Who Invented Grunge?

In Episode 1 of Loudwire's "30 Years of Grunge" series, members of #Soundgarden, #Melvins, #MotherLoveBone, Jonathan Poneman of #SubPop, Matt Pinfield, Susan Silver, Allison Hagendorf and more discuss the beginnings of #grunge in Seattle during the 1980s to determine who invented it.
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[@experienceanimation217]

“Grunge” became grunge when the media got a hold of it. Before then it was called “music from Seattle”

[@PaulSmoker420]

That's deep, man. 🙏

[@suburbanindie]

I guess nobody remembers the term "alternative music"?

[@lisajohnson521]

THANNNNKKKK YOOOOUUU OMG!!!

[@rya1t]

Not necessarily. In nirvanas first interview kurt called themselves grunge. I believe it was in 88 or 89

[@marcjohn9404]

Yeah, but if you start arguing about the terminology it becomes this big clusterfuck that goes in circles and then all of a sudden grunge doesn't even exist because that's not what any of the bands wanted it to be called, and Alice In Chains is actually a metal band and Soundgarden is a neo-classic rock revival band and Nirvana was proto Nickelback or something like that. Indeed grunge probably wasn't popularized as a term until after MTV got ahold of the stuff, that's usually how it is but I think opening that can of worms is just too much work. You can say that same thing about almost any genre, Black Sabbath never thought of themselves as being metal, none of the thrash bands called themselves thrash, they're always just names that catch on at some point after the fact.

[@pamelahinchee8012]

As a Music Industry person who was there during this time I absolutely agree regarding all the bands supporting eachother. We in the local Community did the same. I lived on Queen Anne and some of these guys were just my neighbors. I can remember running into Jeff Ament during the recording of MLBs 1st album and discussing it, getting a cassette of it from him later. Running into Landrew at the Grocery store in the middle of the night. Seeing Soundgarden in a club with an audience of about 30. Helping Jeff decide which picture to use for the Green River Album cover as we worked at Tower Video Mercer together. It was a special time in Music and I am proud that I existed in that scene among many. We traveled to support our favorite bands from Seattle to Olympia to Portland to Bremerton and all over. I cherish Memories from this time in my life. This story does the scene justice. Thanks to whomever called it THE NW MUSIC SCENE.

[@sportsmom165]

They didn't mention it but a lot of the bands came to Boise during that time too.

[@k.t.5405]

no Pam, the Grunge sound was created by Neil Young and Crazy Horse in their critically acclaimed album "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1970). The Grunge aesthetic (long hair, worn-out jeans , flannel, work boots, etc) was also first introduced by Neil Young both on the cover of the single "Cinnamon Girl" and in his 1971 unplugged session for BBC, London.

[@blue2134]

This is sooo awesome

[@SuperSoFlow]

Link Wray gave rise to rock, punk, and metal with his 1958 hit "Rumble" which was the only instrumental song to be banned from radio for fear of inciting gang violence. The innovative Native American Rocker was the first to play power chords with distortion, and created the fuzz guitar sound while living on the east coast in Washington DC. Neil Young said, "Link Wray was Grunge before anyone you know." Kurt Cobain asked Link for permission to use his guitar riff in his 1962 song "Run Chicken Run" for their song "Breed" and Link obliged. So thank Link Wray, for all of his trailblazing contributions, and let the RRHOF know they should induct him once and for all.

[@lemegetatchu1989]

I believe the first rock song was called rocket 88. Literally such a long time ago. So cool

[@OgleSa-cl3xo]

The documentary Rumble The Indians Who Rocked the World is a source to consider. To have Jimmy Page, Taj Mahal, Iggy Pop and many other living legends say it was Link Wray's Rumble that got them to want to rock out. I am native american myself coming from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, I never knew the name Link Wray, but heard the song Rumble and never knew that Link was a Shawnee from North Carolina.

[@scottledgerwood4051]

Link Ray's ommision from the RRHF is a travesty.. where would rock be without Link's POWER chords?!

[@scottledgerwood4051]

@@lemegetatchu1989 Rocket'88'.. Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm - 1951..

[@lemegetatchu1989]

@@scottledgerwood4051 damn that's a long ass time ago

[@sunlion8866]

Tina Bell, the uncrowned Queen of Grunge, deserves a place in the Seattle pantheon.

[@DPoner]

Yeah that’s a narrative

[@PercyEarlJr]

Tina bell a black woman

[@PercyEarlJr]

@TTFPouyii nope trick . Tina started it . A black woman. Bow down

[@PRHousequake]

@@PercyEarlJr 100

[@Danny-fs1hk]

Yep

[@Beckonor]

Black Flag's My War album The early "grunge" scene from 1985-1987 was Melvins, Green River, Feast, Bundle of Hiss and Soundgarden

[@nu-metalfan2654]

@Beckoner. Tbh I wouldn’t call Melvins or Green River Grunge, don’t know who Feast and Bungle Of Hiss are. Melvins are Sludge Metal and Green River was just a bluesy Punk band. There are bands in the Grunge term that don’t sound a like, Alice In Chains sound nothing like Nirvana, Pearl Jam don’t sound anything like Mudhoney, Soundgarden don’t sound much like Tad, and Mother Love Bone (Who imo were a Hair band) sounds nothing like STP. Melvins, Tad and Willard sound a lot alike. Alice In Chains, Gruntruck, My Sister’s Machine, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and early STP all sound similar. And Nirvana, L7, Hole, and Babes In Toyland all sound a lot alike.

[@kathrineckardt2869]

And BamBam with Tina Bell and Matt Cameron. But hey...who wants to mention a woman or all the riot girrrrls from Seattle...very sad, that most people do not even seem to know them.

