Alternative Rock Genre History

Alternative Rock Genre HistoryA2 Media Studies

Genre DefinitionAlternative Rock in an umbrella term that covers a wide range of subgenres such as Indie Rock, Grunge, Alternative Hip Hop and Gothic Rock. Originally meaning any non-mainstream genre Alternative Rock has been popular for political expression and protest as well as artistic experimentation.

Genre originsThe Alternative Rock genre (Also known as alt. Rock or simply Alternative) originated in the independent underground of the early 1980s, inspired by the independent spirit of Punk rock. Early Alternative artists include Dream Syndicate and R.E.M.

Dream Syndicate

R.E.M.

The 1980sDuring the 1980s Alternative rock was popular with independent record labels and college radio stations. Underground alternative bands gained small but loyal fanbases by releasing frequent, low budget albums. Artists active in this period include The Pixies, The Smiths and Dinosaur Jr.

The Pixies

The Smiths

Dinosaur Jr.

The British 1980sBritish Alternative Rock in the 1980s covered dark, post-punk subgenres such as Gothic Rock (including the bands Bauhaus and The Cure). The Smiths, one of the most influential bands of the Alternative Rock genre, came from Manchester, their post-punk style influenced Alternative Rock Bands through the 1990s and 2000s.

The Smiths

The Cure

The 1990sBy the start of the 1990s a large number of Alternative Rock bands had reached the mainstream including The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Janes Addiction and Nirvana. The extreme popularity of Seattle based Grunge bands such as Nirvana led to an explosion in Alternative Rock through the early/mid 90s.

Nirvana

The Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Decline in popularityAfter a number of notable events, especially the death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in 1994 and a legal dispute which barred Pearl Jam from performing live in most of the US, the Grunge genre declined drastically in popularity. Britpop also faded into obscurity after the commercial failure of albums by Blur and Oasis.

Kurt Cobain

Pearl Jam

2000s RevivalDuring the late 1990s and the early 2000s Alternative Rock bands such as The Foo Fighters and The White Stripes began to gain mainstream popularity. The Indie Subgenre began to gain momentum and became one of the leading mainstream rock subgenres. Both British and American Alternative rock became a popular choice for mainstream artists.

Jack and Meg White of The White Stripes

Dave Grohl of The Foo Fighters and Nirvana

Current state of Alternate RockIn the 2010s Alternate rock has become extremely popular, artists popular in the 1990s and 2000s such as the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and The Foo Fighters still remain popular with new bands such as Royal Blood, Pulled Apart By Horses and Black Label Society offering a heavier, more primal take on the genre.

Royal BloodPulled Apart By Horses