alternative rock alternative rock called alternative music rock simply alternative genre rock music emerged independent music underground 1980s widely popular 1990s 2000s instance word alternative refers genre distinction mainstream rock music term original meaning broader referring generation musicians unified collective debt musical style simply independent punk rock late 1970s laid alternative music times alternative catch description music underground rock artists receives mainstream recognition music rock seen descended punk rock including examples punk new wave post punk alternative rock broad umbrella term consisting music differs greatly terms sound social context regional roots end 1980s magazines college radio airplay word mouth increased prominence highlighted diversity alternative rock helping define number distinct styles music scenes gothic rock pop noise pop indie rock indie pop industrial rock alternative hip hop rap rock achieved minor mainstream notice bands representing signed major labels alternative bands commercial success limited comparison genres rock pop music time acts remained signed independent labels received relatively little attention mainstream radio television newspapers breakthrough popularity movements 1990s alternative rock entered musical mainstream alternative bands successful end decade alternative rock mainstream prominence declined number events caused fade led hiatus festival post remained commercially viable start 21st century commercial success creed critical acclaim success groups like attracted attention larger alternative rock world term applied variety artists including multi platinum acts late 1990s early 2000s alternative rock bands emerged including white stripes strokes drew post punk new wave post punk revival artists killers commercial success early mid 2000s origin term term alternative rock came common usage sort music refers known variety terms term alternative music describe groups writing dallas radio station late night new wave entitled rock roll alternative college rock united_states describe music 1980s links college radio circuit tastes college students united_kingdom dozens small record labels emerged result punk according founder labels nme sounds magazines published charts based small record stores called alternative charts national chart based distribution called published january immediately succeeded aim help labels time term indie literally describe independently distributed records indie come mean particular genre group simply distribution status use term alternative describe rock music originated mid-1980s time common music industry terms cutting edge music new music post modern respectively indicating tendency sounds past individuals worked promoters 1980s claim term originates radio 1970s served progressive alternative radio formats featuring longer songs giving freedom song selection according promoter term alternative got rediscovered college radio people 80s applied new post punk indie underground music term referred intentionally non mainstream rock acts influenced heavy metal ballads new wave high energy dance anthems usage term include new wave pop punk rock post punk occasionally college indie rock found american commercial alternative radio stations time use alternative gained exposure success festival founder jane addiction frontman coined term alternative nation late 1990s definition specific new_york_times defined alternative rock hard edged rock distinguished 70s inspired guitar singers problems epic proportions defining music alternative difficult conflicting applications word alternative describe music challenges status quo fiercely term music industry denote choices available consumers record stores radio cable television internet alternative music commercial mainstream rock record companies term alternative market music audience mainstream rock reach broad definition genre book cites formation sex pistols release albums horses key events gave birth alternative rock recent years early 2000s indie rock common term describe modern pop rock terms indie rock alternative rock whilst aspects genres common indie rock regarded british based term unlike american alternative rock characteristics alternative rock essentially serves umbrella term underground music emerged wake punk rock mid-1980s history alternative rock largely defined rejection mainstream culture contested major alternative artists achieved mainstream success opted major labels 1990s onwards especially new millennium alternative bands 1980s generally played small clubs recorded indie labels spread popularity word mouth set musical style alternative rock new_york_times asserted genre guitar music guitars blast power chords pick riffs buzz feedback sounds range gothic rock guitars indie pop dirty guitars 1960s 1970s rock styles rock music 1970s alternative rock lyrics tend address topics social concern drug use depression suicide approach lyrics developed reflection social economic strains united_states united_kingdom 1980s early 1990s history 1980s majority groups signed independent record labels mined variety rock particularly 1960s rock influences represented sharp break futuristic hyper rational post punk years 1980s alternative rock remained mainly underground phenomenon occasion song commercial hit albums receive critical praise mainstream publications like rolling_stone alternative rock 1980s primarily featured independent record labels college radio stations alternative bands built underground touring constantly regularly releasing low budget albums case united_states new bands form wake previous bands created extensive underground circuit america filled different scenes parts country american alternative artists 1980s generated spectacular album sales exerted considerable influence later alternative musicians laid success genre popular package tour featuring toured united_states arena circuit contrast