[@07BSPtC]

Then and flipper

[@piotrb8434]

@@nu-metalfan2654 Melvins were NEVER a "sludge metal" band. First, sludge is NOT metal, despite what brainless morons repeat over and over. Sludge is basically slowed down punk/hardcore. Second, Melvins were never part of the metal scene, they were part of the underground alternative scene. They never recorded for Combat or Roadrunner. Their music was released by Alchemy Records who also released Poison Idea, Boner Records, Amphetamine Reptile Records - small indie labels that released alternative music and had nothing to do with any metal. During the 80's and 90's NO fucking ONE called Melvins "metal". They were recognized as a pioneering grunge band.

[@nu-metalfan2654]

@@piotrb8434 Sludge is Metal, Melvins, Tad, Crowbar, Fudge Tunnel, Willard are Sludge Metal. I’m hearing Metal when I hear Honey Bucket, I also do hear Hardcore as well, and Sludge is a fusion of Doom Metal and Hardcore.

[@vonniedemers5683]

To me Grunge isn't a style of music bc each band is different, to me Grunge is an Era.

[@piotrb8434]

No.

[@vonniedemers5683]

@@piotrb8434 what do you mean no? That is just how I feel, not a fact. It's a feeling. I was an actual adult. I was married with a child. I had a career and friends. I was happy. And during this time was this great music. Those bands and songs defined things in my life. So to me its an Era. A significant time period for me. It's not meant for everyone it's just how I describe what grunge is to me.

[@nolandavis2927]

Grunge Is A Genres

[@nolandavis2927]

Nirvana Is A Grunge band, Alice in Chains Is A Grunge band, Soundgarden Is A Grunge band Pearl Jam is A Grunge band.

[@piotrb8434]

@@nolandavis2927 Nah, Alice In Chains are more of a hard rock/heavy metal band with a bit of grungy patine. Pearl Jam are just a 70's styled retro/trad rock.

[@muxz]

The Melvins are something else. Not only do they influence what will become grunge but I've also heard about what an influence they had on southern metal and punk bands that emerged in the 90's. They really don't get enough respect.

[@xx1424xx]

Not to mention Tool. Adam sights The Melvins as a top influence.

[@redskull1424]

@@xx1424xx Buzz voice when he sang was similar to James Hetfield not sure if that was intentional or not

[@MarshFogBand]

They inspired like all doom metal bands

[@redghettosun]

The Melvins moved to San Francisco around 86-87 and singlehandedly jumpstarted the Stoner Metal movement also. Bands like Sleep, Operator Generator, Acid King, Black Cobra etc., The Melvins were highly appreciated here. Everyone wanted to drum like Dale Crover at one point.

[@noBearAdventures]

I like to look at really respected musicians and artists who are versatile and prolific… and see who THEY jump at the chance to work with. For example, take a guy like Mike Patton. He always has about 6 bands he’s running at any given time. And because he is who he is, he gets to cherry pick who he wants to work with. Buzz has always been his guy. And Dave Lombardo. But you can tell that Patton has a HUGE reverence for Buzz. Same with Adam Jones. When you see stuff like that, from the legends of rock… it can really tell you who the artists were who laid the brushstrokes to the overall masterpiece. That masterpiece being all rock since the Beatles and Zepellin. Imho anyway

[@dipanjanbose4989]

I think kingsx were also hugely influential. They truly had the grunge sound before any other

[@Jose_Pointero]

And they never get any credit

[@tufnel1970]

Thank you. Isn’t there a quote from stone Gossard talking about Kings X?

[@bmartin2112]

@@tufnel1970 It was actually Jeff Ament who said King's X invented grunge.

[@nu-metalfan2654]

@Dipanjan Bose. But if who hear King’s X they sound closer to what bands Faith No More and Living Colour became and that Funk scene. I don’t really hear Grunge in King’s X, they’re much more experimental.

[@Jose_Pointero]

@@nu-metalfan2654 King's X self titled album from 1992 sounds like very polished grunge to me. Earlier stuff was kinda experimental yes, but seems like they got it nailed down quickly.

[@paultaylor6873]

Delighted that this exists and more is coming

[@mrsleep0000]

Jack Endino invented the Seattle sound. He was the engineer on most of those early albums and was in Skin Yard. Interesting how his name doesn't even get mentioned.

[@bryannotbrian]

"mic drop"

[@MYEVILTWIIN]

He’s also worked on some techno/dance releases recently

[@nickbranfield6792]

19:12

[@bryannotbrian]

@@nickbranfield6792 I must have fell asleep or skipped that guy when he started talking, he talked too slow

[@OGGOAT23]

Morphed nobody invented in a lab

[@Raw-guitar]

Song by Black Flag .Nothing left inside . Is the first Sludge grunge song..

[@coryleblanc]

gud song

[@MrFatshit6]

The Wipers are rarely talked about and influenced most, if not all of those bands that came behind them. And The Sonics even before them.

[@runningwithshemp]

Sonics are so completely under appreciated plus all that stuff on the Back from The Grave series and Buffalo Bop Instrumental comps.

[@chuckabbate5924]

Wipers wipers!!!

[@williambeglen4771]

Greg Sage was way before his time. I love the Wipers.

[@MrFatshit6]

@@williambeglen4771 Absolutely!

[@miameramusic]

Tim/Kerr released an amazing tribute to Greg Sage, Nirvana's cover of "Return of the Rat" is amazing. Portland played just as big a role as Seattle.

[@Killstrike6660]

I wish time travel was possible, I’d go back and enjoy the shows so much.

