1.Genre ResearchAlternative Rock

2. IntroductionAlternative Rock is a sub genre of rock music. Itwas first released in the 1980s and became a lot more popular in the 1990s and 2000s. Thetypical instruments for alternative music would be vocals, electric guitar, bass, drums, and keyboard. At time alternative has been used todescribe music from underground rock artists thatreceives mainstream recognition or for any musicthat is seen to be descended from punk rock. 3. Popularity The first big alternative rock band to hit the mainstream was Nirvana. Compared to other genres alternative rock bands were limited in terms of commercial successcompared to rock and pop. Most alternative rock bands were signed toindependent record labels and didnt receivefunds or attention from mainstream media. In the 1990s alternative rock hit the mainstream. 4. Alternative rock becoming lesspopular Towards the end of the 1990s some thing happened which made it become less popular: Kurt Cobains death in 1994. Pear Jam and Ticketmasters fallout which lead to Pear Jam being unable to play any big venues. 5. Features of Alternative Rock Avoid the limelight and mainstream. Tend to sign to independent record labels. Talented musicians, members in the bands tendto be skilled in there field of music. Soundsoftenreliedondynamiccontrasts,oftenbetweenquitversesandloud,heavychoruses 6. 1980s In the 1980s alternative rock was underground and not very well known. Bands such as The Cure, The Smiths, Duran Duran formed. At the start of the 80s bands rarely made a commercial hit. By 1989 bands such as New Order and TheSugarcubes toured the arena circuit in the USA. 7. 1990s The music industry was suddenly interested inAlternative Rock. Major record labels started approaching groups like Janes Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana. R.E.M success become a blueprint for manyother alternative rock bands as in the 1990s theyhad become one of the biggest bands worldwide. The breakthrough of Nirvanas single Smells Like Teen Spirit from their album Nevermind the single was selling 400,00 copies a week before Christmas 1991. 8. 21st Century In the early 2000s bands like Franz Ferdinand,The Strokes and Interpol drew primary inspiration from post-punk and New Wave, establishingthe post-punk revival movement. Bands like Nickleback, The Killers, Radiohead and Muse all charted in the top ten between 2005-2010. In 2004 Entertainment Weekly Declared Afteralmost a decade of domination from rap-rock andnu-metal bands, alt rock is finally good again. 9. Britpop Sub genre of Alternative rock that originated inthe UK. Emerged in the 1990s. Characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 60s and 70s. Groups like Blur and Suede launched the movement. Britpop groups bought alternative rock into the mainstream and formed the backbone for the large British cultural movement. 10. R.E.M R.E.M were a large alternative rock band from Athens, Georgia. They were formed by MichealStripe in 1980 who was the singer, a guitarist called Peter Buck. bassist Mike Mills and adrummer called Billy Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Bucks ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipes unclear vocals. 11. R.E.M Continued... R.E.M. released its first single, "Radio Free Europe", in 1981 on the independent recordlabel Hib-Tone. The single was followed bythe Chronic Town EP in 1982, the bands firstrelease on I.R.S. Records. In 1983, the group released its debut album, Murmur, and built itsreputation over the next few years through subsequent releases, constant touring, and the support of college radio. Following years of underground success, R.E.M. achieved amainstream hit in 1987 with the single "The One I Love". The group signed to Warner Bros.Records in 1988, and began to espouse politicaland environmental concerns while playing largearenas worldwide. 12. Radiohead Radiohead formed in 1985 and are from Oxfordshire. The band consists of Thorn Yorke (lead vocals,guitarist and piano), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar and keyboard), Colin Greenwood (bass),Phil Selway (drums and percussion) Ed OBrien(guitar and backing vocals). Radiohead released their debut single Creep in1992. The song was initially unsuccessful, but itbecame a worldwide hit several months after the release of their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993). Radioheads popularity rose in theUnited Kingdom with the release of their second album, The Bends (1995). Radiohead then 13. Nirvana Nirvana is an alternative rock band formed bySinger/guitarist Kurt Cobain in 1985. Nirvana are known for going through asuccession of drummers, the longest lastingbeing Dave Grohl, who joined in 1990. Nirvana were originally part of the Seattle grungescene, they release there first album Bleach forthe independent record label Sub Popin 1989.However the band eventually had alternative rockmainstream success unexpectedly with therelease of there album Smells like teen spiritin1991. 14. Nirvana Continued... The media began to refer to Kurt Cobain as thespokesman of the generation with Nirvana beingthe flagship band. There third album In Utero also saw success, but not as greatly as nevermind. Nirvanas success was unfortunately short lived aslead singer and guitarist died in 1994. 15. Kurt Cobain Kurt Cobain was an American singer song writer,in 1985 he also formed the band Nirvana, and was the front man that led Nirvana to selling 25million albums within the US and 50 million worldwide. During the last year of him life he struggled with depression, heroin addiction and illness. On the 8th of April 1994, he was found dead in hishouse in Seattle, he had unfortunately committedsuicide. 16. Smashing Pumpkins Smashing Pumpkins are an alternative rock bandfrom Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1988. Formed by front man Billy Corgan(lead vocals,lead guitar) and James Iha (rhythm guitar), theband has included JimmyChamberlin (drums), Darcy Wretzky (bassguitar),Melissa Auf der Maur (bass guitar), andcurrently includes Mike Byrne (drums), NicoleFiorentino (bass guitar, backing vocals), and JeffSchroeder (rhythm guitar) among its membership. 17. Smashing Pumpkins Continued... The Smashing Pumpkins broke into the musical mainstream with their second album,1993s Siamese Dream. The group built its audience with extensive touring and their 1995 follow-up, the double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, debuted at number one onthe Billboard 200 album chart. With 18.75 millionalbums sold in the United States, The SmashingPumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the1990s. 18. Oasis Oasis are an English alternative rock bandformed in Manchester in 1991. The group is formed by Liam Gallagher (vocals),Paul Arthurs (guitar) and Paul McGuigan (bass) and Tony McCarroll (drums) they were later joinedby Liams older brother Noel Gallagher (lead guitar and vocals). In 2009 Noel announced his departure from the band after a lot of dispute with his brother. Noel went on a solo project and released his album Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds. 19. Oasis Continued... Oasis had 8 number one single and 8 UK numberone albums. They won 15 NME Awards. 9 Q awards. 4 MTV Europe Music Awards 6 Brit Awards As of 2009 had sold an estimate of 70 millionrecords worldwide. 20. Foo Fighters Foo Fighters were formed in Seattle in 1994. Founded by the former Nirvana drummer DaveGrohl. The band consists of Dave Grohl (vocals andlead guitar) Nate Mendel (bass) WilliamGoldsmith (drummer) and former Nirvana guitarist Pat Smear. In total they have released 7 albums. 4 of the albums have won 11 Grammy awards and Best Rock Album 4 times. 21. Coldplay Coldplay was formed in 1996 by vocalist Chris Martin. He was joined by Jonny Buckland andGuy Berryman. In 2000 released the single Yellow which sawthem sore to worldwide success. Soon to be followed by album Parachutes whichwas nominated with a Mercury Prize. There next 3 albums X&Y, Viva La Vida or Death and All His friends and MyloXloyto all receivedawards. MyLoXloyto being the biggest selling Rock album of 2011.