Mudhoney

Though they never achieved anything close to the level of fame attained by Nirvana, Soundgarden, etc., Mudhoney was one of the first and most important bands on the Seattle "grunge" scene. Like the Melvins and Mother Love Bone, they were part of the first wave of bands mixing punk attitude, '70s rock riffs, and the occasional metallic edge in the late '80s, and had a big impact on those who would make the style commercially viable in the early '90s (not to mention second- and third-generation grunge rockers in the ensuing years). Amazingly, they neither burnt out nor faded away; they kept going into the 21st century and got better and better, though they remained essentially a cult band.

• grunge
• alternative/indie