Seattle’s Alternative Grunge Music Scene
January 8, 2008 by Eric Hebert in GeneralComment
If you happened to be living under a rock during the early 1990’s, you may have missed one of the most significant eras of modern rock lore - the Seattle grunge music scene.
Alongside a lesser-felt So-Cal scene (at least in terms of being a household name), grunge music pretty much started and ended with one city in America’s northwest, one which happens to get a lot of rain (which equals to more depression, drug use, and ultimately, good music).
Grunge music has heavy influences of punk and metal in it’s distorted guitars, creative song dynamics, and “woe-is-me” depressive or frustrated lyrics. Some of the musicians actually did end up killing themselves too, either by shotguns or drugs. Alongside these details came an image of rebellion, in that many of the grunge-era bands took a blue-collar approach to their appearance and wardrobe, much different then the glossy, pseudo-drama of the 80’s hair bands prior to grunge.
What makes the scene interesting is the fact that many of the bands involved crossed each others paths, and multiple times. How could these guys NOT run into each other, all playing the same scene at the same time? Seattle carved out a big happy family (okay, not always happy) of musicians, and pretty much most of them signed major label deals and were a big deal.
Green River
The early days before grunge “officially” began included bands such as Green River, who’s band members would later go on to become parts of the mainstream grunge movement. The band featured future Pearl Jam members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, in addition to Mudhoney singer Mark Arm.
Malfunkshun
Malfunkshun, while not much of a typical “grunge” band with their glam-rock lead singer, should be mentioned for their lead singer Andrew Wood, who would prove to be a very influential part of what became grunge. The band was known for their live performances, costumes, and “alter egos” that each band member shared.
Mother Love Bone
After the demise of Green River, Gossard, Ament, and drummer Bruce Fairweather hooked up with glam man Andrew Wood and eventually formed the band Mother Love Bone. Developing a very popular sound, the band was destined for rock superstardom as they began courting major labels. That all changed when Wood, always the token heroin user, died of an overdose just days before their debut album was released.
Mudhoney
Mark Arm of Green River eventually hooked up with former members of the band The Melvins (known as the “godfathers” of grunge) to form the band Mudhoney. While never achieving the commercial success of their contemporaries, the band was still an important part of the scene as the world began paying closer attention to what was happening in Seattle.
Soundgarden
While the previous bands became and then broke up, one band was playing right alongside them the entire time. Soundgarden, formed in 1984, was named after a wind channeling pipe sculpture in Seattle. The band would release several albums before their 1991 major label breakthrough, “Badmotorfinger”, ultimately becoming legends of the grunge music scene. Lead singer Chris Cornell would also go on to achieve commercial success as a solo artist and singer of Audioslave, and drummer Matt Cameron eventually becoming a staple of a little band called Pearl Jam.
Temple of the Dog
Speaking of Cornell and Cameron, after the death of Andrew Wood (Cornell’s former roommate - small world, huh?), the two would team up with some dudes named Gossard, Ament and Mike McCready, to record an album dedicated to their fallen friend. The band and album was called Temple of the Dog (a reference to a Mother Love Bone lyric), and featured back up vocals by another dude named Eddie Vedder, who had just moved to Seattle to form a new band with Gossard and Ament. The album would eventually achieve some mainstream success with the single “Hunger Strike”.
Pearl Jam
As the Temple of the Dog project unfolded, so did another. With the demise of Mother Love Bone, Gossard and Ament could have went their separate ways. They eventually recorded a 3 song demo with Mr. McCready and Cameron, which landed in the hands of original Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons, who in turn sent the demo to San Diego’s Eddie Vedder. The rest they say is history. Pearl Jam forms (although Cameron would not become their permanent drummer until years later…and after a short stint by Irons) and becomes THE most popular band to ever come out of Seattle.
Alice In Chains
In addition to the commercial success of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, another Seattle band would form that would be just as important and influential. Alice In Chains would start their careers with the metal and hair band influenced “Facelift”, but get thrown into the “grunge” label as their contemporaries began achieving mainstream success (and as their dynamic sound changed with future albums). The band would hook up with Cornell (background vocals) on their second album Sap, and singer Layne Staley (who would go on to overdose years later, RIP) cut an album with McCready as the band Mad Season.