british alternative rock distinguished united_states early pop oriented focus marked equal emphasis albums singles greater incorporating elements dance club culture lyrical emphasis specifically british concerns result british alternative bands achieved commercial success 1980s alternative rock played extensively radio particularly disc championed alternative music bbc_radio_1 artists cult united_states received greater exposure british national radio weekly music press alternative bands chart success american underground 1980s early american alternative bands combined punk influences folk music mainstream music influences immediately successful debut album entered spawned number pop followers pop scenes early 1980s revived sounds 1960s incorporating rich vocal harmonies guitar folk rock punk underground influences velvet underground american indie record labels touch records presided shift hardcore punk dominated american underground scene diverse styles alternative rock emerging minneapolis bands replacements indicative shift started punk rock bands soon sounds melodic asserted key link hardcore punk melodic diverse music college rock emerged wrote played huge role convincing underground melody punk rock weren band set example group american indie scene sign major record label helped establish college rock viable commercial enterprise focusing heartfelt songwriting instead political concerns replacements number underground scene conventions noted replacements underground bands mainstream people liked late 1980s american alternative scene dominated styles ranging quirky alternative pop giants noise rock jesus industrial rock ministry inch nails sounds turn followed advent boston jane addiction time emerged seattle washington initially referred seattle sound rise popularity early 1990s featured guitar sound synthesized heavy metal punk rock promoted largely seattle indie label sub pop bands noted store fashion favored shirts combat boots suited local weather early bands found critical acclaim respectively end decade number alternative bands began sign major labels early major label replacements little success acts signed majors wake jane addiction achieved gold platinum records setting stage alternative later breakthrough bands massive success overseas ignored domestically middle decade album arcade influenced hardcore acts personal issues washington hardcore scene called emerged noted lyrics emotional personal subject matter vocalists cried added free association poetry tone rites spring described band singer founded center city scene british genres trends 1980s gothic rock developed british post punk reputation form underground rock gothic rock utilizes synthesizer guitar based sound drawn post punk construct epic genre lyrics address literary religious symbolism supernatural genre bands took inspiration british post punk groups debut single dead released considered proper beginning gothic rock genre cure albums seventeen seconds faith pornography cemented group stature style laid foundation large cult following key british alternative rock band emerge 1980s manchester music journalist singled american contemporaries important rock bands day commenting bands sense noted stance british audience lost generation land embrace guitar era synthesizer dominated music viewed signaling end new wave era advent alternative rock united_kingdom despite band limited chart success short career exerted influence british indie scene end decade bands drew singer english centered lyrical topics guitarist guitar playing style cassette nme premium featuring scream wedding present major influence development indie pop british indie scene forms alternative rock developed 1980s jesus sound combined velvet underground melancholy noise beach boys pop melodies wall sound production emerged demise post punk band experimented techno house music mary chain dream pop formative influences movement late 1980s named band members tendency feet guitar effects onstage interact audience acts like created overwhelmingly loud wash sound obscured vocals melodies long riffs distortion feedback bands dominated british music press end decade scene performing nightclub manchester owned bands happy stone roses mixed acid house dance rhythms melodic guitar pop 1990s start 1990s music industry alternative rock commercial possibilities major labels actively courted bands including jane addiction red hot particular success blueprint alternative bands late 1980s 1990s follow group contemporaries 1990s popular bands world breakthrough success band led widespread alternative rock 1990s release band single like teen spirit second album marked music phenomenon constant airplay song music video mtv selling copies week christmas success surprised music industry popularized established cultural commercial viability alternative rock general asserted sea change rock music hair metal dominated rock music time fell favor face music authentic culturally relevant surprise success heralded new alternative rock commercial radio stations opening doors heavier alternative bands particular wake alternative rock found dragged kicking screaming mainstream record companies confused genre success eager capitalize sign bands new_york_times declared alternative rock doesn alternative anymore major label handful guitar driven bands shirts jeans bands bad posture good riffs oblique conceal catchy tunes noise hide alternative rock artists rejected success conflicted rebellious ethic genre espoused mainstream exposure ideas artistic authenticity explosion bands subsequently replicated success released debut album month album sales picked year later second half breakthrough success certified gold reaching number billboard album chart album alice chains dirt stone temple pilots core temple dog album collaboration featuring members selling albums popular breakthrough bands prompted rolling_stone nickname seattle new liverpool