50 Grunge Quotes for the Rebels in Plaid

In the 1900s, every decade or so came a new and historical music scene. Pop, disco, glam-rock, R&B, rap, and hip-hop are all examples. One genre, Grunge, a dark and unruly form of rock, definitely made its mark on historical music culture. Put on your plaid shirts and ripped denim while reading the 50 quotes below about Grunge and its impact.

The band "Nirvana," as well as Kurt Cobain and the tragedy he faced, are the first two aspects that come to mind, generally, when people think of Grunge. However, the genre consisted of a massive wave of the music scene that came about in the 1990s, with many other famous grunge bands, such as "Pearl Jam," "Soundgarden," and "Hole."

Beyond the complex, grating music came along what one could effectively call a stylish mix between hippie clothing and punk, a genre by which Grunge was heavily influenced. Read the 50 quotes below to explore this world of mosh pits and angst.

Kurt Cobain's quote: "Thank you for the tragedy. I need it for my art." | Image: AmoDays

Quotes about Memories and Experiences with Grunge

"I was a failed grunge kid who was too nerdy to totally get down with rock." ― Oneohtrix Point Never

"Some of my early musical memories are attached to grunge." ― Mike Posner

"I'm not an '80s fan. I'm more '70s New York pre-punk kind of thing, and I guess I grew up with '90s grunge, post-punk pop music." ― Jessica Pare

"These people that worked with my dad doing landscaping were in a grunge band, so the music on the cover of Rolling Stone was in a very real way connected to people practicing in the woods near my house while I was home doing my homework." ― Phil Elverum

"I started a big band when Grunge was popular. I mean, that didn't make much sense." ― Brian Setzer

Oneohtrix Point Never’s quote: "I was a failed grunge kid who was too nerdy to totally get down with rock." | Image: AmoDays

"I went to stand-up when my rock n' roll dreams weren't coming true. I knew it wasn't going to happen when I was in a New Wave band in 1992 - at the height of Grunge. Then I heard No Doubt's 'Spiderwebs,' and I said, 'Well, we're done.' They did - and succeeded at - what we were trying to do." ― Greg Behrendt

"I was born in '76, but I didn't get into rock until the early '90s when the grunge stuff started coming out." ― Marc Martel

"I had phases of listening to rap and trap, and then I had phases where I'd listen to post-hardcore, rap, Grunge, metal... all that. I had different time periods of listening to different music. And now it all clashes together." ― Juice Wrld

"I absolutely think the Seattle grunge sound was instrumental to my music education." ― David Cook

Grunge Fashion and Style Quotes

Chloe Grace Moret’s quote: "I have a lot of looks, but right now, I'm really into grunge. Messy hair, black heels. I get Michelle Pfeiffer with it." | Image: AmoDays

"When you're in a band – before it got to Grunge – you dressed the bit. So yeah, I've always had an attitude with the clothes." ― Ringo Starr

"I think we should wear any look we want to! The grunge style early 1990s is one of my favorites." ― Chloe Ting

"I'll admit it; the grunge trend doesn't really speak to me. I get why other people like it, but it's just not my style. Don't get me wrong, I love layering, but I like it when it is done with a little more polish and sophistication." ― Nina Garcia

"I find it interesting where Grunge originated from and then where it was taken, which was high fashion. My dad was so poor that they kept going to Goodwill to get donated ripped jeans. It wasn't a fashion decision; it was an 'I don't have any money, I have no other choice' type of decision." ― Frances Bean Cobain

Julianne Hough’s quote: "Every day, my style changes with my mood. Some days I'll feel a little more grunge…in the summer, I like to feel girly and wear dresses." | Image: AmoDays

"Every day, my style changes with my mood. Some days I'll feel a little more Grunge…in the summer I like to feel girly and wear dresses." — Julianne Hough

"I have a lot of looks, but right now, I'm really into Grunge. Messy hair, black heels. I get Michelle Pfeiffer with it." — Chloe Grace Moret

"Exactly. You had to dress in flannel, and if you were a grunge band before the grunge thing took off and you said you were metal." ― Charlie Benante

"The word 'grunge' became a household term, and fashion runways were filled with flannel shirts and long underwear." ― Dave Grohl

Commentary on Grunge Quotes

Marc Jacobs’ quote: "Grunge is a hippied romantic version of punk." | Image: AmoDays

"I'm the mold that grunge was grown in." ― Townes Van Zandt

"I don't know much about that whole grunge thing." ― Todd Snider

"Something happened in the nineties. There was a shift. I don't want to blame it on Grunge or the rise of indie - but that was basically it. It was seen as dirty and kind of ignorant to have these ambitions, to want to be a big band." ― Brandon Flowers

