Alternative

Alternative rock came along during the 1980's and only really became famous in the 1990's. It was mostly all done on Independent record label until the 1990's because along came Nirvana with they're sub-genre of alternative.... Grunge.This genre became very popular in Manchester, England in 1990's.


In the USA they referred to alternative as college rock in the 1980's because it was constantly played on college radio stations. Alternative was directly connected to the Punk Scene, taking influence from British Punk bands like The Sex Pistols and The Clash


The music can differ from fast and ruff or slow and clean, lyrics often concentrate on drug use, envirment and life. Drums are played usually played in a 4:4 time sequence. The genre also employs a DIY (do it yourself) mentality.


The alternative genre started with bands like R.E.M and The Feelies but it was made famous in the 1990's by bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden and Red Hot Chili Peppers, but the genre went into decline after the death of Iconic Legend Kurt Cobain.


In the UK alternative received air time on BBC1 which gained them a lot of interest and in the US there was areas referred to as the Alternative Nation. in Europe they took a more heavy approach to alternative with bands like Rammsteine and The Crash test dummies
Kirt Cobain - Important in Grunge and Founding member on Nirvana



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