Why do people blame Nirvana for killing Hair Metal?

Urban Hat€monger ? · 10-01-2014, 07:57 AM

I can remember stuff like Janes Addiction, Faith No More, RHCP, Pixies, Soundgarden, Fishbone, Sonic Youth, Monster Magnet & Nine Inch Nails, hell even Neil Young edging out hair metal on rock shows on TV & radio long before I ever heard of Nirvana around 1989/90.
If Nirvana were the death blow those bands did the damage first.

I also think Hip Hop's role in this has kind of been ignored too, I know a hell of a lot of rock music fans bored of rock music who basically turned their backs on it to listen exclusively to hip hop around that time too.
Imagine you're a pissed off angry 14 year old Urban Hatemonger, are you going to pick up that Warrant album or are you going to pick up It Takes a Nation Of Millions.
No fucking contest.

Plus Hair Metal was never a really huge deal in the rest of the world as it was in the States. You look at the UK before Nirvana yes Guns n Roses, Bon Jovi and the bigger Hair Metal bands sold a lot of records but the most popular bands at that time here were bands like The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Happy Mondays, Carter USM, Inspiral Carpets The Wonderstuff & Ride.

**Janszoon** · 10-01-2014, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

I can remember stuff like Janes Addiction, Faith No More, RHCP, Pixies, Soundgarden, Fishbone, Sonic Youth, Monster Magnet & Nine Inch Nails, hell even Neil Young edging out hair metal on rock shows on TV & radio long before I ever heard of Nirvana around 1989/90.
If Nirvana were the death blow those bands did the damage first.

Yes and no. Over here those were bands that the hip kids were into but were just kind of curiosities in the mainstream youth market. I'm a little confused by your inclusion of Monster Magnet though. Maybe they got big over there early, but I had never even heard of Monster Magnet until about 1997.

~~Soulflower~~ · 10-01-2014, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

I can remember stuff like Janes Addiction, Faith No More, RHCP, Pixies, Soundgarden, Fishbone, Sonic Youth, Monster Magnet & Nine Inch Nails, hell even Neil Young edging out hair metal on rock shows on TV & radio long before I ever heard of Nirvana around 1989/90.
If Nirvana were the death blow those bands did the damage first.

I also think Hip Hop's role in this has kind of been ignored too, I know a hell of a lot of rock music fans bored of rock music who basically turned their backs on it to listen exclusively to hip hop around that time too.
Imagine you're a pissed off angry 14 year old Urban Hatemonger, are you going to pick up that Warrant album or are you going to pick up It Takes a Nation Of Millions.
No fucking contest.

Plus Hair Metal was never a really huge deal in the rest of the world as it was in the States. You look at the UK before Nirvana yes Guns n Roses, Bon Jovi and the bigger Hair Metal bands sold a lot of records but the most popular bands at that time here were bands like The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Happy Mondays, Carter USM, Inspiral Carpets The Wonderstuff & Ride.

Thanks Urban and this is a really good point.

Hip Hop really began to take off in the late/early 90's commercially which also aided in fading out hair metal and other subgenres as well.

I really would like to know why Grunge was such a big deal because every time I go on other boards or discuss music with people, they always make it seem as though Nirvana was the most important rock band in the 90's.

Maybe they were but there were other really good bands as well in my opinion.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 10-01-2014, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulflower

I really would like to know why Grunge was such a big deal because every time I go on other boards or discuss music with people, they always make it seem as though Nirvana was the most important rock band in the 90's.

Maybe they were but there were other really good bands as well in my opinion.

I think the reason people hung onto it for so long was because it was the last really big rock movement to hit the mainstream.

Since then nothing has come anywhere close, at least in rock music, unless you want to count Nu Metal, and I don't think too many people want to.

RoxyRollah · 10-01-2014, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulflower

Hey Music banter I am feenin for some music knowledge. As you guys know Rock is not really my forte so I wanted to get some info. I commonly hear Nirvana is the blame for the decline in Hair Metal in the late 80's and I wanted to know your opinion on it. I always thought Hair Metal was a fad that had already declined by the time Nirvana really became popular which was in the early 90's. Did Nirvana's popularity influence generic rock bands like Nickleback, All American Rejects, Panic at the Disco, Foo Fighters or Creed?

