10 Music Genres That Died

10. Grunge

As much a subculture as it was a music subgenre, grunge conquered the world of alternative rock soon after its late 80s emergence in the Pacific Northwest. Brought to the mainstream in the early 90s by Seattle-based bands including Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden, grunge functioned as a dark counter to the colourful excess of 80s glam rock.

Mixing elements of punk, metal along with distorted guitars and vocals, grunge provided a grim and gritty sound for its listeners. Lyrics frequently reflected angst and unhappiness with the more frustrating aspects of life and society, resonating with many young listeners. Aesthetically, grunge musicians typically dressed down, devoid of the costuming and hairspray normally associated with rock by that point.

The grunge scene as a whole was rocked by the tragic death of Kurt Cobain in 1994 and soon dissipated. Often considered the leading grunge act, the troubled frontman’s passing left a black cloud over the genre. In the years after, still-active grunge bands modified their sounds and aesthetic considerably to fit more conventional rock styles. The genre wound up becoming a brief but memorable chapter in rock music history.