[@cyanide_lollipop3264]

I vote for Mudhoney and Melvins. But my friends Alice In Chains changed my entire life before they even got signed. God, those were the days... Nirvana's "Bleach" was my introduction to Grunge. Seeing them, Chains, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone in small clubs was literally EVERYTHING to my 15yo self. And to this day, those are still my favorite bands. RIP Andy Wood, Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, and Chris Cornell. Grunge lives on in our hearts. 🤘🖤

[@brucewayne2558]

They weren't necessarily first. But Nirvana made grunge famous. And grunge as a movement died shortly after Cobain left.

[@cyanide_lollipop3264]

@@brucewayne2558 Yeah, I'm from Seattle and I knew the music scene very well. I hung out with all those bands every weekend. Mark Arm from Mudhoney was the one who used the word "grunge" to describe a musical sound. Then, SubPop dude Jonathan Poneman started using it to describe some of the label's bands, starting with Green River (Mark Arm's previous band). Yeah, Nirvana made it famous, but the genre didn't die with Kurt. Not at all.

[@brucewayne2558]

@@cyanide_lollipop3264 I never really seen much grunge rock after a year or so after Cobain's death. A few hold over bands yeah, but as a scene in general it seemed to fade out.

[@brucewayne2558]

I think Babes in Toyland is about the "grungiest" sounding band I've ever heard in my life.

[@cyanide_lollipop3264]

@@brucewayne2558 What killed grunge was commercialization. Us locals HATED seeing high end department stores selling ripped flannels for $200. And after Kurt died there was a flood of copycat "grunge" bands, that even the locals didn't care much about. Mostly because we were all so shocked and grossed out by the whole movement, and losing Kurt. But his death came as a surprize to no one. And most of us knew immediately that Courtney was responsible. So yeah, the scene kinda imploded on itself after that.

[@askdenisse3074]

Grunge invented itself ✌🏻 No one playing at the time was going for a “grunge” sound . It just happened .

[@joelchurquina7849]

There couldn't be more exact words than these. 👏🏼

[@edybocman76]

Grunge is cringe af , is just a bounch of band that came in the same time whit very different sounds

[@deathangel1187]

@@edybocman76 no one invited you here kid, the thing that more cringe here is yourself

[@jackattack2421]

@@deathangel1187 he’s got a point though, grunge isn’t really much of a genre, a bunch of people just decided to label it “grunge”.. there’s no doubt that there’s good music in it.. but it’s not really a genre

[@bodhi8297]

Great point

[@chrisg1772]

Still to this day, my favourite era of music

[@coryleblanc]

that sucks, discover post-rock and post-metal

[@garycoates4987]

the first time I heard Soundgarden changed everything

[@chrissimpson6701]

Me too, I was 14 years old. You should come to my club honoring Chris and the memory not Grunge era.

[@MudSluggerBP]

I heard Jesus Christ Pose on my 17th Birthday, a month later I had everything they’d recorded on Vinyl, Tape and CD. Including Vinyl copies of Screaming Life and UltraMega Ok, inscribed in the centre by Chris R.I.P. He had written Buy Malfunkshion on one record and Buy Green River on the other and I did 🤟🏻

[@jesusalmaraz341]

They forgot Tad Doyle and TAD.

[@coffinshaker]

I was gonna say

[@pamelahinchee8012]

I saw Nirvana open for Tad in 89.

[@oceanaxim]

I remember TAD hosting Grunge Jam Night at (Doc Maynard's? Borderline?) in Pioneer Square! Unpretentious heavy, dirty, and brutal. Attempting to stage dive at a show in Olympia...

[@miameramusic]

TAD was amazing, but cursed with such bad luck. They made up his backstory about being a butcher from Idaho, when he in fact went to music school. Then album covers were recalled, lawsuits and cancelled tours made their life hell. But "Inhaler"? Desert island disc.

[@MudSluggerBP]

Tad rule!!

[@Grrizo]

Joke aside, I heard a little bit of grunge in Blue Öyster Cult's "Imaginos" too.

[@metaphoria3]

It’s a Seattle thing

[@piotrb8434]

Listen to Blue Cheer's Vincebus Eruptum (1968), MC5's Kick Out The Jams (1969) and Grand Funk's Live Album (1970). These are basically the first 3 grunge albums and a ready made blueprint for Green River, Malfunkshun, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Tad, Skin Yard, Dinosaur Jr, Alice In Chains, Monster Magnet, Love Battery, Blood Circus, The Fluid, Mudhoney, Thee Hypnotics, Green Apple Quick Step, The Smashing Pumpkins and countless others.

[@steved1387]

@@piotrb8434 True story -- I loaned Mark Arm several of my albums, including The Dead Boys "Young, Loud and Snotty," Trouble "Pslam 9," Venom "Black Metal" and, IMO most importantly, Blue Cheer "Vincebus Eruptum" and "OutsideInside". This was all before Mudhoney, and before Green River covered "Ain't Nothin' To Do" by The Dead Boys. And let's face it, the first Mudhoney album is basically Blue Cheer with jokes. ;D I can attest that Blue Cheer was a major influence on grunge bands in general, not to mention on Palm Desert bands, especially Fu Manchu. Blue Cheer is just that awesome.

[@ChrisBernard338]

Y'all please share this ---- Bam Bam!!!! TINA BELL is our Grunge Godmother!!!! Please pay respect... Rock on...

[@FURTHER_ADO]

Poneman makes watching 2 slugs race seem unbelievably action packed and energetic.

[@eyesofadream]

Tina Bell (the Queen of Grunge) and Bam Bam were really the start of what would become the Seattle Sound. From Bam Bam, you can trace a line directly to Soundgarden via Cameron. Soundgarden took deep influence from both the Melvins and Bam Bam. Those 3 bands IMO form the sludgy side of grunge, which is just one side. When you consider Soundgarden and Nirvana came from completely different angles, who started is probably a multi-artist answer.