What a small, small world the Seattle scene turned out to be.
Albert Costill on Tue, 8th Jan 2008 11:39 am
Sweet post!
Although…I don’t know know why you left out Nirvana. I know you don’t like them, but they were still relevant to this scene and you know this man.
And yes, Nirvana ran into the bands you mentioned. Like when Nirvana and Pearl Jam opening up for the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 91, Dave Grohl performing with Pearl Jam for a couple of gigs in Australia, Krist Novoselic playing with Kim Thayil in 99 for No WTO Combo (with Jello Biafra as well), etc.
You also didn’t mention Screaming Trees, who opened up for Soundgarden. Frontman Mark Lanegan joined Kurt Cobain for some Leadbelly tracks and also was on Above, which featured Screaming Trees drummer Barret Martin.
Eric Hebert on Tue, 8th Jan 2008 11:45 am
Well that didn’t take long. There’s one important reason why Nirvana and the Screaming Trees were not on list list - they weren’t from Seattle. Nirvana was from Aberdeen, WA and the ‘Trees hailed from Ellensburg (90 some miles away from Seattle I do believe).
Thus the “Seattle” in the title - of course Nirvana MADE grunge as big as it was (it broke the water of the baby if you will) and the ‘Trees were important as well as other bands. I just tried to focus on those who actually came out of the city. And based on my research, this list is all Seattle.
Albert Costill on Tue, 8th Jan 2008 11:35 pm
So you have to be that specfic don’t you?
Ok, so what about Candlebox? Some say they were “grunge”, they’re from Seattle and former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen was in the band from 97 to 99.
Eric Hebert on Wed, 9th Jan 2008 12:39 am
Point taken. I though it was funny reading this in wikipedia:
“The members did not consider Candlebox to be a grunge band however; they viewed themselves as a rock and roll band more than anything and their style reflected that.”
They were part if it. If I could re-name the post it would be this title
Netvalar on Wed, 9th Jan 2008 12:46 am
Yea now look at the Seattle music scene in the last few years bands have been more competitive then helpful to each other. Only 4 years ago when you did a show with another band you usually exhanged venue contact info. Now many of the newer Seattle bands keep this info to themselves greedily. I think this mostly comes from the fact that many places that used to do live music have switched to DJ’s cheaper. I know there still are bands who have the sharing spirit in the Seattle music scene such as Flowmotion and The Osbourne Band. Also Jet Bar and Grill in Mill Creek is a great hub of local music north of Seattle. Well maybe these new younger bands will learn to share and thus increase their options.
Top 10 Forgotten Rock Bands of the 1990’s | Evolvor Media on Wed, 9th Jan 2008 12:49 am
[...] face it; the 90’s rocked, and I mean that literally. After grunge got big in the early years, many bands came into the spotlight and then vanished by the end of the [...]
Wicked Playlist - Music Blog » Blog Archive » Hell Yea - Grunge Lives on Fri, 25th Jan 2008 2:31 pm
[...] Jam, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains and others. Hard to beat that when you are discussing grunge music. And to be honest, Peal Jam “Ten” is in my top 5 records of all [...]
MariusO on Mon, 18th Feb 2008 6:33 pm
I hope I won’t upset you with this, but I’m also a fan of grunge. I made a blog with 90s music, which is my favourite period of all. If you want please check it out. Thank you! RIP Layne Staley
http://mariusogrean.blogspot.com
Attention All Seattle Grunge & Alt Rock Fans: Mother Love Bone on Thu, 6th Mar 2008 10:12 pm
[...] I won’t cover the band known as Green River, the first band Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament were a part of back when they were we young lads in the early formations of what became the alternative Seattle grunge movement. [...]
Mone' G. on Sun, 11th May 2008 12:52 am
Nice page an all but why did you leave out Nirvana?! they pretty much started GRUNGE music. They were super important on the starting of Grunge music.
Kristin on Thu, 25th Sep 2008 11:53 am
Yeah.. So even though Nirvana was from aberdeen they were still a HUGE part and you should deffinatly put them on here..
