This is a list of American grunge bands. It includes rock bands and solo artists formed in the USA whose primary genre is grunge or either they have or had the elements of it in their music style. Grunge music is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song dynamics, and apathetic or angst-filled lyrics. The grunge aesthetic is stripped-down compared to other forms of rock music, and many grunge musicians were noted for their unkempt appearances and rejection of theatrics.
Band
|
Years active
|
Origin
|
Studio albums
|
The Afghan Whigs
|
1986–Present
|
Cincinnati, Ohio
|
|
Alice in Chains[1]
|
1987–2002 / 2005–Present
|
Seattle, Washington
|
|
Alice Donut
|
1986–1996 / 2001 – Present
|
New York City, New York
|
- Donut Comes Alive (1988)
- Bucketfulls of Sickness and Horror in an Otherwise Meaningless Life (1989)
- Mule (1990)
- Revenge fantasies of the impotent (1990)
- The Untidy Suicides of your Degenerate Children (1992)
- Pure Acid Park (1995)
- Three Sisters (2004)
- Fuzz (2006)
- Ten Glorious Animals (2009)
|
Alcohol Funnycar
|
1991–1996
|
Seattle, Washington
|
- Burn (1993)
- Time To Make The Donuts (1993)
- Weasels (1995)
|
Band
|
Years active
|
Origin
|
Studio albums
|
Cat Butt
|
1987–1990
|
Seattle, Washington
|
|
Coffin Break
|
1987–1994
|
Seattle, Washington
|
- Psychosis (1989)
- Rupture (1990)
- Crawl (1991)
- Thirteen (1992)
|
Band
|
Years active
|
Origin
|
Studio albums
|
Mad Season
|
1994–1999
|
Seattle, Washington
|
|
Malfunkshun
|
1980–88, 2006–present
|
Bainbridge Island, Washington
|
|
Mark Arm
|
|
Seattle, Washington
|
|
Melvins[1]
|
1983–present
|
Montesano, Washington
|
|
Mother Love Bone[1]
|
1988–1990
|
Seattle, Washington
|
|
Mono Men
|
1987–1998, 2006, 2013
|
Bellingham, Washington
|
|
Mudhoney[1]
|
1988–present
|
Seattle, Washington
|
|
My Sister's Machine
|
1988–1994
|
Seattle, Washington
|
|
Band
|
Years active
|
Origin
|
Studio albums
|
Screaming Trees[1]
|
1985–2000
|
Ellensburg, Washington
|
|
Seaweed
|
1989–2000, 2007–present
|
Tacoma, Washington
|
- Weak (1992)
- Four (1993)
- Spanaway (1995)
- Actions and Indications (1998)
|
Skin Yard
|
1985–1993
|
Seattle, Washington
|
|
Skunk
|
1986–1991
|
Maplewood, New Jersey
|
- Last American Virgin (1989)
- Laid (1991)
|
The Smashing Pumpkins
|
1988–2000, 2006–Present
|
Chicago, Illinois
|
|
Smile
|
1992–2003
|
Orange County, California
|
- Maquee (1994)
- Girl Crushes Boy (1998)
|
Solomon Grundy
|
1989–1990
|
Ellensburg, Washington
|
|
Soundgarden[1]
|
1984–1997, 2019
|
Seattle, Washington
|
|
Splendora
|
1995–2002
|
New York City, New York
|
|
Stone Temple Pilots[1]
|
1985–2002, 2008–present
|
San Diego, California
|
|
Sweet Water
|
1990–present
|
Seattle, Washington
|
- Sweet Water (1992)
- Superfriends (1995)
- Suicide (1999)
- Clear The Tarmac (2009)
|