[@blue2134]

Hmm I disagree. I think it’s impossible to pinpoint the exact band who formed it, i see it as a group of bands who simultaneously formed in different parts of Seattle/ Pacific Northwest. However they were one of the earlier bands that is certainly true and it’s awesome that her name was mentioned - FINALLY, but they were not the sole originators. I guess you never heard of a band called wipers who formed in 1977, they inspired many bands from that scene, but I always hear the Melvins being a major early influence and fyi I am a person of color telling you this

[@NehiStripesSeattle]

She’s not the queen of grunge - great front woman, but hardly the queen of anything. And that’s an honest, well thought out response.

[@DPoner]

That’s revisionist history. Groundbreaking band for alternative rock, but not really a thing in the early 90s

[@fredmoltisanti114]

Tina Bell was a good singer, and BambBam a decent band. However Wipers and Malfunkshun started that " proto-grunge " wave, the Melvins defined it.

[@fredmoltisanti114]

@@DPoner thats not revisionist. Wipers and Makfunkshun played in 1975, Melvins in early 1980s, Tina Bell played a lil bit in 1984. Revisionist will be saying something unexpected but still supported by facts, like : " the most influential album on Grunge sound is Sgt. Pepper Lonely Heart Club Band " This is a screwed up way of thinking, that blacks created everything.

[@thehotyounggrandpas8207]

An easier question to answer is: who didn't invent Grunge? And the answer is: Barry Manilow.

[@miameramusic]

Sub Pop would have released a Barry Manilow 7" just to piss people off. That's punk rock.

[@waygonner]

I don’t know how the Sonics weren’t mentioned for their impact. They were wild for the 1960’s and you can directly hear influence on mudhoney and others. I wouldn’t call them grunge but they were definitely a precursor. If curious, listen to “the witch” and then to “touch me, I’m sick” for comparison.

[@phennah9mm461]

Yep

[@PaulWildstar]

Definitely. It's like talking about the History of Heavy Metal without mentioning Steppenwolf or Blue Cheer. The roots are there. Same with the Sonics. Strychnine is another great song by them.

[@BillLaBrie]

Sonics brought distortion to everything.

[@piotrb8434]

The Sonics were a garage rock band, and garage rock is one of the components of grunge sound. Grunge also draws from hard rock, psychedelia, blues, punk rock, heavy metal, Jimi Hendrix, noise rock and hardcore.

[@mar69sin]

BAM BAM ... The first band Mat, drummer from Sound Garden, was in first around 1984 .

[@Rolli6669]

I'm going to throw an elephant in the room. Has anyone heard the 1975 Aerosmith album "Toys in the Attic" and the song "Round and Round"? To me that song sounds like something Kim Thayil could have drawn inspiration from. Now I am not saying Aerosmith invented Grunge but the people in the bands mentioned here would have drawn inspiration from somewhere.

[@filipbuntic2828]

I heard it and it sound like soundgarden song 👍

[@holocoffin]

Grunge wasn't invented by any one band. If you live in the Cascadia area you know, it just kinda happens.

[@mjf8897]

Pink Floyd wrote the first Grunge songs on "More"

[@PaulWildstar]

@@mjf8897 The Nile Song!

[@mjf8897]

@@PaulWildstar yup! and Ibiza Bar

[@SinewRending]

*To understand the beginning of it all, these five bands are the genesis: U-Men, Melvins, Skin Yard, Green River and Malfunkshun.*

[@terriblecertainity]

to me, Grunge started with the Melvins demos from 1983, and turned into a whole movement with the Deep Six compilation in 1986

[@A.I-GAMING]

Having been in a grunge band back then - first stoner rock band I was in -1985, I got a cassette from a friend out west in 1983 - Napalm Beach - Rock and Roll hell, I really liked the album art = the first grunge type of art I had seen, and the track DRIFTER was the first Grunge song I ever heard, also no one mentioned Janes Addiction - they didn't have a Grunge sound, but they broke ground as the first successful alternative heavy rock band and paved the way for bands like Soundgarden.

[@pamelahinchee8012]

I used to travel to Portland from Seattle to see Napalm Beach at The Satyricon. ? On the spelling. Great Band!

[@A.I-GAMING]

@@pamelahinchee8012 You have great taste in music.

[@pamelahinchee8012]

@@A.I-GAMING Why. THANK YOU Sir.

[@nolandavis2927]

Nirvana Has A Grunge sound, Alice in Chains Has A Grunge sound, Pearl Jam has a Grunge sound, Soundgarden has a Grunge sound, Their All called Grunge bands.

[@scottledgerwood4051]

Can't forget Napalm Beach's Teen Dream tape (one of Tina Bell's all time favs). Bam Bam and Napalm Beach did a LOT of shows together. I remained good friends with Chris until we lost him last summer.. RIP Tina Bell, Tommy Martin & Chris Newman!!

[@septixskeptix1107]

Mother love bone!? They always struck me as more 80's hair metal.

[@archstanton4365]

Yeah

[@RivLoveshine]

I'd say they're in the microgenre of glam grunge. FYI a microgenre is like a subgenre but WAY smaller.

[@coffinshaker]

Lovebone was just a glam rock band.

[@saltpeter7429]

A great glam rock band. I bought Apple and loved it. STARDOG CHAMPION. Andrew Wood was that guy with mystique, for a little kid on the east coast reading RIP magazine, lol. No idea that the northwest was going to blow up with so many great bands. Grateful.

[@chrissimpson6701]

Me too, I said the same thing. Pearl Jam to me was Alternative/Hard Rock, Nirvana leaned more towards Punk, but the heart of Grunge, raw in your face, sludge/doom and gloom dark metal music, hands down is Alice and Soundgarden, who just happens to be my favorite.

