List of American grunge bands explained

This is a list of American grunge bands. It includes rock bands and solo artists formed in the USA whose primary genre is grunge or either they have or had the elements of it in their music style. Grunge music is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song dynamics, and apathetic or angst-filled lyrics. The grunge aesthetic is stripped-down compared to other forms of rock music, and many grunge musicians were noted for their unkempt appearances and rejection of theatrics.

A

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
The Afghan Whigs1986–PresentCincinnati, Ohio
Alice in Chains[1] 1987–2002 / 2005–PresentSeattle, Washington
Alice Donut1986–1996 / 2001 – PresentNew York City, New York
  • Donut Comes Alive (1988)
  • Bucketfulls of Sickness and Horror in an Otherwise Meaningless Life (1989)
  • Mule (1990)
  • Revenge fantasies of the impotent (1990)
  • The Untidy Suicides of your Degenerate Children (1992)
  • Pure Acid Park (1995)
  • Three Sisters (2004)
  • Fuzz (2006)
  • Ten Glorious Animals (2009)
Alcohol Funnycar1991–1996Seattle, Washington
  • Burn (1993)
  • Time To Make The Donuts (1993)
  • Weasels (1995)

B

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Babes in Toyland1987–2001Minneapolis, Minnesota
Big Chief1989–1996Ann Arbor, Michigan
Blind Melon1990–1999 / 2006–2008 / 2010–PresentLos Angeles, California
Blood Circus1988–1989 / 1992 / 2007Seattle, Washington
Bullet LaVolta1987-1992Boston, Massachusetts
  • The Gift (1989)
  • Swandive (1992)
Bundle of Hiss1980–1988Seattle, Washington
  • Sessions: 1986-1988 (2000)

C

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Cat Butt1987–1990Seattle, Washington
Coffin Break1987–1994Seattle, Washington
  • Psychosis (1989)
  • Rupture (1990)
  • Crawl (1991)
  • Thirteen (1992)

D

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Daddy Hate Box1989–1990Seattle, Washington
  • Sugar Plow (1990)
Dandelion1989–1996Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Das Damen1984–1991New York, New York
  • Das Damen (1986)
  • Jupiter Eye (1986)
  • Triskaidekaphobe (1988)
  • Mouse Trap (1989)
Dickless1989–1998Seattle, Washington
Drop Acid1991–1993Sacramento, California
  • Making God Smile (1991)
  • 36th & Teeth E.P. (1992)

F

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Failure1990–1997, 2014–presentLos Angeles, California
Fecal Matter1985–1986Aberdeen, Washington
  • Illiteracy Will Prevail (1986)
Flowerhead1987–1995Austin, Texas
The Fluid1984–1993 / 2008Denver, Colorado
  • Punch n Judy (1986)
  • Clear Black Paper (1988)
  • Roadmouth (1989)
  • Purplemetalflakemusic (1993)

G

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Gas Huffer1989–2006Seattle, Washington
The Gits1986–1993Yellow Springs, Ohio
Green River1984–1988 / 2008–2009Seattle, Washington
Gruntruck1989–1993 / 1996–2002Seattle, Washington
  • Inside Yours (1990)
  • Push (1992)
  • Gruntruck (2017)
Gumball1990–1994New York City, New York

H

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Hammerbox1990–1994Seattle, Washington
Hater1993–1997 / 2005Seattle, Washington
Hazel1992–1997Portland, Oregon
  • Toreador of Love (1993)
  • Are You Going to Eat That (1995)
Hole1989–2002 / 2010–2012Los Angeles, California
Hullabaloo1986–1993 / 2013–present

L

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
L71985–2001, 2014–presentLos Angeles, California
Local H1990–PresentZion, Illinois
Love Battery1989–2002, 2006, 2011–2012Seattle, Washington

M

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Mad Season1994–1999Seattle, Washington
Malfunkshun1980–88, 2006–presentBainbridge Island, Washington
Mark ArmSeattle, Washington
Melvins1983–presentMontesano, Washington
Mother Love Bone1988–1990Seattle, Washington
Mono Men1987–1998, 2006, 2013Bellingham, Washington
Mudhoney1988–presentSeattle, Washington
My Sister's Machine1988–1994Seattle, Washington
  • Diva (1992)
  • Wallflower (1993)

N

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Napalm Beach1981–presentPortland, Oregon
  • Rock And Roll Hell (1984)
  • Pugsley (1984)
  • Teen Dream (1985)
  • Liquid Love (1988)
  • Moving To And Fro (1989)
  • Fire Air And Water (1990)
  • Thunder Lizard (1991)
  • Curiosities (1993)
  • In My Tree (1994)
Nirvana1987–1994Aberdeen, Washington
  • Bleach (1989)
  • Nevermind (1991)
  • In Utero (1993)
Nudeswirl1989–1995New Brunswick, New Jersey
The Nymphs1985–1992New Jersey

P

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Paw1990–2000, 2008Lawrence, Kansas
Pearl Jam1990–presentSeattle, Washington
Pond1991–1998Portland, Oregon
  • Pond (1993)
  • The Practice of Joy Before Death (1995)
  • Rock Collection (1997)
The Presidents of the United States of America1993–1998 / 2000–2002 / 2003–2016Seattle, Washington

S

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Screaming Trees1985–2000Ellensburg, Washington
Seaweed1989–2000, 2007–presentTacoma, Washington
  • Weak (1992)
  • Four (1993)
  • Spanaway (1995)
  • Actions and Indications (1998)
Skin Yard1985–1993Seattle, Washington
Skunk1986–1991Maplewood, New Jersey
  • Last American Virgin (1989)
  • Laid (1991)
The Smashing Pumpkins1988–2000, 2006–PresentChicago, Illinois
Smile1992–2003Orange County, California
  • Maquee (1994)
  • Girl Crushes Boy (1998)
Solomon Grundy1989–1990Ellensburg, Washington
  • Solomon Grundy (1990)
Soundgarden1984–1997, 2019Seattle, Washington
Splendora1995–2002New York City, New York
Stone Temple Pilots1985–2002, 2008–presentSan Diego, California
Sweet Water1990–presentSeattle, Washington
  • Sweet Water (1992)
  • Superfriends (1995)
  • Suicide (1999)
  • Clear The Tarmac (2009)

T

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Tad1988–1999, 2013Seattle, Washington
Temple of the Dog1990–1992Seattle, Washington
Treepeople1988–1994Boise, Idaho
  • No Mouth Pipetting (1989)
  • Time Whore (1990)
  • Guilt Regret Embarrassment (1991)
  • Something Vicious For Tomorrow (1992)
  • Just Kidding (1993)
  • Actual Re-Enactment (1994)
Tripping Daisy1990–1999Dallas, Texas
Truly1990–1998, 2000, 2008–presentSeattle, Washington

W

BandYears activeOriginStudio albums
Willard1989–1992Seattle, Washington
Wool1990–1996Washington, D.C. based out of Los Angeles, California
  • Box Set (1994)
  • Lunar Momento: Lost Rancho Session 1 (2012)
  • Lunar Momento: Lost Rancho Session 2 (2012)

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Childers . Chad . 2012-09-28 . 10 Best Grunge Bands of All Time . 2024-02-04 . Loudwire . en.