"Heart weren't part of a movement like grunge; we were our own kind of movement." — Nancy Wilson

Nancy Wilson’s quote: "Heart weren't part of a movement like grunge; we were our own kind of movement." | Image: AmoDays

"Grunge is a hippied romantic version of punk." ― Marc Jacobs

"Grunge was, to me, the last big movement. It had such an impact on pop culture. We haven't really seen anything like that since, and we may never again." — Myles Kennedy

"What I liked about Grunge was the realness. It wasn't pretty; it wasn't glamorous." ― Sir Mix-a-Lot

Quotes about Nirvana... And Other Grunge Bands

"I wanted to kill Auto-Tune like Kurt Cobain killed the hair bands." ― Jay-Z

"Nirvana was a band that led you somewhere, as opposed to all the grunge bands that began and ended with themselves." ― Jens Lekman

Adam Jones; quote: "I seriously do not think Nirvana is grunge." | Image: AmoDays

"Of all the grunge bands to come out of Seattle, Alice in Chains were the greatest." ― Dimebag Darrell

"Thank you for the tragedy. I need it for my art." — Kurt Cobain

"My exposure to independent music was via Nirvana and Grunge, so I'd never gotten into punk. I don't really like that music of Crass, but I love the band, and I love their way, and their presentation." ― Phil Elverum

"People misinterpret my emotions towards Nirvana because I've said things about how something happened with Grunge that took a little bit of fun out of things. It's no offense to Nirvana; they were one of the greats, obviously. But something died there, too, and we haven't quite gotten the groove back." ― Brandon Flowers

"When it comes to Grunge or even just Seattle, I think there was one band that made the definitive music of the time. It wasn't us or Nirvana but Mudhoney. Nirvana delivered it to the world, but Mudhoney were the band of that time and sound." ― Eddie Vedder

Dizzee Rascal’s quote: "Grunge, like Nirvana and all that. Heavy metal, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Guns and Roses, drum and bass. But the energy in that music, I love it." | Image: AmoDays

"I thought the grunge scene was cool. This is going to sound weird, but I remember doing a concert at a tavern in the mid-'80s with Nirvana." ― Sir Mix-a-Lot

"Grunge, like Nirvana and all that. Heavy metal, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Guns and Roses, drum and bass. But the energy in that music, I love it." ― Dizzee Rascal

"Doolittle was a major influence on the Seattle grunge scene, which emerged in the early 1990s." ― Joey Santiago

"People act like Nirvana invented grunge; they just took it and personified it." ― Billy Corgan

Turn the Volume up with These Grunge Quotes

Brian Chippendale’s quote: "Maybe people are finally tiring of watered-down grunge rock on the radio." | Image: AmoDays

"The grunge scene is not what I'm interested in." ― Frances Bean Cobain

"Whether you like punk, grunge, or early rock and roll, there's probably something in there you've been living with your whole life, and you didn't even know it was jazz." ― Gregory Porter

"I'm like pixie grunge. The perfect blend of sugar and spice." — Rico Nast

Rico Nast’s quote: "I'm like pixie grunge. The perfect blend of sugar and spice." | Image: AmoDays

"That was 1993 grunge in suburbia. This was 2003 hell in Harlem. (Dark City Lights)" ― Eve Kagan

"Yes, I would say my comedy is grunge, evidenced by the fact my jokes have put an end to big-hair glam comedy." ― Joel McHale

"Don't be bitter and mean 'cause you don't fit in; it's a gift. Look at you. You've got your individuality; you don't have the herd instinct; you can read Nietzsche and understand it. Only dumb people are happy." ― Courtney Love

"Maybe people are finally tiring of watered-down grunge rock on the radio." — Brian Chippendale

Myles Kennedy’s quote: "Grunge was, to me, the last big movement. It had such an impact on pop culture. We haven't really seen anything like that since, and we may never again." | Image: AmoDays

While the music scene began to dwindle as the 1990s came to an end, no genre of music simply disappears. According to last.fm, these are some of the top modern grunge artists: "Drop," "Hate It Or Love It," "Last Train," or "Red Wolf."

However, these probably aren't the best bands to start with if you want to explore grunge music. "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Black Hole Sun," and "Heart-Shaped Box" are more palatable for beginners. You may even recognize some of these songs from the radio.

If you're not into any rock music, read these quotes by the rapper and R&B singer Doja Cat.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org.