[@brettholcomb3763]

I think it's fair to say the Melvins probably moved towards the sound that is associated with Grunge. But, I'm pretty sure Mark Arm first used the term to describe his band (Mudhoney) to a European journalist. It caught on a little there so subpop decided to use it to market the bands on their label. Then when Nirvana broke the term was right there for the more mainstream music press to use to sell the "scene."

[@Jay-n262]

Buzz still has that same haircut LOL rock on!

[@123612100]

King Buzzo is never getting rid of his crown.

[@piotrb8434]

And it's not a buzz cut.

[@suikogarden]

I’m surprised no one mentioned the Deep Six compilation, C/Z Records and Skin Yard. Susan Silver = The Godmother of Grunge

[@patrickreichert1442]

this comment is spot on! Jack Endino molded the Seattle sound as an engineer but was influential with Skinyard as well

[@patrickreichert1442]

and i would give up an arm for an original Deep Six record lol

[@redskull1424]

Joni Mitchell for her lyrics

[@kathrineckardt2869]

And BamBam´s Tina Bell!

[@suikogarden]

OK, I want to rephrase the thing about Susan Silver. She's the 'Godmother of Seattle Scene'. When I said 'grunge', I was referring to the scene itself, not the music style.

[@lancashirebomber9744]

saw soundgarden in 92 in manchester. my first gig.

[@celestialgutter]

Shortly after the release of Badmotorfinger? Wow, helluva first gig. I bet that was amazing. 🤘

[@lancashirebomber9744]

@@celestialgutter supporting gnr who they blew off the stage.

[@hjillumi880]

i´m the grunge generation my first concert was as a baby

[@Barbara-nx7gq]

Always great to listen to the LEGENDARY Susan Silver! Love the insights she always brings to the table. Also, great to hear Tina Bell being mentioned by Matt Cameron ❤️, and Green River, Melvins & Mudhoney getting the recognition they rightfully deserve! So many legends in this video, either interviewed or mentioned. So much love and undeniable respect among them. This is was what made the Seattle scene so special.

[@patrickreichert1442]

Susan Silver is a legend!

[@kathrineckardt2869]

And Tina Bell! But unfortunately women are never mentioned. Still in 2021.

[@patrickreichert1442]

@@kathrineckardt2869 Tina Bell is a great name to bring up yes good call. But the Breeders, Sonic Youth, Holly Golightly and Mia Zapata get a ton of mention for there role in the grunge explosion

[@blue2134]

She’s the queen of grunge

[@philyeary8809]

​@@kathrineckardt2869 name a female grunge band...😂

[@contactgeneralemailforpubl3478]

@@philyeary8809no no you have to say what people FEEL should be true. that is the truth now

[@markiosty8748]

Somebody said 'this music sounds like Grunge' and the 'Seattle Sound' as it was called was changed to 'Grunge" ! None of the artist really called themselves 'Grunge' but it stuck and they rolled with it !

[@nolandavis2927]

Nirvana Alice in Chains Soundgarden Pearl Jam Are Called Grunge bands

[@markiosty8748]

@@nolandavis2927 Yes they are......by you and every fan but the bands never called themselves that ! When Chris Conell was asked...what does 'Grunge' mean ? He said I don't know its just a word somebody said ......but we never thought of Soundgarden as a 'Grunge band.....I don't even know what it means.....

[@smokerise]

Call it want you want, I miss those early days of that era...and I miss sound soundgarden soooo much!

[@mitchellwood4133]

Need more Tad talk. Not saying they invented anything, just very remarkable very early in that era.

[@trblemkr1d106]

The greatest unsung band of all time is King's X.... With over 14 incredible albums , solo albums and colaberations they RULE THE ROCK UNDERWORLD !!! Hands down.

[@cnilecnile6748]

YES. King's X is the godfather of grunge, they were the first to really ignore the makeup, and brought that sound out first, even though is was (and still is) far more technical. They couldn't get airplay, because they got tagged as Christian Rock, and it wasn't until Woodstock '94, where they blew the entire artist roster off the stage, that anyone paid any real notice. Just remember, GRETCHEN GOES TO NEBRASKA

[@coffinshaker]

The term came from a Mudhoney interview though it was taken out of context. We who live in Seattle and went through those years don't use the G-word - that's a term MTV used to lump the Seattle sound of that era into one box. Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam were not "grunge", the true roots of Seattle post-punk was underground in the dirty clubs the rest of the country never heard of. Seattle has always been a hotbed of talent, we just didn't wanna share it with the rest of the world.

[@miameramusic]

When I hear Dinosaur Jr's "You're Living All Over Me", that...THAT is grungy!

[@marklepe12]

Gen X here, Grunge came out of Washington. Everyone was wearing lumberjack clothes. Yes the Melvins and other bands started it

[@ArinKambitsis]

The song ‘Begin the Begin’ by REM sounded a lot like what would be called grunge years later.

[@MichaelKerr71]

I remember listening to a lot of this stuff in the later 80's before it was called "Grunge". And I remember liking them as much as anything else I was listening to. And by the time the 90's rolled around, their stuff was really refreshing to hear because they came more into their own. They stuck to their roots and didn't compromise their sound like a lot of the other 80's rock bands ended up doing at the time. Good times!

[@miameramusic]

Melvins invented grunge but have you heard their new album, it's flippin' ALL ACOUSTIC! And it's amazing, maybe their best. Somehow they continue to reinvent themselves 30+ years into their career. They never stop revolting. I love them so much.

[@us3r11]

I've never experienced a music scene without competition.. Seems like a nice place to be in.

[@SinewRending]

*It was.*

[@enriquepastor3626]

I'm glad to hear Bam Bam on here

[@111RAMONES]

Melvins are so important to music.

[@johnlynn9388]

Green river and mother love bone were the bands I thought of first.

[@gregoryamer]

Incredible time to grow up in the pacific northwest. I loved the scene. The people in this video were our own local hero’s.

