It’s been almost 20 years since Nirvana’s seminal Nevermind was released, and whaddya know – ‘grunge’ is so hip and cool right now. The Tone Deaf crew remember it all the first time around, so we’re going to whack on our jeans with rips in the knees, fling on a flannie shirt and put on our lace up Doc Martin boots while we relive the best grunge bands of the era.
10. Smashing Pumpkins
Remember before the fame and adulation went to Billy Corgan’s head how good these guys were? Siamese Dream still stands up as a ripper album and who doesn’t remember the chorus to ‘Disarm’? One, two three, ‘I used to be a little child, so old in my shoes…’
9. Veruca Salt
Were they even grunge? They sure rocked out though and you only have to listen to their stand out track ‘Seether’ to appreciate that these girls meant business!
8. Bush
Bush were the UK’s answer to Pearl Jam, but surprisingly they became a running joke in the music press in Britain, but went on to become stadium stars in America. Gavin Rossdale and his band of grunge-lite session musos made bland, inoffensive commercial grunge and unsurprisingly became huge in the USA.
7. L7
These riot grrrrrls were tough, real tough. Feted by MTV for their Bricks Are Heavy album, they’re perhaps still most remembered for guitarist Donita Sparks throwing her used tampon in to the crowd at the Reading Festival in England in 1992.
6. Mother Love Bone
Considered one of the founding bands of the ‘Seattle sound’ and grunge movement, the band never quite made it to the big time, with singer Andrew Wood dying of a heroin overdose. Several members of the band would go on to join Pearl Jam.
5. The Melvins
With a history dating back almost 30 years, The Melvins are considered amongst the godfathers of grunge and benefitted from the unexpected success of Nevermind, being picked up by a major label and entering the charts. After conflicts with the label, they were dropped in 1997 and have continued playing and releasing records ever since.
4. Soundgarden
Soundgarden were LOUD and with singer Chris Cornell’s booming vocals, songs such as ‘Black Hole Sun’ seemed to rumble out of your stereo like a river of concrete. Recently reformed, let’s hope they get a tour of Oz happening soon.
3. Stone Temple Pilots
We all know that this band became a bit of a circus with Scott Weiland’s addiction issues crippling them. However, it looks like the rehab finally worked because they’re back in business and reminding us that they wrote some pretty darn good tunes. ‘Interstate Love Song’ anyone?
2. Pearl Jam
Derided as more commercial and being accused of wanting to make it in the music business, the band have aged gracefully and become some of the most respected elder statesmen of Generation X’s idols. And c’mon, you all still know the lyrics to ‘Daughter’ off by heart.
1. Nirvana
Well, what did you expect us to finish this slideshow off with? For right or wrong, Nirvana defined a generation and Nevermind still sounds as important as it did 20 years ago.
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