Seattle’s “grunge” scene becomes an international phenomenon led by Nirvana and Pearl Jam
Quincy Jones
1990
Seattle native Quincy Jones receives the Grammy's Living Legends Award.
Andy Wood, lead singer of Seattle rock band Mother Love Bone, dies of a heroin overdose just before the release of the band's debut album.
Former Mother Love Bone members Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard form a new band, Mookie Blaylock, that evolves into Pearl Jam.
Pearl Jam
Alice in Chains' first album, "Facelift," comes out on Columbia Records, giving the Seattle scene a commercial jump-start.
1991
Epic Records releases "Ten," Pearl Jam's debut album.
1992
The Seattle music scene explodes. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Alice Chains, Tad and other bands create an insatiable appetite for grunge, a genre marked by flannel, distortion and angst.
Kurt Cobain
Lollapalooza creates a blueprint for '90s rock festivals. Pearl Jam, Ministry and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are among the bands that perform at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.
American indie rock's commercial breakthrough arrives with the release of Nirvana's "Nevermind" LP and its hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
Seattle rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot records “Mack Daddy,” featuring the breakthrough Northwest rap single “Baby Got Back.”
1993
Eddie Vedder appears on the cover of Time magazine.
Candlebox
Seattle band Candlebox releases a blockbuster debut album with a back-to-basics rock sound.
Chris Ballew, Dave Dederer and Jason Finn form quirky Seattle punk-pop band The Presidents of the United States of America.
1994
Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain is found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the Denny-Blaine home he shares with wife Courtney Love.
Chris Cornell of Soundgarden
1997
U2 performs the final rock concert at the Kingdome.
Soundgarden breaks up.
1999
Britney Spears, ’N Sync, the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, among others — spearhead a boom in teen-oriented pop.