[@WillWilsonII]

I lived in southern California in the 80s and moved to Seattle in december '89. It felt like the world was watching me

[@zentune100]

It's what made it so great, they all created it together

[@rocknroll_jezus9233]

According to Buzz Osbourne, the band Saccharine Trust were also highly influential in terms of atmosphere

[@SinewRending]

*All of the early SST bands were.*

[@nongthip]

I grew up in Seattle and Olympia, Washington during the 70s and early 80s before moving to Bellingham then back to Olympia and back to Seattle in the late 80s. Also had a "girlfriend" in Aberdeen, WA and attended The Evergreen State College (TESC) 3 miles from our family home in the late 90s where my Dad was a professor, and listened a lot to the campus radio station KAOS. So... a lot of years listening to and watching the local music scene evolve into what eventually was labelled as "grunge". I think the term was an an invention of Sub Pop records which MTV adopted and promoted. I left the US in 1992 to live in New Zealand, and everyone just kept saying I came from that "grunge" scene, but I usually blew off that label, preferring to call it "Indy rock" or maybe even "the Seattle Sound", but really it extended to many bands all over west USA down to California and even Arizona (Meat Puppets). It's still a way over-abused commercialization word.

[@petermuise4927]

I invented the look. My sister gave me a flannel shirt when I was a teenager. I loved the shirt so much I wore it ragged. Instead of throwing the shirt away, I cut the sleeves off and gave the shirt a new life. Within six months, everyone was wearing their flannels that way.

[@jebidiahnewkedkracker1025]

My sister rides a Harley and hangs out with this group that calls themselves "Dykes on Bikes", and when she gave ME a flannel shirt she told me to BEND OVER, and when I did, I started wondering how my sister could do the things she was doing to me, and still be FEMALE. (Oh well, I guess some things will always be a mystery!)

[@hjillumi880]

no we already wore it as children

[@GoNorthDesign]

Great work, Lauryn. Have this many icons from that era ever been interviewed at the same time? Wow.

[@this-is-slammin-549]

I did…. I was 9 years old and learning my chords. And I would crank my amp up and point it out my bedroom window. All those guys were like what kind of amp do you have? What tuning are you using? What pedal are you using? Doesn’t that flannel get hot in the summer?

[@creamcannon825]

Did you have Doc Martin's or Converse Chuck Taylors?

[@this-is-slammin-549]

@@creamcannon825 I had Doc Taylors.

[@drwe57]

Don't forget the heron

[@joebrewer4529]

Is that grunge rock man turn it up!

[@hjillumi880]

@@drwe57 the flying heron ?

[@maxallison867]

I saw the Melvins live a few weeks ago I was right up front it was pretty incredible

[@kiekie84]

I was born in 1984 in Tacoma Washington I've lived here all my life I can remember listening to 107.7 the end and being 14 as I enjoyed the little bits of freedom I had snuck into life as a young teen living with her strict religious Christian mom and let me tell you it was amazingly fucking incredible and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

[@ignacius8466]

Well made video. Nice job - keep em coming.

[@AmericanSpyFox]

Wtf does Allison from Spotify know about punk? Her job is to find new ways to exploit the artists creations for maximum financial gain.

[@blakesadler]

Came to here to say just that. For a scene that was about going to shows and buying albums, what the fuck are Spotify doing even being represented here?

[@sinikoncar7838]

Same here. A Spotify-Person??? WTF?!

[@sinikoncar7838]

"Deal with it"? HaHaHa! Wow! That sounds like real twatter talk! Should we read it with a lisp & a finger snap?

[@hjillumi880]

@ghost mall you also look more like a boomer

[@creddcrumbs7789]

Hearing the melvins in this video makes me so happy

[@saintmad.6913]

(Every one love's our town.) A great book about the History of grunge

[@aimmaeroy7334]

Since everyone is giving different answers to who really invented grunge, then all I can say is Grunge is still very much alive these days. Buhay na buhay pa rin ang grunge music hanggang ngayon. I think I am as well in the right position to say that "Grunge Is Really Not Dead" because I am still currently listening to many grunge bands whether from Seattle, LA, Australia, London, and whatnot. There's no need for me to take drugs, be alcoholic and cigar-addict. Rock music/heavy metal sound is my own version of an addictive drug. The more I listen to it, the more I become addicted. Mabuhay ang Rock Music.🤘🤘🤘😊😜😉

[@hjillumi880]

well our generation never went away nor our cultures so why should it be dead :)

[@aimmaeroy7334]

@@hjillumi880 Hi! I'm just relating to that popular music cliche that 'Rock is dead' and so that's my answer.😃

[@aaryamannambiar6677]

Dude, I feel so sad for The Melvins... Overshadowed, and extremely underrated because of Nirvana... Btw, I'm not dissing Nirvana here, just trying to say that Melvins deserved more commercial success.

[@BlowUpTheOutsideWorld]

TINA BELL FROM BAM BAM INVENTED GRUNGE.

[@musik4life24]

@@BlowUpTheOutsideWorld wrong!!;)

[@TJDawgs72]

Even for the grunge era of about 89-92 the Melvins were never what you would call radio friendly. I don’t think record companies and radio felt they could sell them to the kids.

[@ultimatenirvanatribute]

The Melvins suck that's why they didn't get success

[@edybocman76]

@@ultimatenirvanatribute yeah that why most of the good bands love them , like mr bungle , tool , kiss , nirvana , etc because they suck

[@MihaiLanga]

Exceptional initiative, Loudwire! Keep it up!

[@officialnickelcitygrunge]

I'm still living in the grunge area, well in my head and on my guitar....best music ever in my opinion.

