Surprise Castle
/Books
Alternative for the Masses: The '90s Alt-Rock Revolution - An Oral History

Alternative for the Masses: The '90s Alt-Rock Revolution - An Oral History

$21.99
$29.99
-27%
Quantity
01

Pay over time for orders over $35.00 with

Offers & Perks

Earn 21 points with this purchase

Added to your rewards balance after checkout.

100 points welcome bonus

Create an account and start with extra points.

Join now
How rewards workSign in
Availability:In StockContributor:Greg PratoPublish date:2025-10-28Pages:384
Languages:EnglishPublisher:Motorbooks InternationalISBN-13:9780760398425ISBN-10:760398429UPC:9780760398425Book Category:MusicBook Subcategory:Genres & Styles, History & CriticismBook Topic:RockSize:9.12 x 6.40 x 1.21 inchesWeight:1.96Product ID:SCWR5HQ7M7
Get the definitive story of the '90s alt-rock movement straight from the musicians and figures who lived it.

No period in the history of rock music offered such an abrupt shift in prevailing tastes as the 1990s. While just a short while before, radio and MTV were clamoring for hair metal bands, suddenly alt-rockers such as Jane's Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More, Primus, Smashing Pumpkins, and of course, Nirvana, brought a sea change not just in what the most popular bands sounded like, but also in fashion, politics, and seemingly all aspects of pop culture.

In Alternative for the Masses: The Oral History of the '90s Alt-Rock Revolution, veteran music critic Greg Prato presents more than 60 new interviews conducted exclusively for the book--with an emphasis on the 1990-1995 peak period--including insights from renowned names like:

  • Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Dischord Records)
  • Frank Black (Pixies)
  • Corey Glover (Living Colour)
  • Moby (solo artist/DJ)
  • Al Jourgensen (Ministry)
  • Les Claypool (Primus)
  • Kennedy (host of MTV's Alternative Nation)
  • Matt Pinfield (host of MTV's 120 Minutes)
  • Butch Vig (producer of Nirvana's Nevermind)
  • Tanya Donnelly (Belly, Breeders)
  • Fred Armisen (Portlandia, Saturday Night Live)

Prato also includes excerpts from one of the last interviews with Steve Albini, arguably the period's most influential recording engineer and producer, responsible for influential albums by the likes of Nirvana and PJ Harvey producer, among many others.

Prato sets out his book in thematic chapters covering topics such as:

  • The Lollapalooza music festival
  • The impact of Nirvana
  • Alt-rock's many subgenres
  • Notable producers of the period
  • The impact of women rockers
  • MTV's influence
  • Drugs and addiction
  • and much more!

Do you long for the days when it seemed rock artists were all about daring to be different, speaking their minds, and shaking up the music industry? The last decade before the internet, downloads, and streaming took over music? Alternative for the Masses will take you back to that time when alt-rock truly promised something different.
Languages:EnglishPublisher:Motorbooks InternationalISBN-13:9780760398425ISBN-10:760398429UPC:9780760398425Book Category:MusicBook Subcategory:Genres & Styles, History & CriticismBook Topic:RockSize:9.12 x 6.40 x 1.21 inchesWeight:1.96Product ID:SCWR5HQ7M7

Greg Prato is a Long Island, New York-based journalist who has written for Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Songfacts. He has written over 40 books, including such popular titles as Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music; The Yacht Rock Book: The Oral History of the Soft, Smooth Sounds of the 70s and 80s; and Primus, Over the Electric Grapevine: Insight into Primus and the World of Les Claypool, among many others.


Publisher: Motorbooks International

Contributor(s)

Greg Prato

Author

Greg Prato

Free shipping on orders over $75. Standard shipping takes 3-7 business days. Eligible items may be returned within 30 days of delivery. Conditions apply.