Mitchell Valenti on Wed, 8th Oct 2008 3:47 pm
blah
Mitchell Valenti on Wed, 8th Oct 2008 3:49 pm
I don’t consider Chris cornell to be grunge. I consider him and his music to be a disgrace to the true Grunge scene. I saw him live. He wouldn’t know grunge if it stabbed him in the back. He gives true grunge bands like Mudhoney and the Melvins a bad name. He’s a rich bastard and makes pop songs.
Mitchell Valenti on Wed, 8th Oct 2008 3:50 pm
I hate Chris Cornell as a true grunge fan.
Eric Hebert on Wed, 8th Oct 2008 4:20 pm
Well Mitchell, I think you’re an idiot who wouldn’t know grunge history if it stabbed you in the back.
Chris was part of the scene.
Since then he’s evolved and yes, today he’s making pop music. I think it’s great when people grow and change and hell, if they make money doing it, then good for them.
You’re just one of a million jealous “haters” that are stuck so far up your own ass about “grunge” and “art” and all this meaningless bullshit.
It’s people like you that I hate as a true music fan.
Ally on Sun, 2nd Nov 2008 1:16 am
well whoever says Chris Cornell wasn’t Grunge is a Retard with a hater stick up there ass. Chris was involved with alot of grunge bands in the early 90’s, his good friend andrew wood who was the lead singer of mother love bone died and Cornell and Eddie Vedder (B4 pearl jam) formed Temple of the dog as a tribute to Wood. Watch the movie “Singles”, you’ll see him in there and he was deff part of that scene.
Great post Eric Hebert
Johnny on Mon, 24th Nov 2008 9:59 am
I think you people should stop being so goddamn prejudice.
Everyone has their own opinion and the right to voice it, so dont bash it, if you disagree, just do so politely
Robi Navicula on Fri, 28th Nov 2008 11:15 am
Nice post…
Well as for grunge or pop or Chris.. I love music (especially grunge though haha) but music for music, not for the genre. besides, ‘grunge’ was coined by the media in the first place right. And through Nirvana, grunge basically become ‘pop’ (read: popular).
Well, grunge started very idealistic, I like the mood in the film Hype!..it really felt like just a bunch of musicians, doing what they loved. That’s the spirit I listen to grunge for.
This just my opinion from far off experiencing Grunge in Indonesia… Wish could see Seattle someday though
Peace from Bali!
Robi Navicula on Fri, 28th Nov 2008 11:19 am
Oh ya, I’d never heard of the band malfunkshun before. Great band name!
Thanks for the info, I’m checking out their site now
Brad Howson on Sun, 30th Nov 2008 10:22 pm
Eric Hebert, you truely have become a bag-o. ” You’re just one of a million jealous “haters” that are stuck so far up your own ass about “grunge” and “art” and all this meaningless bullshit. ” The fact of the matter is this. Music IS art and should always be. It’s corporate douchebags who sell the public their idea of what rock and roll should be that ruin the industry. Nickleback is not art or music. It is corporate music pushed out by music labels and radio stations to make money. No, there is nothing wrong with making money, but make no mistake, usually it doesn’t qualify it as music. Chris Cornell, love him…. but he’s done. He couldn’t write another good song if Henry Rollins himself helped. I’m not stuck up my own ass, but I do feel that there was heart put into the music of the grunge era and in my opinion that is art. Copying the same three chords off of Disturbed and ending every opening riff with a power chord doesn’t mean it’s music. So before you start a beef you can’t finish, I suggest you compare Cornell’s earlier works with his suedo folk/ crap he is writing now. And again, music is supposed to be art and should always be such.
signed,
a hater
Eric Hebert on Tue, 2nd Dec 2008 12:36 pm
yawn
Michael Owens on Sun, 14th Dec 2008 8:04 pm
Interesting posts: Nice to know that people are still passionate about what in my opinion was one of the greatest eras in music. Being from Bellingham and graduating in 1990 from high school I feel privileged to have been able to attend some great live shows all over the Northwest, in Seattle, Spokane, Pullman, and even in Bellingham.
I moved to Key West for several years and there were always lots of live music and a cool scene that went with it but nothing like Seattle in the 90’s.