[@bigglesmcgillicuddy3388]

The band SLOW, from Vancouver. Formed in '84, broke up after the Expo riot in '86. Their sound was probably the first 'grunge' you'll find. As for fashion and other affectations, Seattle and Vancouver always had those things in common, so not really unique to either city but probably more prolific in Vancouver. That said I think 'invent' is a silly term in this context. 'Grunge' as it was called by the media, was a pretty organic evolution out of punk rock. And ppl figured out long before it was very difficult to market punk rock. Ergo, 'grunge'.

[@lazygazzzer]

The term 'Grunge' was being used in the mid 1980s but it was applied to bands with a slightly different sound. It was a post punk, rock and surf mix which didn't have a name to differentiate these bands from others in the post punk, goth/noise scene, but Grunge seemed to sum it up. These bands had a kind of old dirty rock sound and Grunge fit the bill. These were bands like Art Phag and Pussy Galore. They would get written about in the music press and fanzines and Grunge was quite a hip word. The scene never really took off in any big way but the word stuck around.

[@finalsecretofchrono1339]

The precursor to Seattle grunge was post punk 1980s Minneapolis-Husker Du, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, etc. Musicians were moving from all over the country to Minneapolis to catch the scene. The Seattle guys were listening without a doubt.

[@SinewRending]

*That was part of it. But the formative music also came Black Flag and SST, the Dead Kennedys, the music from Touch and Go especially Scratch Acid, Killdozer, Butthole Surfers, and Big Black. There was also influence from Amphetamine Reptile, especially Halo of Flies.*

[@08ubik]

Hi Loudwire I'm in the UK, you may have another film covering the bands that influenced what became known as grunge and the USA bands in this film. I just want to mention a UK hardcore Punk band called Discharge who were the first crossover between Heavy Metal and Punk musically. Their song writing model was Motorhead's Ace of Spades single, band leader Cal's lyrics were exclusivly anti-state control and anti-war. Songs were 1 and a half minutes long, fast, intense, and with Cal's vocals, a very powerful experience. Discharge were initially on Clay records, an indie label based in the Stoke on Trent area. Lars of Metallica named Discharge and label mates G.B.H. as influences. Sadly the footage shown on Some Kind of Monster was of G.B.H. who were more of a joke band IMO. By 81-82 Discharge had honed their Metal/Punk hybrid sound releasing first album Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing. Discharge toured the USA and Canada in late 1983 , 30 gigs, and a c.d. is available of a NYC gig. Negative Creep by Nirvana on Bleach LP is heavily influenced by Discharge for example. Anyone not familiar with Discharge should look up Decontrol -The Singles, Never Again my favourite song, An EP on Clay called Why probably not available and 2002 Westworld records You Deserve Me LP which may be their strongest album. I contacted the administrator for a FB Motorhead Group about Discharge and he was already a fan so preaching to the converted haha. I watched this film today after it came up on my KZbin feed. and thanks for your pods and videos 💕✌️🕊️

[@08ubik]

2002 album was titled Discharge and featured their classic line up after all met at a party. Discharge are still touring and releasing new music

[@EkonRekon]

The Decendents don't get enough cred for making Punk more accessible by incorporating a Pop groove into the heaviness with just a tinge of surf rock. I think they played a part in the progression of Punk from fringe to fashion

[@piotrb8434]

Ramones did exactly that years before Descendents.

[@vincentfalcone9218]

"To ask who invented grunge is about the same as asking who invented heavy metal" Tony Iommi. Tony Iommi invented metal. There.

[@BlowUpTheOutsideWorld]

Tina Bell invented grunge though!

[@musik4life24]

@@BlowUpTheOutsideWorld nope

[@AVB91]

And doom/ Stoner metal too.

[@Revelwoodie]

Tony Iommi was definitely a ground breaking guitarist, and Sabbath did some of the first stuff we would recognize today as "metal." But they didn't really invent anything. No one does. New musical genres evolve from older genres. Metal evolved mainly from acid rock.

[@OGGOAT23]

Tbh grunge is muddy hard rock

[@timbutler6447]

Raining everyday for 111 days straight in Seattle created Grunge.

[@Backstage_Politician]

The Beatles invented grunge with Happiness is a warm gun and defined it with John's solo in The End on Abbey Road

[@warrenrandall6936]

Polythene Pam and Mean Mr. Mustard also.

[@amixofeverything]

Melvins always sounded more Metal to me than anything. A song like Honey Bucket, for example, is Metal. Those are Metal chords. I think Buzz even said he wanted a Heavy Metal drummer and that’s a reason Dale Crover is perfect for them.

[@123612100]

I always find it funny when people say Alice in chains was the most metal from that scene when the Melvins are way heavier.

[@Druffmaul]

>'Those are Metal chords' Spoken like someone who has never touched a guitar in their entire life.

[@Dungavenhooter-1700]

Melvins was a punk band before anything else.

[@Danimal77]

@@123612100 Soundgarden was also metal up until and including Badmotorfinger.

[@BC-mq5kj]

Neil young was once touted the grandfather of grunge back in early 90s

[@orsozapata]

So Lauryn wrote and edited the whole thing? I just fell in love

[@johnsfixton8857]

We the Greeks , when we were listening to Grunge in 500 bc , the rest of the world , was listening to percussion and monochords

[@scotthanlon4918]

Helmet may not be in the Grunge category but I honestly think they contributed a lot

[@TJDawgs72]

Man I loved Helmet when they came out. Me and a buddy of mine saw their first video and our jaws dropped to the floor. Not only was it extremely heavy ad outstanding the guys look like they just came off the beach and picked up an instrument… LOL very regular looking dudes who kicked ass!

