Unexpectedly, bands who had never appeared on radio began selling out arenas and becoming household names overnight. It was an era of grunge, Britpop and even Shoegaze!
This movement created a distinct subculture of outsiders gathered at small venues, indie record labels and photocopy stores. Furthermore, its impact can still be felt today as evidenced by riot grrrl music and related subgenres such as post punk.
Nirvana
Nirvana made an unprecedented impactful statement about contemporary alternative music when they emerged in 1994 as niche sub-genres with small audiences in the late 80s, revolutionising alternative rock genres into mainstream genres while simultaneously producing intense yet catchy punk-influenced grunge music with their music featuring unbridled intensity and strength reminiscent of punk/grunge hybrid sounds that was both powerful and catchy at once. Their legacy still influences modern alternative bands today.
Nirvana’s 1991 hit Smells Like Teen Spirit catapulted alternative rock into mainstream consciousness, catalyzing it from being an obscure niche genre to an established form. Its cutting lyrics reflected Gen Xers’ frustrations while helping them find their voices amid an ever-evolving world.
Nirvana may be best-known for popularizing grunge and alternative rock, but other bands like Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden played equally important roles. Their collective efforts helped advance this genre into mainstream consciousness – it would be impossible to imagine grunge without alternative rock!
Marilyn Manson and PJ Harvey were also notable artists from the 90s, both producing albums featuring dark, provocative lyrics that addressed sexuality, drugs, politics, and gender identity. Their music often made headlines while their performances proved equally unnerving.
The 90s also saw the rise of female-fronted alternative rock acts such as The Breeders, Belly, and Juliana Hatfield 3. These bands helped pave the way for grunge by combining female empowerment with more sophisticated musical styles – many songs from these acts also addressed themes of love and loss, which is prevalent within alternative music.
The Smashing Pumpkins
As alternative rock was starting to fade away, The Smashing Pumpkins emerged with their groundbreaking album Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness as an energetic farewell to their genre – even their ballads were dynamic and captivating! Few could have pulled off such an ambitious undertaking but somehow these talented musicians managed it!
Corgan was inspired by various music styles, namely punk, metal and prog. Black Sabbath and The Cure are among his key influences while there are also references to Rush, Pink Floyd and Husker Du in his work.
The Pumpkins’ most distinguished attribute as a group was their ability to unite all these disparate elements into an original sound that they could call their own – it is no wonder that they left such an impressionable impression and remain one of the most influential bands ever.
Over time, The Smashing Pumpkins endured numerous lineup changes. Their original lineup — comprising frontman Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D’arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin — disbanded in 2000 before Corgan revived it again in 2006. Since then he has led it through multiple lineup changes while remaining its leader.
“La Dolly Vita,” one of The Pumpkins’ more underrated songs, is a stunning and captivating ballad that recalls David Bowie in its instrumentation. Additionally, its forward momentum keeps things feeling purposeful while building towards its climax before bursting forth into full-on rock song territory.
Corgan debuted some of his lyrical maturity on Mellon Collie with several of its less-bombastic tracks, like ‘In the Arms of Sleep,’ an acoustic ballad which proves his capacity for crafting heartbreaking love songs.
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam took the grunge movement to new heights with their debut album “Ten.” While most of their contemporaries signed to major labels, Pearl Jam decided to remain independent and remain dedicated to their fans – this effort paid off as they outsold and outlasted most of their peers, becoming one of the most influential alternative bands during the 90s.
Even Flow from Pearl Jam’s 1991 album Ten is an enduring classic of grunge music with its captivating melody and emotive lyrics that capture its message of resilience and perseverance encapsulating 1990s youth perfectly.
Weezer became one of the iconic 90s alternative rock bands thanks to their song, “Buddy Holly,” and frontman Rivers Cuomo’s infamously geeky demeanor – making them instantly recognisable by audiences everywhere. Weezer’s unique blend of rock melded raw emotion with playful undertones to win critical acclaim as well as wide appeal from audiences everywhere – garnering them critical acclaim and wide appeal alike. Their music videos also captured audiences and helped them become an instantaneous classic band!
Soundgarden was another groundbreaking 90s alternative band that contributed to the grunge movement. They formed in Seattle, Washington after Mother Love Bone disbanded in 1990 and initially used Mookie Blaylock as their name before signing a record deal with PolyGram Records and changing it as advised. While they believed it would increase sales with this change, it actually kept control over their future as well as creating a dedicated fan base.
Nirvana pioneered the alternative indie genre into mainstream popular consciousness, but bands such as Soundgarden and Pearl Jam were instrumental in its continued evolution and success. These grunge veterans remain influential within alternative music today – they continue to influence listeners of all generations with their music.
Indie rock’s golden age may have only lasted briefly, yet it left an indelible mark on musical culture. Thanks to an abundance of innovative artists like The Offspring, Elliott Smith, Stereolab and Whiskeytown – who contributed their unique sounds – the 90s was an exciting period of alternative music!
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are widely recognized as one of the greatest British rock bands ever. Their debut self titled album was released in 1989 and became an instant classic, selling over one million copies within its first month alone in the UK alone. Part of Madchester music scene combining alternative rock with psychedelic and dance music.
Before they released their first album, The Stone Roses had existed in various forms for almost a decade. Beginning as mod revivalists called The Patrol and later emerging as beery Stockport scooter boy loutish brats known as Kaiser Chiefs before adding drummer Alan “Reni” Wren and adopting their current moniker The Stone Roses.
Their lively live shows were legendary and they became hugely popular across the UK, playing to massive crowds at venues like Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom and London’s Alexandra Palace. She Bangs the Drums charted within the top 40 for UK singles as well as becoming a massive hit on college radio stations across America.
By 1990, The Roses had become one of the world’s best-known bands, yet this didn’t last. Release of Two Tongues album was delayed for years due to family commitments and tension between lead singer Ian Brown and drummer Reni; eventually this caused their split; though guitarist John Squire and bassist Gary Mounfield kept playing alongside Robbie Maddix and Aziz Ibrahim until October that same year.
When The Roses released their second album, Second Coming, it sent shockwaves through the industry. This dark and moody record featured songs about heroin addiction, big business’s hollow promises and African civilization’s struggles; its anticapitalist messages could easily have been heard through their musical style; in essence they became the voice of an entire generation looking beyond rave culture or romantic nostalgia for 1968 revolutionaries.