face, as if they were rejecting the idea.

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. As time has told, once something is mainstream it's not so much a statement of rejection but a cultural norm that contradicts itself in it's ideals.

For the re-launch of my blog, I've chosen Grunge as my first topic of discussion. I'm going to explore the people and the music behind it and show you how angst filled rock and roll can influence the way you look and the way you live.