Grunge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grunge
Nirvana band members Krist Novoselic (left) and Kurt Cobain performing at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards.
Stylistic origins	Punk rock Alternative rock Hard rock Noise rock Hardcore punk Heavy metal
Cultural origins	Mid-1980s, United States
Typical instruments	Guitar, drums, vocals, bass guitar
Derivative forms	Post-grunge
Regional scenes
Seattle Sound

Grunge music is a type of rock music that mixes sounds from punk rock and heavy metal. It is sometimes called the Seattle sound. This music style started in the mid-1980s in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It became very popular in the early 1990s.

Grunge songs often had quiet guitar parts in the verses. Then, they would blast into loud, distorted guitar sounds in the choruses. Bands usually had a singer, guitars, bass, and drums. Songs often talked about feeling sad or frustrated.

Even though grunge music was less popular by the late 1990s, its sound still influences many bands today. A very famous grunge band was Nirvana.

What is Grunge Music?

Grunge is a unique kind of rock music. It takes ideas from different styles. These include the fast energy of punk rock and the heavy sound of heavy metal. It also has parts of alternative rock. This mix gave grunge its own special sound.

Where Did Grunge Start?

Grunge music began in the mid-1980s. It came from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The cities of Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, were important places for this music. Many bands formed there and helped create the grunge sound.

How Does Grunge Sound?

Grunge songs often have a special way of changing their sound. They might start with quiet, clean guitar parts. These parts are usually in the verses of the song. Then, the music gets much louder and more powerful. This happens when the guitars become "distorted" or "dirty." This loud, energetic sound is often heard in the choruses.

Most grunge bands had a typical rock band setup. This included a lead singer, one or two guitar players, a bass guitar player, and a drummer. This setup helped them create their raw and powerful sound.

The Rise and Influence of Grunge

Grunge music became very popular in the early 1990s. Bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains became famous. Their songs were played on the radio and on TV. This made grunge a big part of music culture at the time.

Why Was Grunge Popular?

Grunge music connected with many young people. The songs often talked about feelings of being unhappy or not caring. This was different from the flashier rock music of the 1980s. Grunge had a more real and raw feeling. It felt honest to many listeners.

Grunge's Lasting Impact

By the late 1990s, grunge music was not as popular as it once was. However, its influence can still be heard today. Many bands that came after grunge were inspired by its sound. It changed the way rock music was made and heard. Grunge showed that music could be both powerful and thoughtful.

Famous Grunge Bands

Many bands helped make grunge music famous.

• Nirvana was one of the most well-known. Their songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became huge hits.
• Pearl Jam also became very popular. They were known for their powerful live shows.
• Soundgarden mixed heavy metal with grunge.
• Alice in Chains had a darker, heavier sound.
• Other important bands included Mudhoney and Green River. These bands helped create the early grunge sound.

Images for kids

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  Mark Arm of Green River whose Dry as a Bone EP was described as "ultra-loose grunge" in 1987

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  A museum exhibition about the Seattle music scene, with record sleeves of Nevermind and In Utero by Nirvana and Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden

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  Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready

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  The relatively affordable, widely available Boss DS-2 distortion pedal was one of the key effects (including the related DS-1) that created the growling, overdriven guitar sound in grunge.

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  Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil's punk attitudes encouraged him to downplay soloing in the 1980s; however, when other leading grunge bands such as Nirvana started to de-emphasize the role of the solo during the early 1990s, he began to do solos again.

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  Drummer Matt Cameron, who played with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden

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  Vocalist Eddie Vedder, from Pearl Jam, is noted for his expressive singing style.

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  Grunge concerts, like the heavy metal, punk rock, and hardcore shows that influenced grunge's development, were loud. Pictured is Pearl Jam's bassist Jeff Ament in front of a wall of bass stacks.

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  Neil Young has been called the "Godfather of Grunge", and has had albums such as Rust Never Sleeps and Ragged Glory described as proto-grunge and grunge.

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  Cosmic Psychos, one of several Australian bands which influenced and interacted with the Seattle scene

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  Seattle grunge pioneers Green River

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  Nirvana performing at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards

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  Grunge band Pearl Jam in Columbia, Maryland in 2000

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  British band Bush were described by Matt Diehl of Rolling Stone as "the most successful and shameless mimics of Nirvana's music".

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  Britpop band Oasis performing in Canada in 2002

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  Post-grunge band Creed in 2002

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  Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist Courtney Barnett in 2015

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  This photo of a Mudhoney concert captures some of the band's live show energy.

See also

In Spanish: Grunge para niños