Genre ResearchAlternative Rock

Introduction

• Alternative rock is a genre of rock music that came around in the 1980’s underground scene . Original bands such as The Smiths and the Cure made mainstream success as Alt rock bands. It has become a lot more popular between 1990 and present . Big bands such as Blink-182, Coldplay and foo Fighters are classed as alternative rock bands.it has influences from rock and punk rock

Generic Themes

• The main generic themes of this genre is that the bands try to stay out of mainstream limelight. They usual have a drummer, bassist , guitarist and lead vocal set-up.

1980’s Britain

• This is the era that alternative rock came around. The British underground music scene was a key player in this genre of music. Bands such as the Smiths and the cure made success in this era and have gone on to influence bands that are around at the moment. Bands usually signed to independent record labels and tried to stay out of mainstream limelight. A few songs came out like the smiths “the boys with thorn on his side” and the cure’s “boys don’t cry”

1980’s U.S.A

• Music had shifted form punk rock to alternative rock .It yet again started in the American underground music scene. Bands signed to independent record labels like bands in England. They yet again tried to stay out of the limelight . Bands such as R.E.M and the Feelies were American alternative bands that made it into mainstream charts. The most successful of these two would be R.E.M who continued for at last another 10 years.

1990’s

• The alternative scene began to get a lot more popular with bands coming into the limelight. Bands such us as nirvana hade huge hits with bands such as nirvana making huge a commercial break with the song “smells like teen spirit” from the album Nevermind. These bands hade a huge impact on the genres image and reputation. A lot more people began to get interested in alternative rock.

1990’s Continued

• A few trends began to develop in this era. Bands such as Oasis, Blur and Pulp all began to be known as Britpop bands. Some of these bands are still around and some band members have started other groups. Blur recently have been awarded a Brit for it contribution to music over the years .These bands were mainly big bands and got a lot of success. Other trends such as grunge influenced bands such as pearl jam.

1990’s-Present

This genre of music has declined in recent years. Bands such as oasis, blur began to fade away from the limelight and not many bands came along to take their spot. A few exceptions such as Coldplay and Radiohead have made it during this period. Bands such as Coldplay are still making mainstream success. But not as many alternative bands as their used be.

The Smiths

One of the original Alternative rock bands. They began in 1982 and they came from Manchester. The band was formed on the relationship between Steve Morrissey on vocals, Johnny Marrs on guitar .Andy Rourke was on Bass and Mike Joyce was the bands drummer.They are consider they most important alternative rock band of the 1980’s in Britain. They wrote songs

such as “Please Please Please”and “Shelia take bow”. The band stopped in 1987 but are still influencing bands at the moment with their style of music.

R.E.M

Rapid Eye Movement or R.E.M for short are a band that began in 1980’s in Athens, Georgia. Michael Stipe started the band with guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. They were originally a underground band that became famous after their debut album of Murmur. In the early 1990 they got into mainstream music with bands such as nirvana making the genre increasingly popular. They continued to make music thought-out the 1990’s as released 3 more albums and went on world tour. they continued making music in the 2000’s and were introduced into the rock and roll hall of fame in 2007. the band finally split in 2011 as they announced it on their official website. The bands style was mid-tempo and minor keyed.

Oasis

Oasis are another major band in this genre of music. They began in 1991 in Manchester. It hade five members and two of them were brothers. They have released 11 albums which 8 went to number one in the album chart. In total and have believed to have sold over 70 million records and have hade 8 number 1’s. They have one over 30 award that consist of Brit Award, NME awards and MTV Europe music They are one of the bands that have

been associated with Britpop. Other bands such as Pulp and Blur also fall into this type of music. They often made the newspaper headlines with their wild life style and sibling dispute. They split in 2009 one of the brothers left and began his own career as with Beady eye and then Noel Gallagher high flying birds. They have influenced bands such as Arctic Monkeys and The Enemy

Nirvana

Nirvana are another band that had a huge input into this genre. Kurt Kobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic are the bands members . They formed in 1987 which they released one album with a independent record label. They stayed quit unknown and until they released their second album Nevermind. This album gained huge success with the lead single being ‘Smells like Teen Spirit’. This album is of the most influential album of the alternative rock scene. The vocalist is Kurt Kobain was called the “spokesman of a generation”. They released their third album “ In Utero” which gained some success but never a commercial success as “ Nevermind.”

Unfortunately the lead singer Kurt Kobain died in 1994. remaining members tried to carry on the legacy. Dave Grohl found success elsewhere In foo fighters.

Foo Fighters

Foo fighters are another example of a successful alternative rock band. It started as a one man project started by David Grohl after the collapse of nirvana after the death ok Kurt Kobain. The original band set up was Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, William Goldsmith and Pat Smear. Goldsmith and Smear then left and then Taylor Hawkins and Franz Stahl joined the team. They have continued to release albums until present day.

Coldplay

Coldplay are a very successful alternative rock band. Formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and Lead Guitarist Johnny Buckland. Guy Berryman and will champion joined the band later. They released three singles until they were signed by Parlophone record. They achieved worldwide success when they released the single “yellow” they went on to released their first album in that year. They then released three more

albums that all received positive press. They have received many awards including Brits and Grammies. They have also contributed to many charities such as Teenage cancer trust and performed at live aid.

Guitar

Some examples of lead guitarist in some key alternative rock bands

Noel Gallagher Oasis

Johnny GreenwoodRadiohead

Peter BurkeR.E.M

Bass Andy RourkeThe Smiths

Nate MendalFoo Fighters

Guy BerrymanColdplay

Some key bands Bassists

Drums

Matt HeldersArctic Monkeys

Dave GrohlFoo Fighters/

Nirvana

Jason CooperThe Cure

Some notable alternative rock band drummers

Vocal

Liam Gallagher Oasis

Steven Morrissey The Smiths

Chris MartinColdplay

The front man of the group Some famous vocalists

Album Artwork

Album Artwork

• The album artwork for the bands are often quite artistic and different