by Nikki Everett

Created on: January 04, 2010

In the late 80s, rock and roll’s heavier strains of metal and punk would give birth to a new genre and subculture alternative music. California had its big hair bands with monster ballads, New York had its subversive punk rock - But Seattle would become the alternative grunge capital of America.

The Northwest Seattle area had coffee shop poets and vegans with a cause who easily led a generation weaned on MTV videos and Reaganomics into the craze of grunge. Instead of big hair, spandex pants and faux leather they would opt to wear flannel shirts, sport goatees, and listen to music with brooding lyrics and a rebellious loudness. Generation X was tired of fluff they wanted music that was deeper, more reflective of their angst ridden lives and their boredom with the status quo.

There are many musicians that forged the rocky path to alternative music’s success. The groups which made the biggest impact are the pioneers – Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam – their music will forever be known as the beginning of grunge.

A Sound Garden

Out of the local music scene rose a group called Soundgarden, named after a wind-channeling pipe sculpture in Seattle. A cross between Led Zeppelin and punk rock influences like the Stooges, Soundgarden’s cutting edge sound was made of Chris Cornell (vocalist), Ben Shepherd (bassist), Scott Sundquist (drummer), and Kim Thayil (lead guitarist) . Their heavy guitar riffs and Cornell’s high pitched wailing voice made them a shoe in for heavy metal fans and catapulted them into the mainstream arena.

In 1991 Soundgarden released Outshined and Rusty Cage which received play on alternative radio stations and MTV – Until then Soundgarden’s musical genius was unknown and misunderstood. The hits Black Hole Sun and Spoonman hit the charts and both tunes garnered them Grammys - breaking alternative music into the annals of rock and roll.

With controversial lyrics about politics, religion and sex Soundgarden proved to be highly problematic for major record labels. Despite the controversy that ensued, Soundgarden would go on to win awards and have high record sales for their career span of only 13 years which ended in April of 1997.

However, the fat lady has not sung for this innovative group yet because at precisely midnight on January 1, 2010 Chris Cornell posted on Twitter: "The 12 year break is over & school is back in session. Knights of the Soundtable ride again!" with a link

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>