The Evolution of Alternative Rock
Stephanie Rollens
MUS 1010
Prof. Ingram
Fall 2012
Research Paper: The Evolution of Alternative Rock
a. Introduction/Overview A phrase coined by many emerging bands in the early 1980’s, ‘alternative rock’ has become an increasingly more popular term used to describe artists that try to be innately different, yet veer away from the establishment and wish only to play the music they want to play without “selling out”. While it isn’t as concentrated or specific as other genres like hip hop or classical music, alternative music encompasses a wide variety of artists and songs over decades, most of which could be subcategorized into grunge, metal, punk rock, progressive, new wave, and even mo or folk rock. Alternative rock has fueled the creative spirits of not only artists but fans as well, from beatniks, to non-conformists, all the way up to today’s ‘hipster nation’. It’s nearly impossible to define it as a movement simply because there is no one concrete belief that all artists and supporters share; alternative rock simply focuses on the power of individuality.
b. Historical Background Though its popularity heightened in the 80’s and continued to remain popular through present day, alternative rock was in fact born in the 1960’s alongside many progressive anti-establishment art, music, literature and activism. This began the cultural classification known as “underground music”. The seeds of what was to become alternative rock today were sown in this new underground music scene, filled with hippies that rocked out to anything but the ordinary. Most of this music during that time coincided with what was going on with the word – the Vietnam War and the Cold War.
While most was in some way, shape or form political in nature, this music was simply weird. During the 1960’s, young people devoted themselves to artists and songs that stood out among the rest. And though legendary bands like The Beatles, as well as American artists like Bob Dylan and Janice Joplin
MUS 1010
Prof. Ingram
Fall 2012
Research Paper: The Evolution of Alternative Rock
a. Introduction/Overview A phrase coined by many emerging bands in the early 1980’s, ‘alternative rock’ has become an increasingly more popular term used to describe artists that try to be innately different, yet veer away from the establishment and wish only to play the music they want to play without “selling out”. While it isn’t as concentrated or specific as other genres like hip hop or classical music, alternative music encompasses a wide variety of artists and songs over decades, most of which could be subcategorized into grunge, metal, punk rock, progressive, new wave, and even mo or folk rock. Alternative rock has fueled the creative spirits of not only artists but fans as well, from beatniks, to non-conformists, all the way up to today’s ‘hipster nation’. It’s nearly impossible to define it as a movement simply because there is no one concrete belief that all artists and supporters share; alternative rock simply focuses on the power of individuality.
b. Historical Background Though its popularity heightened in the 80’s and continued to remain popular through present day, alternative rock was in fact born in the 1960’s alongside many progressive anti-establishment art, music, literature and activism. This began the cultural classification known as “underground music”. The seeds of what was to become alternative rock today were sown in this new underground music scene, filled with hippies that rocked out to anything but the ordinary. Most of this music during that time coincided with what was going on with the word – the Vietnam War and the Cold War.
While most was in some way, shape or form political in nature, this music was simply weird. During the 1960’s, young people devoted themselves to artists and songs that stood out among the rest. And though legendary bands like The Beatles, as well as American artists like Bob Dylan and Janice Joplin