Rock microbiologists might argue that grunge fermented in the late 80s solely in the ceiling sweat of Seattle hardcore clubs. But by 1991 it was definitely airborne and US-wide.
Originating in the torture dungeons of Pixies, Sonic Youth, Hüsker Dü and Dinosaur Jr, cross-germinated with psych rock and early British shoegaze at super-spreader events like the Reading festival and spread across the States by Sub Pop mail-order packages and Lollapalooza, by the time the scene broke cover the new American sound of grimy guitars and angst-lashed melody was already endemic
