Grunge

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Grunge

In the isolated city of Seattle during the mid 1980's a new sound and attitude was developing. Although it didn't yet have a coined term it would later become know as Grunge, "originally a tounge-in cheek term for the pungent guitar noise propagated by the cultish independent label Sub Pop" ("Grunge"). This mix of 70's metal and early 80's punk blasted into mainstream America and brought the hard rock sound of the 70's back to life, but the sudden, unexpected and to some unwanted, fame and popularity would prove to much for it and like so many pop culture movements before, it would fade away under the pressure("History"). Grunge owes it's start in part to the area in which it was created, Seattle was isolated, untouched by major record labels and looked over by the major touring acts at the time. It's atmosphere and attitude built up the Grunge sound and allowed it to develop before it was discovered. Then in the early 90's a small trio who called themselves Nirvana burst into the

mainstream and set the record charts on their ears. The gates were opened but soon the rush proved to much and Grunge was lost in a flood of it's own stardom, dead to most it slunk back to the isolation it spawned from.

While the isolation of Seattle was vital to the development of Grunge it may have also been the key to it's downfall. Without the stain of major labels in the city the bands didn't know what

to expect from them. The freedom of no major record labels allowed musicians to make music to please their friends ("Grunge City"). The dreary rainy atmosphere of Seattle resulted in grunge, it was the sound of a group of friends going into a basement on a rainy day drinking beer and jamming. ("Grunge City") Everyone was friends, "...

... middle of paper ...

...

Laurie, Peter. "Blaming Cobain for suicides obscures a growing problem Media, police quick to find a pat answer for tragedy in Langely." The Toronto Star 30 Oct. 1994, Final ed.: Pg. E11.

Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe. 25 Oct. 2000

.

Leland, John, and Marc Peyser. "Searching for Nirvana

II." Newsweek 30 Mar. 1992, United States ed.:Pg. 62.

Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe. 25 Oct. 2000 .

Mehle, Michael. "Plugged in to NIRVANA." Denver Rocky

Mountain News 1 Nov. 1994, Final ed.: Pg. 6D.

Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe. 25 Oct. 2000

.

Violanti, Anthony. "ROCK'S RELUCTANT REVOLUTIONARY." The Buffalo News 15 Apr. 1994, City ed.: Pg. 22.

Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe. 25 Oct. 2000 web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/ document?_ansset=GeHauKO-EWERMsSEWERUUBARYB>.

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