Skin Yard was an American grunge band from Seattle, Washington, that was active from 1985 to 1992. The group never gained a mainstream audience, but were an influence on several of their grunge contemporaries, including Soundgarden, Screaming Trees, and Green River.
Publicity photo 1988
Grunge is an alternative rock genre and subculture which emerged during the mid-1980s in the U.S. state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. Grunge fuses elements of punk rock and heavy metal. The genre featured the distorted electric guitar sound used in both genres, although some bands performed with more emphasis on one or the other. Like these genres, grunge typically uses electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals. Grunge also incorporates influences from indie rock bands such as Sonic Youth. Lyrics are typically angst-filled and introspective, often addressing themes such as social alienation, self-doubt, abuse, neglect, betrayal, social and emotional isolation, addiction, psychological trauma and a desire for freedom.
American rock band Nirvana (pictured in 1992) is the most commercially successful band of the genre, having sold over 27 million albums in the United States alone.
Mark Arm of Green River whose Dry as a Bone EP was described as "ultra-loose grunge" in 1987
A museum exhibition about the Seattle music scene, with record sleeves of Nevermind and In Utero by Nirvana and Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden
Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready