First Draft, Individual Essay

The Godfathers of Grunge

As humans began to socialize, they found ways of express themselves, music is one of them. There are many music genres, but the ones with the biggest aproach to all kinds of people around the world have been pop and rock music. Eventually, Rock music became famous for its rebel style, tough cords and explicit language. But there is history behind all the leather and big hair styles. This kind of music started as an expression of rebellion in the 70’s. At that time, young people where not satisfied with the “hippie” movement. Simultaneously with the Rock Music breakout came many mores. One of the most significant and outrageous of this genre has been the revolution known as "Grunge". There are many grunge music bands, but the most important had been Sound garden, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam.

One of the most representative bands of grunge was Soundgarden, formed by Kim Thayil (guitar), Hiro Yamamoto (bass), and Bruce Pavitt. Yamamoto played in several cover bands before forming the band in 1984 with his roommate Chris Cornell (vocals), a Seattle native who had previously played drums in several bands. Thayil soon joined the duo and the group named itself Soundgarden after a local Seattle sculpture. Scott Sundquist originally was the band's drummer, but he was replaced by Matt Cameron in 1986. (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide). Grunge was an underground movement until Soundgarden finally sing up for “Sub Pop” the first grunge record label. For all that, it became one of the most significant grunge bands in history.

Another important grunge band had been Nirvana, which started when Kurt Cobain (vocals, guitar) met Chris Novoselic (born Krist Novoselic) (bass) in 1985 in Aberdeen, WA, a small logging town 100 miles away from Seattle. And after going through a dozen of drummers, they finally stayed with David Grohl. This band made a considerable change in the genre, mainly due to the released of their second album, Nevermind (1991). After their single “Smells like Teen Spirit” video got to MTV, they just became the spokers of the 90's generation. The song became an hymn for all teens and it just transformed grunge music into a trend. Even though kurt Cobain (Nirvana’s leader singer) past away in 1994, they are still one of the bands responsables for grunge's fame all over the world.
The other influential band is Pearl Jam, it was founded in 1990 by Jeff Ament (Bass Guitar), Stone Gossard (Rhythm Guitar), Mike McCready (Lead Guitar), Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals) and Matt Cameron (Drums). The band borned in Seattle, Whashignton, where the movement began, in 1990. They have realeased at least 20 albums along the road. Which makes them, not only pioneers, but Godfathers of grunge music. Pearl Jam is the only band that has lasted over the years. They are still representing the grunge on the current days, keeping the essence of this revolutionary genre alive.

To summarize, rock music has transisted over a century. But the most important genre has been grunge, because it was the emerge of a sub-culture in Seattle, a city that bands would never toured. Soundgarden, Nirvana and Pearl Jam are indeed, reponsables for the fame of Rock. They were the portal for not only new groups, but also genres that succeed the roots of grunge.