How would you define grunge music and was it something that really impacted rock music for the better?

I have always been confused with why Nirvana are so highly regarded (not that they don't necessarily deserve it but just want more clarification as to why)

I notice a lot of the rock bands have really faded out commercially.

Who said this!? I have never ever heard this Jen.

~~Soulflower~~ · 10-01-2014, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoxyRollah

Who said this!? I have never ever heard this Jen.

Gurl, I hear this ALL the time on various music sites, forums and music discussions. It is always said negatively like their sound was detrimental
to the progression of rock music.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 10-01-2014, 09:11 AM

Monster Magnet's debut was released in Europe a year earlier than it was in the States.
I just remember them getting a lot of attention in late 90/early 91.

They still played Hair Metal on radio & TV here at that time, just a lot less than in say 86/87

**Janszoon** · 10-01-2014, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

Monster Magnet's debut was released in Europe a year earlier than it was in the States.
I just remember them getting a lot of attention in late 90/early 91.

I don't remember them making so much as a ripple over here at that time honestly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

They still played Hair Metal on radio & TV here at that time, just a lot less than in say 86/87

I agree that 1987 or so was probably the high watermark but over here what seemed like it was taking over part of the public consciousness was stuff like Salt-N-Pepa, LL Cool J and MC Hammer.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 10-01-2014, 09:30 AM

The only hair metal bands I can think of who made any kind of splash in Europe after Guns n Roses were Skid Row & surprisingly Love/Hate who I don't think did anything in the States.
Stuff like Winger, Warrant, Kix and all those kinds of bands that came after barely made a splash here.

**Janszoon** · 10-01-2014, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

The only hair metal bands I can think of who made any kind of splash in Europe after Guns n Roses were Skid Row & surprisingly Love/Hate who I don't think did anything in the States.
Stuff like Winger, Warrant, Kix and all those kinds of bands that came after barely made a splash here.

Well you guys really missed out on the whole "hair bands get serious" era where they all started writing "serious" songs played on acoustic guitars and/or pianos in black and white videos. Lucky you.

10-01-2014, 07:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,626	I can remember stuff like Janes Addiction, Faith No More, RHCP, Pixies, Soundgarden, Fishbone, Sonic Youth, Monster Magnet & Nine Inch Nails, hell even Neil Young edging out hair metal on rock shows on TV & radio long before I ever heard of Nirvana around 1989/90. If Nirvana were the death blow those bands did the damage first. I also think Hip Hop's role in this has kind of been ignored too, I know a hell of a lot of rock music fans bored of rock music who basically turned their backs on it to listen exclusively to hip hop around that time too. Imagine you're a pissed off angry 14 year old Urban Hatemonger, are you going to pick up that Warrant album or are you going to pick up It Takes a Nation Of Millions. No fucking contest. Plus Hair Metal was never a really huge deal in the rest of the world as it was in the States. You look at the UK before Nirvana yes Guns n Roses, Bon Jovi and the bigger Hair Metal bands sold a lot of records but the most popular bands at that time here were bands like The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Happy Mondays, Carter USM, Inspiral Carpets The Wonderstuff & Ride. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave. Last edited by Urban Hat€monger ?; 10-01-2014 at 08:13 AM.

10-01-2014, 09:11 AM	#7 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,626	Monster Magnet's debut was released in Europe a year earlier than it was in the States. I just remember them getting a lot of attention in late 90/early 91. They still played Hair Metal on radio & TV here at that time, just a lot less than in say 86/87 __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

10-01-2014, 09:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,626	The only hair metal bands I can think of who made any kind of splash in Europe after Guns n Roses were Skid Row & surprisingly Love/Hate who I don't think did anything in the States. Stuff like Winger, Warrant, Kix and all those kinds of bands that came after barely made a splash here. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode