Grunge is a genre of rock music that emerged in the mid-to-late 1980s and became commercially successful in the 1990s . It is often associated with the Seattle music scene , although it drew on influences from punk rock , heavy metal , and alternative rock . Grunge is known for its raw, distorted guitar sounds, anguished and often introspective lyrics, and a "sludgy" or "dirty" production style. The genre’s sound and ethos rejected the polished, commercialized rock of the 1980s, opting for a more rebellious, authentic, and underground approach to music. Grunge became a cultural phenomenon in the early 1990s , especially with the massive success of bands like Nirvana , Pearl Jam , Soundgarden , and Alice in Chains , and its influence extended beyond music into fashion and attitudes toward life, fame, and societal expectations. Origins of Grunge The roots of grunge lie in the underground rock scene of the Pacific Northwest , particularly in Seattle, Washington ...