Seattle Scene

Some people say that grunge originates from the alternative scene, others say it’s the start of the alternative scene. Whichever it may be, the grunge scene is an important influence of rock music. The term grunge comes from grungy, which means dirty, originally it was a term used to describe the grunge scene, but it changed into the actual term for grunge music. The grunge scene originates from the mid 1980’s in Seattle, and is also referred to as the Seattle scene. It’s a mixture from punk and heavy metal, characterized by distorted electric guitars, accompanied angst filled and often depressing lyrics. The image of rebellion accompanies the scene; ripped jeans, checker shirts and worn out shoes. It was mainly known as an underground scene. The bands Nirvana (nevermind) and Pearl Jam (ten) got grunge into the spotlights, but many people within the scene were uncomfortable with the fame; even the people within the bands couldn’t really take the fame. By the late 1990’s the grunge scene had lost the eye of the spotlight, but it still has great influence on the modern rock scene.

Nirvana is one of the most famous grunge bands, which got the rest of the world interested in the scene. Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic started the band in 1987, and the final drummer of the band was David Grohl (who currently is in the Foo Fighters). The band got popular with the single “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and the grunge scene followed them into the spotlights. Nirvana’s career didn’t last long, three years after their debute Kurt Cobain commits suicide, but the band remains popular and is still a major influence in the rock scene.