major record labels signed prominent bands seattle second influx bands moved city hopes success time critics asserted advertising opting elements turning entertainment_weekly commented article hasn kind exploitation media discovered 60s new_york_times compared america mass marketing punk rock disco hip hop previous years result genre popularity backlash developed seattle follow album intentionally album bassist described wild aggressive sound true alternative record release september topped billboard charts continued perform commercially second album topped billboard charts selling record copies week release decline scene tide america dominated british alternative scene music press early 1990s reaction british bands emerged wished rid declare war america taking public native music press storm media movement represented british equivalent explosion artists propelled alternative rock charts home country bands influenced displayed reverence british guitar music past particularly movements genres glam rock punk rock phenomenon culminated rivalry chief groups oasis release competing singles day won battle oasis soon eclipsed band popularity second album story morning glory went best selling album history trends long synonymous alternative rock indie rock distinct form following popular breakthrough indie rock formulated rejection alternative rock absorption mainstream artists refused cross aesthetic indie rock artists share punk rock distrust genre entirely define general assumption virtually impossible indie rock varying musical approaches compatible mainstream tastes place labels indie like dominated american indie scene 1990s main indie rock movements 1990s movement focused recording distribution music low quality cassette tapes initially emerged 1980s pavement guided voices popular cult acts united_states subsequently artists like brought aesthetic mainstream audiences period saw alternative female singer songwriters aforementioned massively successful fit sub group album major commercial success strong influence heavy metal progressive rock album helped alternative rock mainstream radio programmers close gap alternative rock type rock played american 1970s album radio half 1990s supplanted post post bands lacked underground roots largely influenced wildly popular form inward looking minded hard rock post bands emulated sound style necessarily individual original artists post commercially viable genre tempered distorted guitars polished radio ready production originally post label bands emerged mainstream emulated sound label suggested bands labelled post simply musically derivative cynical response authentic rock movement bush collective soul labelled post according suggesting musical movement right calculated cynical response legitimate stylistic shift rock music post late 1990s post bands creed emerged post rock established talk talk laughing stock albums released post rock draws influence number genres including progressive rock jazz genre rejects rock conventions incorporates electronic music genre coined music journalist style genre solidified release chicago group post rock dominant form experimental rock music 1990s bands genre signed labels pure related genre math rock peaked mid-1990s comparison post rock math rock relies complex time signatures phrases end decade backlash emerged post rock perceived increasing new wave post rock bands black emperor emerged expanded genre decade underground punk mixture earlier british punk acts popular united_states wave revival acts break mighty mighty doubt sublime reel big fish jake charted received radio exposure decline popularity end decade alternative rock mainstream prominence declined number events notably death lawsuit concert venue promoter effect barred group playing major venues united_states addition decline bands faded oasis album received lackluster reviews began incorporate influences american alternative rock alternative rock declining popularity hiatus festival unsuccessful attempt find light festival troubles year spin said alternative rock right despite alternative rock declining popularity artists retained mainstream relevance post remained commercially viable start 21st century bands like creed popular rock bands united_states time began decline achieved critical acclaim album computer follow ups kid marked contrast post groups like travis major forces british rock subsequent years mid-1990s sunny day real estate defined genre album influential new decade popular rock music genres popular acts included platinum selling success bleed american places come fear new mainstream sound 1990s far greater appeal earlier incarnations time use term expanded musical genre associated fashion music expressed emotion term applied critics journalists variety artists including multi platinum acts fall boy chemical romance disparate groups disco reject label 2000s revival late 1990s early 2000s alternative rock bands emerged including strokes drew primary inspiration post punk new wave establishing post punk revival movement preceded success bands strokes white stripes earlier decade influx new alternative rock bands including post punk revival artists killers yeah yeah found commercial success early mid 2000s owing success bands entertainment_weekly declared decade domination rap rock metal bands mainstream rock finally good worldwide arena tours alternative rock acts established players muse american band thirty seconds mars experiencing notable rise popularity half 2000s american rock band entered new found popularity release album continued success 2000s references modern alternative rock music united_states indie rock genre term previously limited usage alternative rock channels media conflicting opinions relevance alternative rock mainstream audiences commented article december issue new_york_daily_news stating rock dead speak rock pretty alive
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