C'mon man you can like Nirvana without having to credit them for gansta rap that's just ridiculous. You're right about the impact they had on mainstream music but as I recall bands like Soundgarden and Pearl jam were also at the forefront of that grunge movement and during that time I've met a lot of ppl that liked grunge but didn't like Nirvana. Usually they preferred Soundgarden.

From the perspective of a Nirvana fan it makes sense they can see it unfolding that way cause that's actually how used to see it too but now I'm an old Nirvana fan that thinks they were an alternative to grunge within the grunge movement. Bleach was grunge AF but that wasn't the sound that eventually came to define them, that was the never mind and in utero sound.

I think Nirvana also rode that grunge boom. They weren't responsible for it they were just part of it.

First of all, I didn't say I think they are responsible for the Gangster rap. I said I knew people who thought that. Second, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Aic, and the others had albums out before Nevermind. But those albums didn't gain massive mainstream success til after Teen Spirit flooded air waves. Frankly, grunge is so loosely defined that a lot of alt bands get lumped into it. I personally see alternative rock as an umbrella term for underground 80s rock bands and 90s rock bands.

I know you didn't say it but you kinda used it as a reference to give some validity to your argument and frankly you don't need to overreach like that cause the rest of your argument is pretty solid.

Nirvana did expose a lot kids like me to that grunge movement but I think that movement was bound to happen with our without them they just happened to make teen spirit and became one of the figure heads of the movement. But like I said in the beginning, they do belong on the list of the greats.

Amazing to think that they were the biggest band in the world in the late 80s, early 90s. In 1989 they toured constantly selling out stadiums and arenas all over the US, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. An incredible 197 shows in all. The band and their crew had to be running on fumes by the end of 89.

Well, i didn't get my point across very well with that. I left a lot of major details out for some reason. I was just saying that I dont agree with everything Nirvana is given credit for.

The whole Seattle scene was a highly pressurized bottle about to blow it's cap. Nirvana was just the catalyst it needed. I don't think you can give the whole thing to Nirvana, but you can't deny how instrumental they were.

talking heads, joy division, smiths, nirvana, mbv, sonic youth

A.) Honestly, you don't have to tell anyone here about the Pixies, that is what we have Black Francis for (that's Black Francis the MB member, not the irl Black Francis guy)
B.) How does The Doors make it onto a indie/alt Rock list? They were more along the Psychedelic Rock/Acid Rock vein. Don't get me wrong I like them and all, but if you going to talk about indie bands and then include "The Doors," than you might as well included every 60s Psychedelia and Garage Rock band ... ever ... in the universe.

I knew I shouldn't have wondered into this thread cause now I have a headache. I think you have it backwards, there were dozens of bands before Nirvana that paved the way for them. R.E.M. was one of them. Nirvana would be lumberjacks cutting down trees in the back woods of Washington if it wasn't for MTV.

There are dozens of bands to get into, probably too many to list. Here a few sample of really good/great bands spanning five decades.

The Clash (minus Cut the Crap album)
R.E.M. (the I.R.S. years)
Stereolab
Broadcast
Melody's Echo Chamber

You had lots of alt rock bands before Nirvana. But Nirvana was the band that had the song and album that was so successful that it caused the alt rock boom of the 90's.

... or take something that was underground and cool and flush it right down the toilet - it all depends on your point of view.

uhh... I think you're confused here. No one is discussing how good of a band Nirvana is or the bands that came after. It's about how responsible they are for alt rocks mainstream success.