Alternative rock is a sizable group of rock subgenres that began to crystallize in the 1980s. It emerged primarily in the United States as a response to the over-sweetened, candy-colored sounds of the pop bands of the time. It was intended to be precisely the alternative to such music, with its non-commercial, guitar-driven sound and lack of concern for music quality.… Read more
The origins of alternative rock can best be traced to punk music, a loud and noisy variety of rock, too, of course. Recipients and performers already a little tired of this style began to look for something different, departed from punk patterns. The result was a group of musical genres that later became the basis for alternative rock, and these were the following trends gothic rock, hardcore, new wave or post punk. The real beginning of alternative rock is associated with collage rock. In fact, it was an early name for the genre. Rock, as rock is, evolves more and more, and new styles, increasingly distant from punk, like noise rock, dream pop, shoegaze, are created. Forerunners of the style were groups such as U2 or R.E.M, but it was still a niche genre. It wasn't until the 1990s and bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam that the boom and popularity of alternative came. However, this was at the same time the end of the old alternative rock, the old performers became known as stars and the new ones were targeted and often created commercial productions.