ted to pop up where usually friends of the band members or the band's themselves. No one signed contracts, a shake of a hand and the band and label were now in business together. Unlike the large rock bands of the 70's or the pop bands of today Grunge bands didn't go seeking major record labels, they played to crowds of drunken friends and locals. They would play in clubs and bars where the crowd would get drunk and thrash about wildly. "The Seattle phenomenon wouldn't have been possible without the network of college radio, fanzines, and indie contributors that sprang up in the wake of punk rock" ("Grunge City"). The bands never expected to get big, most had a tight following of fans who were all that kept them going. The local fans had a lot to do with the development of Grunge. Grunge fans were the first fans to create fanzines. Fanzines were cheaply created magazines used to spread news about their favorite band, where they would be playing next, what their message was or just about the band members themselves. This small following of fans didn't put any pressure on a band, when they got up to perform it was to have fun and see how wild they could get the crowd. This lack of pressure and knowledge of how corporate America worked was a key factor in the quick downfall of Grunge.In 1991 Michael Jackson and Paula Abdul were at the top of the record charts but "their music had little in common with reality down in the streets" ("Rock's Reluctant"). There a "generation was coming of age in a world of dysfunctional families, diminished dreams, drugs and violence" ("Rock's Reluctant"). So when Nirvana exploded into mainstream America that generation was quick to accept their message.Before Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Tad, Green River or even Mudhoney there was one band that influenced the sound of grunge more then any other. The Pixies, though often overlooked, were the major influence of a lot of grunge bands. They started the grunge...
