Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is a genre of music originating in Seattle that lasted from the mid 1980s to the mid 1990s. It is a sub-genre of alternative rock that emerged as a fusion of punk, alternative, and heavy metal. Inspired by hardcore punk, metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars and contrasting song dynamics, and the grunge aesthetic is stripped-down compared to other forms of rock music. Lyrics are typically angst-filled, often addressing themes such as social alienation, apathy, frustration, sadness, fear, and depression.

The early grunge movement coalesced around Seattle independent record label Sub Pop in the late 1980s. Grunge became commercially successful in the first half of the 1990s, due mainly to the release of Nirvana's Nevermind and Pearl Jam's Ten. The success of these bands boosted the popularity of alternative rock and made grunge the most popular form of hard rock music at the time. However, many grunge bands were uncomfortable with this popularity. Although most grunge bands had disbanded or faded from view by the late 1990s, their influence continues to affect modern rock music.

Brody Dalle (born Bree Joanna Alice Robinson on January 1, 1979) is an Australian-born American singer, songwriter and guitarist. She rose to fame as lead singer and guitarist of punk rock band The Distillers and currently fronts Spinnerette.

Dalle was intrigued by Cyndi Lauper and The Beatles as a child. At age 12, she discovered Nirvana and Hole, crucial early influences. Dalle's musical career began at 13 years old starting with guitar. She participated in Rock'n'Roll High School (RnRHS), a Melbourne feminist collective started by Stephanie Bourke. She became interested in Black Flag, Discharge, and Flipper. In 1995 at 16, her first band Sourpuss, played a set at Australia's Summersault Festival where she met Tim Armstrong, frontman of punk rock band Rancid. The two pursued a relationship. Armstrong was over 13 years her senior and Dalle initially lied about her age but the couple got engaged shortly after Dalle turned 18. She moved with Armstrong from Melbourne to Los Angeles, California and there founded The Distillers.

Frances Bean Cobain (born August 18, 1992) is the only child of rock musician Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain (1967–1994) and Hole singer Courtney Love.

Cobain was born in Los Angeles, California, US. She was named after Frances McKee, the guitarist for the Scottish indie pop duo The Vaselines. Her godfather is former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, and Drew Barrymore is her godmother.

Before Love gave birth to her daughter, there were rumors suggesting that she used heroin during her pregnancy. This scandal intensified when Vanity Fair published Lynn Hirschberg's article "Strange Love" that alleged Love admitted to using heroin even after learning of her pregnancy. Along with Cobain, Love maintained that Vanity Fair took her words out of context. Eventually, child welfare services launched an investigation questioning their parenting abilities. The investigation was eventually dismissed, but not without a significant amount of legal wrangling and being removed from her parents' custody for a short time, beginning when she was two weeks old.