Now that I have been living outside the U.S.A for several years I really appreciate how good we had it.
Deepak Nandwani on Tue, 16th Dec 2008 1:41 pm
Quite interesting post, i feel that grunge had mostly to do with Heroin addiction and depression, Most of the grunge rock’s leading bands were short lived, to name a few but others like Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam are still active today. The music has changed a lot and become more alternative today, i dont think that grunge is still alive anymore but yes in the old songs which i still hear and listen every day, i feel it will be on and rise once again. Lets hope to get some nice tracks from STP & Alice In Chains in 2009 on their upcoming albums.
Long Live Grunge!!
Trevor LeFiles on Tue, 6th Jan 2009 6:42 pm
I think we should agree that all the hype controlling the media is the most meaningless thing of all, so what if it came from Seattle does it mean that we all in America didn’t listen to it? No as a matter of fact it means that we should spread it throughout the nation and thensome again. I am 18 and a guitarist now in Florida I tke pride in my grunge music. I listened to the songs of Teen Spirit and amoung that was even sad when I finnally found my favorite music lover dead because he had a heroine addicton man. It was Kurt Cobaine…. That was a hard time for his sweetheart Courtney to take and from what the stupid MEDIA tends to portray us (the grunge scene) is that were all suicidal or somethin g is wrong with us. I have never liked being famous for that reason and I think taht Kurt would agree. Famous isn’t worth a sun beam. Greed and prejudice is what got us here in the first place people. Temple of The Dog at least tried to make up for the death of their lead singer by starting a new band in the name of teh lyrics. Hunger Strike oh my god, Hunger Strike! That’s a good song people. Remember that music is for happiness don’t abuse teh media like it exploits the bands. email me if you want to know.
Trevor LeFiles on Tue, 6th Jan 2009 6:44 pm
Now is the time to start new bands and a new begining, and celebrate teh coming of the of rock and the going of rap!
rand on Fri, 9th Jan 2009 5:28 pm
I just wanted to say that I hate this form of music. But I hate the moderator, Eric Hebert even more. Eric likes to write about the history of grunge music in his spare time. It is really sad to see someone wasting his life away like Eric is. Not that he is capable of doing anything else, though. Eric Hebert is an extremely underpriviledged man. After being told he is worthless all his life, he had to eventually accept it, and start a blog about it. I thought my yahoo safesearch protected me from fodder like this godless blog.
Miel on Wed, 28th Jan 2009 11:29 am
How come most of the grunge music seems to come from Seattle? Is the spirit of grunge in the bands themselves or also in the city? I plan on visiting Seattle from The Netherlands this September. Because I want to be able to grasp that spirit. Could someone help me out on where to start looking? What parts of the city should I visit? Any special places? Concerts? People to talk to? I’d really appreciate the help. Please e-mail me. Thank you!
anonymous on Wed, 25th Feb 2009 8:00 pm
I am very happy you did not say anything much about Nirvana.. I think they got enough false attention as it was..Mostly due to cobain’s “suicide” after (I quoted that because no one is perfectly clear about it really) But the media is what made Nirvana so successful it totally wasn’t about the music..
Cobain would get high and say moan what ever was on his mind, Most of the time even not understandable at all..I don’t think that should be considered talent! I do love grunge but the huge Nirvana thing has got to end sometime..Just cause he blew his head off.. he shouldn’t be getting so much PR for that.
And also I agree with some comments that some artists considered grunge where not necessarily from Seattle and that it is wrong to say all grunge came from Seattle.
Carla on Tue, 3rd Mar 2009 9:04 pm
I dream of going back to the grunge era…had I known it would pass so quickly, I would have stood back and taken it in properly, instead of taking it for granted!
Sarah on Fri, 27th Mar 2009 12:43 pm
Enough of the Nirvana-bashing, already…
anonymous, the media attention Nirvana received was not as a result of Kurt’s suicide. It was as a result of the release of the Nevermind album in January 1992, which topped billboard charts internationally and sold 10 million copies. Get your facts straight. Due to the invention of Wikipedia, there really isn’t any excuse to be ignorant these days.
