Neil Young:

Godfather of Grunge?

Neil Young News

Release "Time Fades Away"

So who really is the Godfather of Grunge?

Nirvana's Kurt Cobain is often cited as the Godfather of Grunge. In October 1988,according to Rock On The Net Nirvana's first recording effort together resulted in a demo named 'Godfather Of Grunge' and the single 'Love Buzz/Big Cheese.' "

So does recording a song 'Godfather Of Grunge' truly establish Nirvana's Kurt Cobain as THE 'Godfather Of Grunge'? And where does Neil Young fit in the picture?

Wikipedia defines Grunge as:

"As a style of music, it is generally characterized by 'dirty' guitar, strong riffs, and heavy drumming. Grunge is also popularly referred to as the Seattle Sound."

In many ways, grunge music was to the 90's what punk was to 70's. Both grunge and punk were relatively short lived musical genres that had a much greater impact than their sales, radio play, and concert performances would indicate. However, critically, both genres were both hailed and disparaged as either the future of rock or an indication that rock was dead.

So just as Neil Young's 1979 release of "Rust Never Sleeps" marked a turning point in both punk and rock, so did "Ragged Glory"'s release in 1991 foreshadow the emergence of grunge. Ragged Glory's raging feedback was widely emulated and influenced numerous bands, including Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Sonic Youth among others.

The earliest written reference to Neil Young as the 'Godfather Of Grunge' was in December 1991, when Tower Records in house publication Pulse! published a cover article on Neil Young titled 'The Godfather Of Grunge Rock' by Steve Martin.

The album Freedom is considered to be one of the ten most important albums in the history of alternative music. Pagewise in 2001 said:

"Despite what some Nirvana fans might say, this is the album that started it all. Neil Young is the grandfather of grunge. 'Freedom,' which Young released in 1989, was the first true alternative album. It seems a stretch to call an album by someone Young's age alternative, but the label is applied to the music, not the artist. The edgy guitar-driven songs on “Freedom” set it apart from Young’s other albums, which tend toward the mellow folk rock end of the spectrum. If “Freedom” is the first true alternative album, “Rockin’ in the Free World” is the first true alternative song. Almost as a compromise to his CSN&Y fans, Young put two versions of “Rockin’ in the Free World” on “Freedom,” a mellow live acoustic version and a more energetic and less refined studio version. “Rockin’ in the Free World” was a largely forgotten song by the time Nirvana released “Nevermind,” but it was revived by Pearl Jam, who frequently plays it live and played it with Young at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards. Thanks to a little campaigning by Pearl Jam, “Rockin’ in the Free World” has been able to take its much-deserved place as an alternative anthem for the ages.



According to Josh Korr in Valley News, "Neil Young officially became the 'Godfather of Grunge' when Pearl Jam backed him on "Rockin In The Free World" at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards." Certainly the legendary Rockin' In the Free World performance established a link between the grunge scene, Pearl Jam and Neil Young.

Commenting on upcoming concerts by Neil Young and Pearl Jam in Seattle in June 2003, JIM DeROGATIS POP MUSIC CRITIC writes on "Brothers in more ways than grunge":

"At a time when few artists can hold an audience of 20,000 with the strength of their music alone, Neil Young and Pearl Jam stand as unique concert experiences. Though the phrase has always been essentially meaningless as a genre tag, Young has often been called "the godfather of grunge," while the Seattle quintet was one of the sound's most successful purveyors when it burst on the scene in the early '90s. Of course the two collaborated on a generally underwhelming album, "Mirror Ball" (1995).

From BLAST @ explode.com :

"The grunge era provided a welcome return to the garage-band sound of the '60s, a stripped-down vitality that made superstars of such talents as Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Unfortunately, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994, Soundgarden broke up in 1999, and Pearl Jam seems a weak choice to carry the torch. It should come as no surprise that the 'godfather of grunge,' Neil Young, is outlasting any of his successors. "

From Tech MIT article "Neil Young shows what Unplugged was meant to be" By Eric Oliver:

"Billed as the 'Godfather of Grunge,' Neil Young performed on the March 10 MTV Unplugged. As in the 'Live Rust' concert tour, the show began with just Neil, a guitar, and a harmonica. Opening with 'Old Laughing Lady,' the bearded, graying Young, sporting an oversized black leather jacket, rolled into the classic 'Mr. Soul.' Finishing his solo guitar set with 'World on a String' and 'Pocahontas,' his only song in the show from the Rust album, he donned a pair of black Terminator glasses and stepped up to the piano for 'Stringman' and 'Like a Hurricane.' Hearing the latter with just piano and harmonica accompaniment was similar to hearing Eric Clapton's Unplugged 'Layla' for the first time. For many old Young fans who have probably heard 'Hurricane' dozens of times, this version was different, yet familiar, and was one of the highlights of the show. He finished the first set with the popular 'Needle and the Damage Done,' a biting ballad of a junkie's life eroding before him."

And in case you were ever curious as to whether Neil Young is really the Godfather of Grunge, here's some data to prove the point. The alternative choices for Godfather of Grunge are:

Mark Arm of Mudhoney
Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
Jack Endino of Skin Yard
Andrew Wood of Malfunkshion/Mother Love Bone


Typical comments include:
"Who are the f$%#%$ faggots who said Neil Young is the godfather of grunge!! I know he IS a f$%#%$ GODFATHER, but he is certanly NOT grunge!!

See updated poll below and vote on who really is the "Godfather of Grunge"?

Over on the Ubermangamania discussion board another spirited debate between Kurt Cobain and Neil Young fans:

"Neil Young wasn't even grunge. That's like calling The Thrills death metal."

He's what Spin Magazine called: "Neil Young, godfather to the postpunks." In a New York Times article quoting Jim Jarmusch, director of the film, 'Year of the Horse,' about Young and Crazy Horse, he heard a French journalist ask Young how he liked being called 'the godfather of grunge.'

Young growled, 'I prefer to be called Don Grungio.' "

Neil Young's sound has often been cited by Pearl Jam has a grunge influence. In addition, it is clearly evident that Young's style had a massive and tragic impact on grunge disciple Kurt Cobain of Nirvana.

So go figure? Who then is the real Godfather of Grunge if not Neil? Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Andrew Wood of Malfunkshion/Mother Love Bone, Mark Arm of Mudhoney, or Jack Endino of Skin Yard?

---

|

More Neil Young polls .

More on Pearl Jam and Nirvana.

For more on Neil's music and the music and bands that he influenced from alt.country to grunge, check out a Neil Young Blog.

Also, determine whether you're grunge slacker by taking the "Which 1990's Subculture Do You Belong To?" poll.

Also, read excerpts of Nirvana and the Grunge Revolution (Guitar World Presents) by Nirvana

"In a relatively short time span, grunge music exploded out of its native Seattle and became the most dominant force of the early '90s. Groundbreaking bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains introduced a generation of young rock fans to their grainy, hard-edged brand of modern metal. The rise to prominence for these and other grunge monsters is detailed here, in Guitar World Presents Nirvana and the Grunge Revolution. The first section of the book serves as a tribute to the late Nirvana guitarist Kurt Cobain. It features revealing interviews with Cobain, a behind-the-scenes look at Nirvana's legendary MTV "Unplugged" performance, and an insider's guide to the making of their groundbreaking album, Nevermind. In addition, the book features interviews with many others who played key roles in the Seattle sound explosion, including Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and Mike McCready, Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell and Soundgarden's Kim Thayil and Chris Cornell."

Neil Young's Sound

Thrasher's Wheat - Neil Young Archives