GruNge MusIc hIstoRy

In the mid 80's a small movement was brewing in an unlikely place, Seattle, Washington. This movement was not actually lead by Nirvana as many have said when they released "Nevermind" in September of 91 but actually went back to other Seattle bands like Melvins and Mudhoney. It was due in large part to Nirvana and Pearl Jam that the movement came to the forefront of mainstream success, a move which combined with the tragedy of Kurt Cobain's death conspired to kill the movement. While alternative music was a term for underground rock bands, Grunge bands combined guitar rock with punk and metal to give birth to a new movement. By the mid 90s the two movements combined in the eyes of the public to one big genre known as grunge. As a offshoot of this situation rock emerged and returned to the roots of the alternative movement and took the mantle of what was formerly known as alternative or college rock. Grunge moved from a local sound in Seattle through national and international venues and became a part of the musical vocabulary of most subsequent bands. Most modern musicians owe a debt of gratitude to those plaid wearing teens from Seattle. What caused this phenomenon? No one knows exactly but there are some possible causes to consider.

Seattle in the early 80s was an isolated place culturally. Major bands didn't tour Seattle, the live scene was awash with derivative bands, and it rained a lot which brings people inside together. In the words of local record producer Jack Endino, "when the weather's crappy you don't feel like going outside, you go into a basement and make a lot of noise to take out your frustration." In the mid eighties British punk began to make its presence known in Seattle.Bands formed and played small gigs they set up for themselves to an audience mostly of other bands in tiny venues or clubs. It was a friendly scene playing to entertain themselves and escape from boredom and the rain. We did mention the rain right? Lots of rain? Small independent record companies started up making handshake deals producing vinyl records which were cheap and abundant. Fanzines also helped glue the scene together and keep grunge enthusiasts informed on the new bands and shows. Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitof of the famed and infamous rock record label Sub Pop began to spread beyond the north west exerting their influence on a national level. After starting with the simple goal of getting a relatively unknown local band Soundgarden on record they soon became a driving force in the movement that was quickly sweeping the nation. In November 1988 they established the "Sub Pop Singles Club" producing limited editions of singles from local bands, released monthly. It started with a thousand copies of a thoroughly unknown Nirvana's "Love Buzz/Big Cheese". Other local bands like Green River, Tad, Mudhoney, and Soundgarden put out Sub Pop singles. King Snake Roost, Lubricated Goat, Surgery, Helmet, Tar, Silverfish, Melvins, Cows, and Steel Pole Bath Tub began to be well known on the local scene and the roots of the movement began to take hold.