Which Song Introduced Grunge To The Mainstream?

[dlloyd]

Although Mudhoney, Tad, The Screaming Trees, etc. (as well as pre-Nevermind Nirvana) were all pretty big in the alternative rock scene in the UK, Teen Spirit was the first record to get major radio play, made Nirvana the first grunge band to grace the covers of mainstream rock magazines, and was the first to get played on mainstream music programs on TV.

Before Teen Spirit, grunge was listened to by kids who delighted in obscurity. A lot of those kids were gutted that Nevermind became a huge hit, and that the painstakingly-sourced, shabby clothes they wore were now available in the high street shops.

Sure, Mudhoney were there before Nirvana, but they never became mainstream. Play 'Here Comes Sickness' to the average kid in the street, then 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and ask them to name the bands...

 

[MakiSupaStar]

I was going to say Dinosaur Jr.'s Where Have You Been? but I'm not sure if that came out before or after Nevermind and Teen Spirit.

 

[Infernal Affair]

I think that was my subconscious talking, whenever I think grunge, I think plaid, and whenever I think plaid, I think Dinosaur Jr.

But that's a very valid point, Freak Scene should have been their Teen Spirit.

I've seen the book about, is it worth a read?

I thought it was a lot of fun, but like any biographical book you can't take everything word for word. I was pretty familiar with a lot of the bands featured, but ended up knowing a lot more about the members after reading it.

 

[buzzbass]

Man in the Box predated most of those others by 2 or 3 years

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

Fun fact: The Melvins were putting out Records before Alice In Chains. So were Green River, Mother Love Bone, and a bunch of other Seattle bands.

Man In The Box, while a hit, didn't really bring the Seattle scene into the world view like Teen Spirit. Because Man In The Box wasn't as revolutionary.

 

[Wayne_maggot]

teen spirit is the best grunge song ever thats why the whole grunge scene happened after that song became a hit ..