2. Introduction
Alternative Rock is a sub genre of rock music. It
was first released in the 1980’s and became a lot
more popular in the 1990’s and 2000’s. The
typical instruments for alternative music would be
vocals, electric guitar, bass, drums, and
keyboard. At time ‘alternative’ has been used to
describe music from underground rock artists that
receives mainstream recognition or for any music
that is seen to be descended from punk rock.
3. Popularity
The first big alternative rock band to hit the
mainstream was Nirvana.
Compared to other genres alternative rock bands
were limited in terms of commercial success
compared to rock and pop.
Most alternative rock bands were signed to
independent record labels and didn’t receive
funds or attention from mainstream media.
In the 1990’s alternative rock hit the mainstream.
4. Alternative rock becoming less
popular
Towards the end of the 1990’s some thing
happened which made it become less popular:
Kurt Cobains death in 1994.
Pear Jam and Ticketmasters fallout which lead to
Pear Jam being unable to play any big venues.
5. Features of Alternative Rock
Avoid the limelight and mainstream.
Tend to sign to independent record labels.
Talented musicians, members in the bands tend
to be skilled in there field of music.
Soundsoftenreliedondynamiccontrasts,oftenbetw
eenquitversesandloud,heavychoruses
6. 1980’s
In the 1980s alternative rock was underground
and not very well known.
Bands such as The Cure, The Smiths, Duran
Duran formed.
At the start of the 80’s bands rarely made a
commercial hit.
By 1989 bands such as New Order and The
Sugarcubes toured the arena circuit in the USA.
7. 1990’s
The music industry was suddenly interested in
Alternative Rock.
Major record labels started approaching groups
like Janes Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins and
Nirvana.
R.E.M success become a blueprint for many
other alternative rock bands as in the 1990’s they
had become one of the biggest bands worldwide.
The breakthrough of Nirvanas single ‘Smells Like
Teen Spirit’ from their album ‘Nevermind’ the
single was selling 400,00 copies a week before
Christmas 1991.
8. 21st Century
In the early 2000’s bands like Franz Ferdinand,
The Strokes and Interpol drew primary inspiration
from post-punk and New Wave, establishing
the post-punk revival movement.
Bands like Nickleback, The Killers, Radiohead
and Muse all charted in the top ten between
2005-2010.
In 2004 Entertainment Weekly Declared ‘After
almost a decade of domination from rap-rock and
nu-metal bands, alt rock is finally good again.’
9. Britpop
Sub genre of Alternative rock that originated in
the UK.
Emerged in the 1990’s.
Characterised by bands influenced by British
guitar pop music of the 60s and 70s.
Groups like Blur and Suede launched the
movement.
Britpop groups bought alternative rock into the
mainstream and formed the backbone for the
large British cultural movement.
10. R.E.M
R.E.M were a large alternative rock band from
Athens, Georgia. They were formed by Micheal
Stripe in 1980 who was the singer, a guitarist
called Peter Buck. bassist Mike Mills and a
drummer called Billy Berry.
One of the first popular alternative rock bands,
R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's
ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's
unclear vocals.
11. R.E.M Continued...
R.E.M. released its first single, "Radio Free
Europe", in 1981 on the independent record
label Hib-Tone. The single was followed by
the Chronic Town EP in 1982, the band's first
release on I.R.S. Records. In 1983, the group
released its debut album, Murmur, and built its
reputation over the next few years through
subsequent releases, constant touring, and the
support of college radio. Following years of
underground success, R.E.M. achieved a
mainstream hit in 1987 with the single "The One I
Love". The group signed to Warner Bros.
Records in 1988, and began to espouse political
and environmental concerns while playing large
arenas worldwide.
12. Radiohead
Radiohead formed in 1985 and are from
Oxfordshire.
The band consists of Thorn Yorke (lead vocals,
guitarist and piano), Jonny Greenwood (lead
guitar and keyboard), Colin Greenwood (bass),
Phil Selway (drums and percussion) Ed O’Brien
(guitar and backing vocals).
