Music History - 20 Years Ago - GRUNGE IS BORN!

Timeline for April 1991

April 28 - Bonnie Raitt marries actor Michael O'Keefe in New York.

Biggest Hits

Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) I Do it For You
Michael Jackson Black Or White
Roxette Joyride
Scorpions Wind of Change
R.E.M. Losing My Religion

GRUNGE IS BORN

The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year. Followed immediately by other grunge bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and in 1992 by Stone Temple Pilots, grunge dominates the U.S. charts for the next few years. Its success effectively ends the reign of the glam metal groups that enjoyed massive success in the 1980s like Mötley Crüe, Poison, Warrant, Cinderella, and Ratt whose sales and critical viability were beginning to decline for about two years previously. Even so, the rock band Guns N' Roses's popularity flourishes with the release of their albums Use Your Illusion I & Use Your Illusion II, both selling over 10 million copies each. Def Leppard's next album Adrenalize, released in March 1992, would go on to reach multi-platinum status and prove to be the last major commercial success for 80's pop metal.

See the band and song that started it all Smells Like Teen Spirit, from the most popular USA album of 1991 20 years ago, Nevermind by Nirvana.

Nirvana played Fender Guitars and Boss Pedals. Check them out and start your own Grunge Band.

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