The origin and motivations for the ’90s grunge genre stemmed from a mix of social and economic inequalities in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

Before the emergence of grunge, Seattle was under the effects of an economic recession, as a result of major layoffs from large corporations such as Boeing. The recession brought about the need for new forms of expression – one of which was grunge.

Being a heavy influence on the likes of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, the Melvins’ debut album, Gluey Porch Treatments, is regarded as one of the key foundational pieces in the formation of grunge.

Another band formed during the recession, and one that was propelled by grief, Temple of the Dog was fronted by Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. The band was formed following the death of a close friend, Andrew Wood, the frontman and singer for two other Seattle grunge bands, Mother Love Bone and Malfunkshun.

Temple of the Dog’s self-titled debut – and only album – brought songs such as “Hunger Strike” and “Say Hello 2 Heaven.”

The grunge movement inspired youth around the world, showing them they had a voice and a way to express themselves about their feelings about the world around them. One of the most notable bands from the international spread of grunge was Silverchair.

Formed by teenagers Daniel Johns, Ben Gillies, and Chris Joannou, Silverchair became the voice of the youth of Australia.

All three were 15 at the time their debut album, Frogstomp, was released. Their age, however, did not hinder their ability to have their voices heard, as they went on to play festivals such as Australia’s Big Day Out and Brazil’s Rock in Rio.

While originally isolated, grunge’s influence on a generation of teens spread across the world allowed self-expression in a way that promoted emotion and deep thought.