Originally Posted by BastardofYoung

To understand the importance of Nirvana you have to look at the mainstream before they broke with "Nevermind". What was popular at that time? It was mainly pop and corporate crap like Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer and the likes... when Nirvana broke they managed to put an end to all that and give exposure to more down home types of rock bands and get them exposure to the masses. Nirvana in that sense was the most important band of the 90's, if you are a fan of alt.rock, indie or any similar style, chances are your exposure to them was because of Nirvana's push to getting those bands exposure. They got them the attention of the market.

Nirvana would popularize alternative and give rise to many artists. Pavement did the same with Indie rock in the 90's, but even that was due to Nirvana the year before. Nirvana was the band that was needed to push the pop, fluff rap, hair metal and other styles like that to the backburner and open the door for many bands since.

Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, RHCP... lots of bands like that owe their success in the mainstream to Nirvana's success. Wether you like those bands or not, you can also add your own favorites.

Not only that, but Nirvana even name dropping a band and that band would get exposure and be signed. Meat Puppets for example, they got their big break just cause Nirvana name dropped them and later had them on Unplugged. Melvins as well. Butthole Surfers were another..

That is the importance of Nirvana.

You do not have to like them, but you can not say they were not a much needed kick in the ass at the time, and helped pave the way for many bands.