[@123612100]

Alt metal

[@scotthanlon4918]

@@123612100 yeah man you're right, although i do hear some grunge vibes in there. I also think some grunge bands took from helmet. Especially Page Hamilton's style of guitar playing

[@scotthanlon4918]

@@TJDawgs72 They went against the dress code for heavy music and proved you didn't need one, awesome! Meantime and Betty are great albums

[@oceanaxim]

That Drop D tuning was signature at the time for a deeper, dirtier, fuller sound. I think Helmet tuned even lower.

[@PeteCourtier]

Who knows when grunge was created! All I know is when I heard “Touch me, I’m sick” it blew me socks off😂

[@epicfaceisepic]

amazing loudwire, very well done

[@hollowillusion4732]

Amazing documentary!!

[@Stefan140]

The Melvins were influential to the grunge scene, but i don't consider their early albums to be grunge (maybe some of their early demos from like '83 like "Matt-alec" sound a bit like grunge, but by the time of their debut album it was more in line with what would later be called "sludge metal"). They kind of returned to the grunge sound in the 90s with "Houdini" though.

[@Mraquanetchris]

@@ndesdsadfd Yes. Melvins are Melvins.

[@SidLaw500]

The public relations department of Sub Pop in collaboration with the media invented "Grunge". Other than that, there was plenty of grungy music in the 50's, 60's, and 70's...

[@fctotal]

It always gets me how everyone "in the industry" always forgets about King's X who released their first album in 1988. If you listen to Gretchen Goes to Nebraska, by the time you are a minute and half into Out of the Silent Planet, you will be hearing foundations of Alice In Chains. I'm not saying that King's X was leading the pack, but they definitely get sold short in almost any direction they had an impact in.

[@de_dUKe]

It's evolution, baby... ..but The Melvin's are my favourite band.

[@yared8771]

Squirrel Bait' Sun God is the first grunge song ever.

[@arnoldosanabria8710]

this is just AWESOME

[@DolleDriesRoelvink]

May first 1986: The Cult performed the album Love in The Paramount Theatre in Seattle: everybody from The Melvins, Mudhoney, Green River, Soundgarden, Screaming Trees, Alice In Chains was there…

[@fox-jake8784]

I always had a feeling Mudhoney had a hand in shaping grunge. They had this certain punk/metal fusion vibe that just sorta worked, whereas other bands tried to do the same they would either sound more metal than punk or more punk than metal.

[@TwylaPollard]

Tina Bell invented grunge. Mudhoney came out of her band Bam Bam.

[@MrJJr-lw9zq]

I feel as if green river was the inventor in the sound they were the first and one of the workers in sub pop gave the sound the iconic name grunge so in a way mark arm is the creator and Andrew wood,buzz Osbourne,Ben McMillan,Chris Cornell are the helpers in growing the scene

[@kathrineckardt2869]

And Tina Bell from BamBam with Matt Cameron respectively

[@MrJJr-lw9zq]

@@kathrineckardt2869 yeah your right she is the Godmother of Grunge

[@TRKTKO]

This is the type of content I like waking up too thanks! 😎

[@rblfrmthewstdwn]

Im so glad they mentioned Mia Zapata!! Such a tragic but compelling story. If you don't know about the gits please go down that rabbit hole.

[@stonedage5087]

I've never seen "psycocandy" being cited as an influence. Not by journalists, or any "grunge" artist as far as i know. Yet, "psycocandy" has all of elements in their music that can be applied to grunge music, particularly the huge noisy guitars. Psycocandy is from the mid 80s, I believe some of the Seattle pioneers must be heavily influenced by that album

[@reuven27]

smashing pumpkins especially!

[@chasmenear7130]

Hands down- Neil Young. In Washington, I would judge the Screaming Trees, and in Cali (contemporarily), the Melvins. Soundgarden strikes me as 'adventurous primative prog'- and good at it! Let's not forget the ladies- L7!

[@stephensplatterhead9783]

Dinosaur Jr. Big Neil Young fan.

[@brettadkins7563]

The Melvins are from Washington, what do you mean “in Cali?” Are you saying they were the ones who brought grunge to Cali?

[@chasmenear7130]

No. I am saying that Buzz & company moved to L.A. during that time, but this post is rather ridiculous in the first place, so I'm not gonna argue with you about it...Ok

[@brettadkins7563]

@@chasmenear7130 Okay, I definitely wasn’t trying to argue about it lol. I never knew they moved to L.A. that’s all. Have a good one.

[@chasmenear7130]

@@brettadkins7563 Lol..No worries my friend! Going back to the 90's, I had found the term 'Grunge' to be somewhat dubious- at best, and I found so many great styles coming out of the north pacific coast...It was a kind of revival after the bleek and overproduced 80's- which I spent listening to prog of that decade. The pop music was horrific to me Lol! Smooth sailing to you brother!

[@MegaBrandOn]

The fact that Black Flag just got a slight mention shows that they didn't really do enough research. I really expected Buzzo to mention them a little more, considering it was My War and a certain 1984 Black Flag show that got a lot of the Seattle kids out and making new music.

[@steved1387]

One Seattle band that never gets mentioned, but is IMO very important in the creation of grunge, is D.S.M.L. And I don't say that just because my former roommate was their guitarist. She joined after the original guitarist left. The time frame was '83 - '84, IIRC. D.S.M.L.'s vocalist was Noah Fence. They played slow, grindy music at a time when the scene was trending towards hardcore punk, as exemplified by The Fartz. D.S.M.L.'s big song was "Hendrix is Dead". I vividly recall a night when Mark Arm broke away from hanging out with a bunch of us outside The Metropolis after he heard D.S.M.L. starting up. He was drawn by that slow, grindy sound. This is why I believe D.S.M.L. is actually very important in the history of grunge, because what influenced Mark influenced his bands Green River and Mudhoney, and the rest, of course, is history.

[@funnyman0072]

Either Neil Young or mother love Bone