Although they weren’t originally from Seattle, Nirvana played a lot of shows there during their early years and signed with Seattle indepedent record label Sub-Pop. If it wasn’t for Nirvana, the Seattle Scene would never have even left Seattle. If you want proof of this, look at the album sales for all of the other mainstream grunge bands. None of them were chart-worthy until after Nirvana released Smells Like Teen Spirit. For instance, Pearl Jam’s Ten had been out for a whole year but it failed to make a rise in the charts until October 1992. Alice in Chains got no recognition at all until 1994. Likewise for Soundgarden.
Dont get me wrong, this is a really good post with a lot of brilliant bands but Nirvana definitely deserve a place on this. They were an important part of the Seattle Scene and without them you wouldnt even know these other bands are. And on another note, there’s no shame in liking a popular band. I dont get people who treat bands who have “made it” like some unfortunate prostitute who nobody wants to do anymore because she’s had so much sex. Shame on the lot of you!
kiwi thumbalina on Mon, 30th Mar 2009 12:01 pm
who cares if nirvana wasnt from seattle.that like saying the beatles wernt a part of the 60,s rock scene in america just because they wernt from here.Where you come from is totally irrelevant.Nirvana got all those lame bands noticed, and they get no credit at all.bull krap………
Eric Hebert on Mon, 30th Mar 2009 2:20 pm
Oh jeez….the article is about the relationships between the bands in Seattle. Get over it.
jess on Sat, 18th Apr 2009 7:52 pm
well i love kurt cobain and every grunge person because of the way it sounds ok stop the freakin debet over nothing and i cant belive you all hate nirvana that band is freakin awesome i love all there songs and even the band fecal matter formed by kurt cobain in 1985 (gosh i wasnt even born yet) all you are just jelous of kurt and his band because you haters suck @ everything im only 13 and im way more apreciative than you all i m just so sad i never got to meet kurt cobain and i live in alabama that is so far away from seattle but when i go to college im movin to seattle and will keep grunge alive
ROCK ON PEOPLES - JESSICA (GRUNGER)
jess on Sat, 18th Apr 2009 7:56 pm
thanx Trevor LeFiles you are awesome 4 likeing smells like teen spirit listen to the song sliver and you know your right i love those songs
ArtsyMarci on Thu, 23rd Apr 2009 11:57 pm
I am a child of the 80’s and the 1st live show I went to was GreenRiver in a warehouse in downtown Olympia. We were on the fringe of the grunge scene and experienced (still do) some great shows! My favorite album cover is Screaming Trees in front of the art at Capitol Theater where shows still take place.
My college years in the 90’s were great due to the bands that came through! I worked at my college radio station KZUU in 1990, and had a show called “Northwest Artists” It wasn’t just grunge music although I did subscribe to sub-pop and get new singles.
I came across a book, “This band is your life” and enjoyed the pre-Nirvana reminesing. Although I do remember playing their 1st album on my show before the “fame”.
Eric Hebert on Sat, 25th Apr 2009 1:50 pm
that’s awesome!
Carsin dabn on Sat, 2nd May 2009 6:08 pm
I just have to say Nirvana took all the influences to the extreme. They say he sucked as a guitarist (he was Brilliant); the naysayers don’t understand…. He took the CURE, NEW ORDER, and new wave,LED ZEPPELIN , HEAVY METAL…. And Distorted it to the MAX!!!! AND made melodic PUNK ROCK…!!! HAS ANYBODY figured that out yet!!!!!
Please do the MAAATHH!
I love Nirvana.,,, Thank You
newfoundgrungie on Tue, 19th May 2009 9:45 pm
I’m not very “educated” on said Grunge music, but I think Kurt Cobain tried out for the Melvins but didn’t make it. If I’m wrong I do apologize
chuck Taylor on Wed, 3rd Jun 2009 1:09 am
I grew up with the whole scene. I saw all those bands early on at dives Like the ok hotel and theoff ramp. I was surfing throught old footage of those shows on you tube and saw myself in the mosh pit. Just a punk then. I have fond memories of those shows. Mother love, mudhoney every week that was the thing to do. I lived on Capital hill. Don’t forget Mookie and Seven year bitch.