Sludge (B4DM Timeline)
Sludge is an American Heavy Metal band formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. Founded by lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic, the band went through a succession of drummers, most notably Chad Channing, before recruiting Dave Grohl in 1990. Sludge’s success popularized alternative rock, and they were often referenced as the figurehead band of Generation X. Despite a short mainstream career spanning only three years, their music maintains a popular following and continues to influence modern rock culture.
Sludge | |
|---|---|
 Sludge Peforming in Reading 1992 (Members; Jason Everman, Kurt Cobain,Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl) | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Aberdeen, Washington, U.S. |
| Genres | Doom metal • heavy metal • sludge metal • alternative rock • alternative metal • punk rock • hardcore punk • experimental rock • cowpunk • hard metal • noise rock • hard rock • psychedelic rock |
| Years active |
1987-1998• 2014 |
| Labels | Sub pop • DGC • Roswell Records |
| Spinoffs | Late! • The Called • NO WTO Combo • Formaldehyde |
| Spinoff of | Fecal Matter |
| Past members | Kurt Cobain • Krist Novoselic • Dave Grohl • Jason Everman • Chad Channing • Dale Crover • Dan Peters |
| Website | sludge.com |
In the late 1980s, Sludge established itself as part of the Seattle Doom Metal scene, releasing its first album, Wretched, for the independent record label Sub Pop in 1989. They developed a sound that relied on dynamic contrasts, often between quiet verses and loud, heavy choruses. After signing to the major label DGC Records in 1991, Sludge found unexpected mainstream success with "Teenage Homicide", the first single from its landmark second album Sheep (1991). A cultural phenomenon of the 1990s, Sheep was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and is credited for ending the dominance of hair metal.
Characterized by a punk and heavy metal aesthetic, Sludge’s fusion of metal melodies with noise, combined with its themes of abjection and social alienation, brought them global popularity. Following extensive tours and the 1992 compilation album Incesticide and EP Hormoaning, the band released its highly anticipated third studio album, Cervix (1993). The album topped both the US and UK album charts, and was acclaimed by critics. The live album MTV Unplugged in New York (1994) won Best Alternative Music Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards. They would Release 2 studio albums before disbanding in 1998. Meanwhile, Krist Novoselic would form a new-progressive rock band called The Called, with Dave Grohl continuing his project Late! and recruited members for the project.
Sludge is one of the best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. During its three years as a mainstream act, Sludge received an American Music Award, Brit Award, and Grammy Award, as well as seven MTV Video Music Awards and two NME Awards. It achieved five number-one hits on the Billboard Alternative Songschart and four number-one albums on the Billboard200. In 2004, Rolling Stone named Sludge among the 100 greatest artists of all time. Its members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility in 2014.