Pearl Jam preforming in Philadelphia in 2016. Picture taken by Wikipedia user Lugnuts, under CC-BY-SA-4.0 license

Rock has been around since the late 1940s, when, after World War II, the rise in popularity of new music came into effect. With a new era upon America, the culture of music came into focus – an era of peace in the world leading to more free willed creativity.

However, within 50 years of the blooming population of the Pacific Northwest, we can see a new spin on both the music and the terms used to define it. A new word, grunge came into the scene – a word specifically meaning a turn on alternative rock. In the mid-1980s, there was a big grunge scene in Seattle, which was a mix of alternative rock genres that forever changed the entire rock scene, including elements from punk rock and heavy metal to create a new sound. A record label called Sub Pop helped popularize the grunge music style by signing bigger bands such as Nirvana, which was first formed in 1986. Seattle has always been a bit more alternative, a bit more outside of the box. Because of the different influences around the theme, and the remoteness from mainstream pop of L.A., it thrived in its own circle. Several different bands grew up in the early times of grunge, so, it certainly started with Seattle – but how it became popular is a whole different story.

How did grunge start?

Well, the simple answer would be – with Nirvana. Certainly, there is much more than just one band, but a large part of it can be attributed to Nirvana’s success. The band started in 1987 in Aberdeen Washington – only about forty-five minutes away from Olympia. It’s widely known for spreading the sound or the name of grunge throughout the world, selling a whooping 27 million copies of DVDs and going on two worldwide tours. Nirvana is most notable for creating music such as Smells like Teen Spirit and Heart-Shaped Box. It still remained popular, even after Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994. Arguably one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1980s and 1990s, they made a name for themselves not just in the world, but in the rock scene forever – several other bands taking full credit for inspiring them. They went on many tours and touched the hearts of many fans around the world – especially after Kurt Cobian’s unfortunate death in 1994.

Its popularity can also be attributed to the fact that the music itself was so raw. Most lyrics were introspective and filled with angst, often addressing themes such as abuse, neglect, betrayal, and even addictions. These lyrics resonated with people because of that, and that’s partly how it rose to such a popular form. With the new wave of music that arose in a time which was controversial – such as the AIDS epidemic being protested and the other protests going on within the USA – and something people could relate their struggles to. That’s also partly why it rose so quickly in popularity, citing more controversial events, such as abortion or LGBTQ+ people’s rights.

Seattle is often referred to as the cradle of grunge, or as a more general concept, the birthplace of alternative rock. However, these musical waves resonate with people all over the world – grunge’s new spin with the concept of punk rock, paired with the raw emotions and lyrics that came with it. These musical styles gave input into alternative fashion, bringing usually clean thrifted clothes in a very androgynous look. This compares even more to punk, which made a fashion statement to be anti-fashion. This was taken in great stride, with Kurt Cobian popularizing it on stage when Nirvana was still touring.

Although grunge music originated in Seattle in the 1980s and 1990s, it still continues to inspire people around the world. Millions of fans are still touched by rock music, bringing them closer to the struggles that alternative bands around the world have experienced.

Anderson, K. (2007). Accidental revolution: The story of grunge. St. Martin’s Griffin.