Radiohead released their debut single ‘Creep’ in
1992. The song was initially unsuccessful, but it
became a worldwide hit several months after the
release of their debut album, Pablo
Honey (1993). Radiohead's popularity rose in the
United Kingdom with the release of their second
album, The Bends (1995). Radiohead then
13. Nirvana
Nirvana is an alternative rock band formed by
Singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain in 1985.
Nirvana are known for going through a
succession of drummers, the longest lasting
being Dave Grohl, who joined in 1990.
Nirvana were originally part of the Seattle grunge
scene, they release there first album ‘Bleach’ for
the independent record label Sub Popin 1989.
However the band eventually had alternative rock
mainstream success unexpectedly with the
release of there album ‘Smells like teen spirit’
in1991.
14. Nirvana Continued...
The media began to refer to Kurt Cobain as ‘the
spokesman of the generation’ with Nirvana being
the flagship band.
There third album ‘In Utero’ also saw success, but
not as greatly as nevermind.
Nirvanas success was unfortunately short lived as
lead singer and guitarist died in 1994.
15. Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain was an American singer song writer,
in 1985 he also formed the band Nirvana, and
was the front man that led Nirvana to selling 25
million albums within the US and 50 million
worldwide.
During the last year of him life he struggled with
depression, heroin addiction and illness.
On the 8th of April 1994, he was found dead in his
house in Seattle, he had unfortunately committed
suicide.
16. Smashing Pumpkins
Smashing Pumpkins are an alternative rock band
from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1988.
Formed by front man Billy Corgan(lead vocals,
lead guitar) and James Iha (rhythm guitar), the
band has included Jimmy
Chamberlin (drums), D'arcy Wretzky (bass
guitar),Melissa Auf der Maur (bass guitar), and
currently includes Mike Byrne (drums), Nicole
Fiorentino (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Jeff
Schroeder (rhythm guitar) among its membership.
17. Smashing Pumpkins Continued...
The Smashing Pumpkins broke into the musical
mainstream with their second album,
1993's Siamese Dream. The group built its
audience with extensive touring and their 1995
follow-up, the double album Mellon Collie and the
Infinite Sadness, debuted at number one on
the Billboard 200 album chart. With 18.75 million
albums sold in the United States, The Smashing
Pumpkins were one of the most commercially
successful and critically acclaimed bands of the
1990s.
18. Oasis
Oasis are an English alternative rock band
formed in Manchester in 1991.
The group is formed by Liam Gallagher (vocals),
Paul Arthurs (guitar) and Paul McGuigan (bass)
and Tony McCarroll (drums) they were later joined
by Liams older brother Noel Gallagher (lead
guitar and vocals).
In 2009 Noel announced his departure from the
band after a lot of dispute with his brother.
Noel went on a solo project and released his
album Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
19. Oasis Continued...
Oasis had 8 number one single and 8 UK number
one albums.
They won 15 NME Awards.
9 Q awards.
4 MTV Europe Music Awards
6 Brit Awards
As of 2009 had sold an estimate of 70 million
records worldwide.
20. Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters were formed in Seattle in 1994.
Founded by the former Nirvana drummer Dave
Grohl.
The band consists of Dave Grohl (vocals and
lead guitar) Nate Mendel (bass) William
Goldsmith (drummer) and former Nirvana guitarist
Pat Smear.
In total they have released 7 albums.
4 of the albums have won 11 Grammy awards
and Best Rock Album 4 times.
21. Coldplay
Coldplay was formed in 1996 by vocalist Chris
Martin. He was joined by Jonny Buckland and
Guy Berryman.
In 2000 released the single ‘Yellow’ which saw
them sore to worldwide success.
Soon to be followed by album Parachutes which
was nominated with a Mercury Prize.
There next 3 albums X&Y, Viva La Vida or Death
and All His friends and MyloXloyto all received
awards. MyLoXloyto being the biggest selling
Rock album of 2011.
