How to Become a Grunge Music Aficionado

Many music industry observers and aficionados lament that today's premastered, studio-produced and special-effects-layered music lack the originality and musicianship associated with R&B, rock'n'roll, metal and grunge music. With the 15th anniversary of Nirvana's legendary lead singer Kurt Cobain's death this year, there is a wave of nostalgia about the influence of grunge music as popularized by him. Grunge music's raw influence on American popular culture and newer genres of music, and its place in music's history and lore, have been assured. One can become a grunge music aficionado in many ways.

Things You'll Need

• Music magazines

Instructions

How to Become a Grunge Music Aficionado

1. Attend grunge music bands' concerts. Leading bands Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots from the pioneering era of grunge music are still touring and playing to sellout crowds in stadiums and arenas. Attend their concerts and smaller gigs at rock music festivals and relive the glory days of grunge music. Also attend concerts of popular grunge music-influenced groups such as Live, Collective Soul, Nickelback and Hoobastank.

2. Watch YouTube videos. Go on a nostalgia trip and watch or download rare videos of some of the best grunge songs of the early to mid-'90s by bands (some defunct) such as Mudhoney, Temple of the Dog, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden. If you get cable television, watch grunge music videos on VH1 Classic.

3. Listen to Internet radio. Check out the many grunge/alternative music Internet radio stations available on Windows Media Player, on Rhapsody channels on RealPlayer and on highly popular Internet radio website Last.fm.

4. Visit the Experience Music Project museum. Next time you are in Seattle, visit the most exhaustive collection of grunge music memorabilia assembled by Microsoft co-founder and grunge music aficionado Paul Allen in his Experience Music Project museum dedicated to popular music.

5. Troll grunge music-dedicated websites. Surf official and fan-created websites of favorite grunge music bands, and learn new trivia and facts about your favorite band members. Participate on the many forums and showcase your tributes to the departed souls of pioneers such as Kurt Kobain, Andrew Wood and Layne Staley.

6. Subscribe to popular magazines such as "Metal Hammer," "Rolling Stone," "Rock Sound," "Metal Edge" and "Revolver Mag," and keep yourself updated about the latest happenings in the world of grunge and grunge-influenced music.