Alternative for the Masses: The '90s Alt-Rock Revolution - An Oral History

Get the definitive story of the ’90s alt-rock movement straight from the musicians and figures who lived it.

No period in the history of rock music offered such an abrupt shift in prevailing tastes as the 1990s. While just a short while before, radio and MTV were clamoring for hair metal bands, suddenly alt-rockers such as Jane’s Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More, Primus, Smashing Pumpkins, and of course, Nirvana, brought a sea change not just in what the most popular bands sounded like, but also in fashion, politics, and seemingly all aspects of pop culture.

In Alternative for the Masses: The Oral History of the ’90s Alt-Rock Revolution, veteran music critic Greg Prato presents more than 60 new interviews conducted exclusively for the book—with an emphasis on the 1990–1995 peak period—including insights from renowned names like:

• Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Dischord Records)
  
• Frank Black (Pixies)
  
• Corey Glover (Living Colour)
  
• Moby (solo artist/DJ)
  
• Al Jourgensen (Ministry)
  
• Les Claypool (Primus)
  
• Kennedy (host of MTV’s Alternative Nation)
  
• Matt Pinfield (host of MTV’s 120 Minutes)
  
• Butch Vig (producer of Nirvana’s Nevermind)
  
• Tanya Donnelly (Belly, Breeders)
  
• Fred Armisen (Portlandia, Saturday Night Live)

Prato also includes excerpts from one of the last interviews with Steve Albini, arguably the period’s most influential recording engineer and producer, responsible for influential albums by the likes of Nirvana and PJ Harvey producer, among many others.

Prato sets out his book in thematic chapters covering topics such as:

• The Lollapalooza music festival
  
• The impact of Nirvana
  
• Alt-rock’s many subgenres
  
• Notable producers of the period
  
• The impact of women rockers
  
• MTV’s influence
  
• Drugs and addiction
  
• and much more!

Do you long for the days when it seemed rock artists were all about daring to be different, speaking their minds, and shaking up the music industry? The last decade before the internet, downloads, and streaming took over music? Alternative for the Masses will take you back to that time when alt-rock truly promised something different. 

Author: Greg Prato
Publisher: Motorbooks
Page Count: 384pp
Size: 6.25 x 9.25 
Notes: hardcover
Release Date: October 28, 2025
ISBN: 978-0760398425