How Hippy was Grunge?

Was the slacker generation a manifestation of the hippies?

It's said grunge was a cross between punk rock and the Beatles, so there's the hippy link but what about the punk rock element of grunge?

 

Well, personally I have found extremely similar roots to the hippie movement. Like inside the jacket of Dirt by Alice in Chains is an awesome tribal sun logo with psychedelic connotations and the band photo is pretty trippy, a green background with floating clouds and Layne Staley sporting a velvety looking paisley shirt. Many Grunge bands have links to the 60's scene and the 80's scene. Like finding peace and love,finding oneself and being earthy, but also applying it with a rawer and more energetic appeal. It is truely another manifestation of the Classic Rock scene. It isn't uncommon to see peace signs and slogans like "Life rules" on Mother Love Bone and Temple of the Dog logos, I saw that for myself in Singles. Alot of those bands had the psychedelic influence which is clearly easy to see, especially even more so in the undergroud and Indie scene of the 90's. It can be found in bands like Alice In Chains, Temple of the Dog, Mother Love Bone, Soundgarden, Tumbleweed, Animal Bag,Mad Season, Mindfunk, Screaming Trees, Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, and tons of others. I really suggest checking out Animal Bag here... www.animalbag.com You can listen to their music and hear some of the greatest alternative music in my opinion. They were alternative rock and also did a lot of acoustic stuff with hand drums and experimental. Check it out!

Peace,
Ben.

 

I don't know, I don't pay attention to silly labels.

 

Well, I think Soundgarden are one of the most psechedelic bands.. The point is, I don't think Soundgarden was Grunge, they were more than that! But that's just me!
Peace..

 

Ahh aand space cadet, that maakes it a nice nick.. I like Demon cleaner better!

Kyuss Rocks!

 

oh Neil Young, the father of grunge.

 

Owww yeah and Neil album Mirror Ball with members of Pearl jam.. definitely Rocks!
He also toured with Soundgarden..

 

Oh blah, if you like the music you like it. Who cares how "hippy" it is, whatever that actually means.

 

I don't think the "slacker generation" was a manifestation of the hippies. Or, if it was, it's a manifestation of the "dropping out" part of being a hippy. A slacker, by definition, doesn't care much about anything so they're not going to be protesting war or singing the joys of free love.

I think grunge music directly owes way more to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath than it does to the Beatles. Certainly punk bands like Black Flag and the Melvins are of huge importance to grunge. Soundgarden and Alice in Chains represent the more metal elements of grunge while Nirvana was more similar to hardcore.

 

Xcuse me Mr.. But I don't think Soundgarden was Grunge.. Why would they be Grunge? Just becoz they're frm Seattle?!
We all know, grunge was just a slacker Media used to ref bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam..

Peace..

 

Soundgarden is grunge because most critics agree to label it is such. I know that's not the best support for an argument but when discussing something as a disputable as how to label a band's style, we have to start somewhere, right? I defer to the established authorities. Soundgarden is widely considered to be one of the founding fathers of grunge music.

For a more intelligent look at grunge and Soundgarden, I heartily recommend the essays and reviews on http://www.allmusic.com.

 

I never really got into Soundgarden. I'm not sure why. I think it's because I was never deeply affected by Chris Cornell's voice. He has a great voice, and I like his lyrics. Their musicianship is good. I can't explain why they don't grab me.

To be honest, I always identified them as grunge because that's how they were always presented to me. If I never heard of grunge I'd certainly describe them as mainstream metal, and I don't mean "mainstream" in a negative sense. To use a quintessential metal band for a comparison, Soundgarden's sound seems more in line with Metallica's black album and later albums than one of their more traditional metal albums like Master of Puppets or And Justice For All. That's why when I think of Soundgarden, I don't think of them being a heavy metal band. I guess they toe the line between heavy metal and hard rock. To use extreme ends of the spectrum I'm thinking of, Slayer or Pantera would be heavy metal and Pearl Jam or Led Zeppelin would be hard rock. I think Soundgarden fits somewhere in the middle of that spectrum.

I repeat, Soundgarden's music never really grabbed me so I haven't listened to their music a lot. I'm mostly familiar with the songs that got lots of airplay like Spoonman, Black Hole Sun, Fell on Black Days, Rusty Cage, Outshined, Jesus Christ Pose, Blow Up the Outside World. Those are the songs I'm drawing my opinions from.

 

Oww yea.. man, now I can understand.. your basing your sayings on media stuff.. I would like to how you'll find soundgarden based on your EARS

Soundgarden is more than those single songs and video clips ( those songs rock anyway ).. I would like what you'll have to say when you hear songs like: Nothing to say (1987), Uncovered, little joe, Beyong the wheel, SuperUnknown, Never the machine forever, slaves and bulldozers, searching with my good eye closed.. Those are random songs from different albums..
Can't compare them to Metallica, coz ya hav'nt heard their albums.. Its shame to compare 'em to Metallica.. not even old metallica. The only metallica song I usually compare to soundgarden is that song from MI2 sound tracks.. I disappear!
Let's take Bad Motor Finger.. that was absolutely Metal, psechedelic metal that's how I call most songs of this album..
Beyond the wheel.. is pure Heavy metal..
Little Joe.. Cornell kinda rapping..

On Screaming life/fopp.. ya can have punk songs.. The band was kinda looking for an Id!

Ultra Mega ok, Louder than love.. I don't know how to call those ones..

Bad Motor Finger, SuperUnknown, Down on the upside are my favourites.. Those 3 albums represent a mature band..

PS: On some pantera video.. (If ya got the DVD videos from hell), while there was a guy sleeping and someone wanted to put a joint into his mouth, if ya listen carefuly, ya'll hear on the background, a soundgarden song, Uncovered!


Peace..
& thx for responding!

 

• I too thought that bands like Alice in Chains had freethinking vibes because they do and they did- long hair-not buying the LIE- finding your voice- the darker deeper side of life-like everything is not cookie-cutter all the time or any of it...Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder- the voice they proclaimed with Bush and all his wack -job ideas those are free-thinkers that desire to have an alternative point of view..
• Hippy/Grunge/etc is a label- But to be described is to conform to the Labelists....These musicians are what they are: Cool, free-thinking guys...what ever...If they rocked U they rocked U- and whatever you think that is... -good- let IT BE...I love Soundgarden,AIC,Pearl Jam,Mother Love Bone,T.O.D....They rocked me and Still do...

 

Exactly. Beyond the labeling they are manifestations of the same vision really... it just depends on which one suits you . I grew up listening to them all. I truely appreciate Classic Rock and Alternative rock the most.

Peace,
Ben.

 

Right on Brother,

That is where my music tastes stands mostly- I mean, if I were to throw a "hang out" w/ u guys- That is mostly the music I would put on while smoking some sweet herbal splendor-listening 2 ;Stairway to Heaven,Barracuda,Spoonman,Southern Cross,Jeremy...and I know u guys know what I mean- and if u do not -turn yourself on to some of this sweet music by bands like; Heart,Led Zep,Aerosmith,CSN,Pearl Jam,Soundgarden...and I think u just might like it- Dig?

 

Crosby, Steels, and Nash are to me, one of the greatest folk bands. Guinnevere is absolutely captivating. Their entire self-titled album is some of the best folk I have ever heard.

Ben.

 

I think The Who and maybe The Doors, although I don't believe John Densmore when he says that The Doors were punk and new wave before their time. I think they were right where they were supposed to be in music history, although I guess they made a huge comeback in the 80's....

 

I don't think Hippy and Grunge are related at all, I think Grunge is repudiation of those values………