Grunge which is sometimes referred to as Seattle sound had been influenced by a number of bands in particular a band called the Melvin’s, with their heavy and slow paced music inspired the youth of the region to pick up instruments and express their emotions and beliefs through the sound of music. It evolved out of the Pacific Northwest from within the local punk rock scene. Due to Seattle’s isolation from alternative rock scenes it was often stated that Grunge was unique to Seattle. In reality many bands from across the country had influenced the grunge scene such as bands like Sonic Youth. Bands also like Australia’s The Scientist had influence over the scene.  

The major characteristic that bands brought to the grunge scene was the anti-glam aesthetics with most band members wearing casual dress like ripped jeans and flannelette shirts. The lyrics focused upon the theme of social isolation, boredom, entrapment and the desire for freedom. Many observers state that the boredom and entrapment motion originated due to Seattle’s geographical isolation, weather and lack of social life.  

Most grunge bands and musicians started of playing at clubs and bars to few people, most of whom were simply getting out of the weather. Grunge began to take off when in the late 80s independent record labels like sub pop came to town. Sub pop was the record label that brought the grunge scene to the mainstream and into the global spotlight, discovering such bands as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and many others. In 1991 an unknown band called Nirvana released an album called Nevermind and with a song called “Smells like teen spirit” brought the grunge scene into popular perception. The album became the number one hit across the world and paved the way for more bands including the even more popular Pearl Jam. For most people when they think of the grunge scene they immediately think of either Nirvana or Pearl Jam as these two bands were most associated with the movement. For many audiences then and later, grunge came to be almost totally associated with these two bands and their punky, rebellious attitude towards mainstream mores as well as cultural and social institutions.  

By 1993, other popular Seattle-based bands (most notably Alice in Chains and Soundgarden) would also become tremendously successful. The grunge movement was short-lived, with several key factors contributing to its downfall. The predominant factor though was the death and suicide of Kurt Cobain the lead singer of Nirvana. His death uncovered the addiction the grunge scene had with herion, which was the cause of many deaths of ominant  performers including Layne Staley of Alice in chains. 

For many fans of the genre, it wasn’t until the pioneering band Soundgarden disbanded in 1997 that they finally conceded grunge’s time in the mainstream was over. Over the next few years grunge’s mainstream popularity quickly came to an end. Many grunge bands have continued recording and touring with more limited success, including, most significantly, Pearl Jam.  

Grunge was a global phenonmenon that captured the heart of the world and although the scene did not survuve for decades the few years it was mainstream it gave those who had lost faith in the world a new outlook that will never be forgotton.