The Rock Genre

Our chosen band and song come under the Rock genre so in order to gain a wider understanding about their genre. Rock music is very popular and began to enter the mainstream in the 1960s. It's roots orginate from the 1940/50's rock and roll.

Kings Of Leon are often referred to being more of an alternative rock. Alternative Rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980's and became more widely popular in the 1990's. Alternative rock is a genre that became more widely popular in the 1980s/1990s. It consists of various subgenres such as Britpop, grunge, gothic rock and indie pop. Alternative rock has sometimes been used as a catch phrase for rock music from the more underground artists in the 1980's.

There were some bands such as "The Cure" and "R.E.M." who managed to achieve commercial success and recognition. However many alternative rock artists during the 1980s were more cult bands that recorded through independent labels and received recognition through word of mouth and college radio stations. The breakthrough of Nirvana and the rise of Britpop movements in the 1990s enabled alternative rock to enter the musical mainstream and many alternative bands began to become commercially successfull.

R.E.M.

At the start of the 1990s, the music industry was full of alternative rock bands who were signed by major labels. Some of these included Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins and Hole. R.E.M.'s success was inspirational for other alternative bands around the 1980's/1990's and they would be a hard band to follow, as they were viewed as one of the most popular bands in the world.

The success of Nirvana led to alternative rock becoming extremely popular in the 1990's. The success of their album Nevermind surprised the music industry but by Christmas 1991 it was selling 400,000 copies a week. It managed to popularize grunge music and alternative rock. The surprise success of their album made it to the commercial radio stations and this opened doors for other bands. Alternative rock found itself in the mainstream and major labels scrambled to sign bands to capatalize the music. Though people were eager to sign the bands, many of the bands rejected success as it conflicted with their rebellious ethic the genre held before they reached the mainstream.

In the 1990's the grunge music from America dominated the British alternative scene and press. In reaction to this some defiant British bands emerged that wished to get rid of the grunge that was overtaking the press and take the public and press by storm. The media branded this seeming movement as "Britpop". This movement is represented by Blur, Oasis, Suede and Pulp. The phenomenon was mainly a rivalry between two main groups, these being Oasis and Blur. The competition was obvious as they would compete by releasing singles on the same day. Blur won "The Battle of Britpop", however Oasis then released their second album "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" which then went on to become the third best-selling album in Britain's history.



During the late 1990's, many alternative rock bands emerged. These included Muse, The Strokes, Interpol and Franz Ferdinand. Popular bands around currently that may come under the alternative rock genre would be bands such as The Killers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arctic Monkeys and Kings Of Leon. These bands have shown mainstream alternative rock is still good and successfull.