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The genre of alternative rock is more familiarly known in the UK as Indie, and has its roots firmly entrenched in Punk, emerging as a movement in its own right during the 1980's, and achieving a greater level of popularity in the 1990's. The term alternative' was originally coined to cover those post punk inspired bands who really did not fit into any specific existing genre. It consists of several sub genres which in time became full blown genres of their own such as grunge and Brit Pop.

During the 1980's many of these alternative groups attained cult status through word of mouth, air play on certain radio shows like John Peel and where they could not get signed to major labels, by signing themselves to the growing number of independent record labels. Aside from bands like The Cure and REM the real breakthrough for alternative bands did not happen until the early 90's with the emergence of bands like Nirvana and their very successful 1991 album Nevermind, the whole grunge movement plus the excitement generated by Brit Pop. Finally, a lot of these new bands were actually achieving some degree of commercial success.

The explosion of new bands that followed, including Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, Hole and Red Hot Chilli Peppers, was helped by television channels like MTV and a receptive audience who were looking for something new and exciting to listen to. British alternative rock was somehow more pop orientated than its transatlantic relative and as such very few managed to repeat their success in America. It was the post punk genius of bands like Orange Juice and Aztec Camera that led the way in the 1980's with the Smith's possibly being the most successful group to come out of that transitory period. It was ultimately the grunge genre that really influenced the UK music scene in the early 1990's and because of the lack of UK success in America a whole new set of musicians burst on the scene determined to rid the country of the US grunge effect.

In an attempt to revitalize an Americanized' youth the whole concept of Cool Britannia' grew up with bands like Blur, Oasis, Suede and Pulp beginning to dominate and define the English' Indie' movement. The 1995 battle between Blur and Oasis which was symbolized by them both releasing singles on the same day showed just how effective this new genre really was. In the aftermath it has been bands like Radiohead, Travis and Coldplay who have continued to fly the flag for British alternative music.

In both the US and UK alternative music still continues to spawn new and exciting bands who are managing to achieve a greater degree of success both at home and abroad.

Learn more about this author, Noleen Wyatt-Jones.
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