Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle Sound) emerged in the mid-1980s in Washington state, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, discordant song dynamics, and indifferent or brooding lyrics. Here are 10 of the best grunge guitarists who helped define this musical genre.
10. Roger Osborne of the Melvins
At first listen, you can hear that the music is metal, but the guitar steadily starts to veer towards malice. From screaming solos to groaning electric cables, Osbourne paved the streets of the 90s with his guitar.
9. Vernon Reid in Living Color
Reid can't quite be categorized if not more in the grunge and funk metal range. From the frenetic funk solos of Love Rears It's Ugly Head to the iconic guitar riffs of Cult of Personality, Vernon Reid is an amazing, influential guitarist in all forms of hardcore rock, including grunge.
8. Mike McCready of Pearl Jam
Growing up on punk in the '70s, McCready is unimpressed by both Kiss and SRV. Behind his lightning fast licks is a bluesy influence that makes his music a pleasure to listen to. Even some of his epic solos are intoxicating, as the blues in Black takes over. The only reason I didn't make it #1 was because of its lack of influence on modern music.
7. Pat Smear of Foo Fighters/Nirvana
On Nirvana's debut, Kurt couldn't do all the guitars by himself, so Pat Smear helped him out. Unknown to many, Smear helped Nirvana on many of their hits such as Heart Shaped Box and Polly. Later, Dave Grohl invited him to play with the Foo Fighters, which he did and played a major role in their live performances.
6. Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins
Inspired by Pink Floyds acid-filled guitar odysseys, Corgan was a 90s arena rock genius. Even his crazy guitar solos and riffs on Geek USA told grunge bands that their guitarists didn't have to be sleazy to sound rebellious.
5. Jerry Cantrell
Fast paced metal riffs, soaring solos, this guy laid the groundwork for the emo rock era.
4. Kim Thayil of Soundgarden
Thayil is the ultimate grunge guitarist; It influenced almost all bands of the 90s. His off-kilter riffs combined with detuned guitar and Chris Cornell's projected voice created the monstrous Soundgarden effect that inspired a generation of music.
3. Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead
Let me be clear: without Greenwood, there would be no rock. Although its grunge side appeared on only three of Radiohead's eight albums, they changed the minds of today's mainstream musicians such as Coldplay and Muse. Greenwood wasn't even the band's guitarist (he was their keyboardist), which was a big part of why his guitar riff was so "weird".
2. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
Let's face it people, Kurt is a god. From the tortured guitar riffs on Aero Zeppelin and Heartbreaker (live) to the all-famous Smells Like Teen Spirit lyric-imitating solo, Kurt was the epiphany of modern rock as we know it. No one could do what he did, and what he did was bring out his inner grunge emotion by pounding and pounding the guitar-driven noise into the 90s.
1. Neil Young
Cinnamon Girl, My My, Hey Hey (Into the Black) and Rockin' in the Free World formed the basis of the Melvins' work to reinvent grunge. His supple guitar solos influenced Mike McCready, his strummed chords were a favorite technique of Kurt Cobain, and his fierce guitar swing was copied by Johnny Greenwood.
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