Sounds like soggy speakers… Where that “Seattle” sound came from & the 90s pop/punk trend

What’s a “grunge?” A marketing term used by record companies to describe a style of music heavily influenced by: – 80s hardcore (not very popular, this was an attempt to re-brand) – 80s glam metal & hard rock Probably a descriptive term used in reference to the general appearance of poor, soggy (the Pacific NW is very rainy) musiciansmusicians

Revival of Punk Rock? Initially absent of any semblance of political/social awareness, the 90s saw a resurgence of punk sounds & fashions We also saw the creation of “punk retail” in places like Hot TopicHot Topic This influenced the popularity of other styles o music: – Ska Ska – Big Band Swing Big Band Swing

Green River

Come on Down Green River Formed 1984 in Seattle, WA, by future members of Pearl Jam & Mudhoney Named after local serial killer Gary RidgwayGary Ridgway Had little commercial success outside of Seattle Their 1985 album, Come on Down, is considered the 1 st “grunge” albumCome on Down Disbanded 1988, sporadic reunions in 2008/09

Come on Down continued Released 1985 on Homestead Records – Come on Down (EP/album) Influences range from heavy metal, punk, hardcore, & classic rock (like Creedence Clearwater Revival…) While on tour to promote this release, the band befriended NYC noise/art punks, Sonic Youth, who lent support to many Seattle bands Video (live, from 2008)

Mother Love Bone

Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns Mother Love Bone Formed in Seattle, WA, 1988 Gossard (gtr) & Ament (bass) would later form Pearl Jam Several members had previously been in Seattle proto-grunge bands Green River, Malfunkshun, & Ten Minute Warning Vocalist Andrew Wood died days before their debut album was to be released (heroin)

Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns continued Released 1989 on Stardog/Mercury Records – Shine (EP/album) This is actually 2 songs sequenced back-to-back originally released on their EP. Crown of Thorns was re-released on their 1990 album Apple There is a strong 70s classic rock influence heard in the music & vocal styles – Think Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, etc Video

Mudhoney

Touch Me I’m Sick Mudhoney Formed 1988 in Seattle, WA by former members of Green River Their highly distorted/fuzzed sound became a blueprint for early grunge bands Lyrically, they had a penchant for juxtaposing serious & ironic, sarcastic, or self-deprecating themes in their songs One of Sub Pop’s most successful early signings

Touch Me I’m Sick continued Released 1988 on Sub Pop Records – Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles (album) The guitar sound was achieved by using fuzz pedals in conjunction with high volume Heavily influenced by Iggy & The StoogesIggy & The Stooges Listen for vocalist Mark Arm’s unique vocal stylings Video

The Melvins

Hooch The Melvins Formed in Montesano, WA in 1983 Named after a hated former boss Their slowed down, sludgy sound was influenced by hardcore & influenced countless future Seattle/grunge bands, as well as many contemporary metal bandsmetal bands Known for their odd song structures Members include: – King Buzzo King Buzzo – Dale Crover – Jared Warren – Coady Willis – Mike Dillard

Hooch continued Released 1993 on Atlantic Records – Houdini (album) Heavily influenced by punk/hardcore band Black FlagBlack Flag King Buzzo introduced Kurt Cobain to Dave Grohl – So, Nirvana benefitted from The Melvins in more ways that one! The Melvins benefitted greatly from Nirvana’s massive popularity – Signed to Atlantic Records in 1992 – Cobain helped produce some of their songs Video

The Pixies

Where Is My Mind The Pixies Formed 1986 in Boston, MA The Pixies were a massive influence on bands like Nirvana, Weezer, & others Maintained minimal success in the U.S., but were much more successful in the U.K. & Europe Their musical style relies on the interplay between loud/soft, dark/light, (including lyrics) Members include: – Black Francis – Joey Santiago – David Lovering – Kim Deal (left 2013

Where Is My Mind continued Released 1988 on Rough Trade Records – Surfer Rose (album) Produced by Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Breeders, Bush, Cheap Trick) This is considered their signature song, as is their most commercially successful Kurt Cobain specifically mentioned this album as an influence on his songwriting Video

Screaming Trees

Nearly Lost You Screaming Trees Formed 1985 in Ellensburg, WA Considered one of the original grunge bands Their sound is influenced by punk, hard rock & psychedelic rock The band continuously struggled to maintain momentum due to inactivity & band in-fighting Disbanded 2000 Members include: – Mark Lanegan – Gary Lee Conner – Van Conner – Mark Pickerel – Barrett Martin

Nearly Lost You continued Released 1992 on Epic Records – Sweet Oblivion (album) Also released on Cameron Crowe’s Singles soundtrackSingles This was their breakout song Heavily influenced by 70s glam, rock & punk Video

Stone Temple Pilots

Sex Type Thing Stone Temple Pilots Formed in 1986 in San Diego, CA, by brothers Dean & Robert DeLeo, Eric Kretz, & Scott Weiland Their early material was classified as grunge Their later material shows a much wider range of influences The band was plagued by singer Weiland’s drug problems Disbanded 2003, reunited 2008 – Army of Anyone (DeLeo’s w/Kretz) Army of Anyone – Velvet Revolver (Weiland, & half of Guns n’ Roses) Velvet Revolver – STP w/Chester Bennington (of Linkin Park) STP w/Chester BenningtonLinkin Park

Sex Type Thing continued Released 1993 on Atlantic Records – Core (album) The lyrics (at the time) were misconstrued as advocating rape Weiland would (at times) appear on stage in a dress & makeup while performing this song The song, according to Weiland is a song about control, violence, and abusecontrol, violence, and abuse Video

Green Day

Basket Case Green Day Formed in 1987 in East Bay, CA Part of a collection of musicians that played the 924 Gilman Street club (Operation Ivy, AFI)924 Gilman StreetOperation IvyAFI Green Day is credited with re-popularizing punk sounds/styles in the 90s One of the world’s biggest selling acts in history (75 million albums sold) Members: – Billie Joe Armstrong – Mike Dirnt – Tré Cool

Basket Case continued Released 1994 on Reprise Records – Dookie (album) About Armstrong’s struggle with anxiety Many of their early songs reflect immature or juvenile subject matter Over time, the bands song subjects have changed to reflect their growing concerns with American politics & culturepolitics & culture Video

Blink 182

What’s My Age Again? Blink 182 Formed 1992 in Poway, CA by Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, & Travis Barker One of the progenitors of pop/punk in the 1990s Many of the lyrics (early on) reflect immaturity & obsession w/sexual innuendo (Take Off Your Pants & Jacket…really?!) Their later work reflects their changing, evolving interests in electronic musicselectronic

What’s My Age Again? continued Released 1999 on MCA Records – Enema of the State (album) One of their breakout hits & one of their signature songs Written by Hoppus, touches on his struggle to be youthful, but not immature Travis Barker was seriously injured in a 2008 plane crash Video

Rancid

Ruby Soho Rancid Formed 1991 in Berkeley, CA by members of Operation Ivy Credited with reviving punk rock in the 1990s Heavily influenced by the Clash, ska, & reggae The band had its biggest success in the mid 1990s with the release of their 2 nd album, …and Out Come the Wolves Members: – Tim Armstrong – Matt Freeman – Lars Frederiksen – Brett Reed

Ruby Soho continued Released 1995 on Epitaph Records - …And Out Come the Wolves (album) Despite being courted by major labels, Rancid remained with their indy record label Listen to the dynamic contrast between the verse & chorus Armstrong’s vocal style is directly influenced by older reggae & ska singers (hard to understand…) Video