Did Grunge REALLY Kill Hair Metal? The Great 90s Rock Debate // Against The 90s Ep. 8 (VIDEO)

 Did Nirvana and the grunge revolution really kill hair metal, or was the genre already on its way out?

On this episode of Against The 90s, Dave and MarQ welcome special guest Erika from Rock of Aging to tackle one of rock music’s most enduring debates: Did grunge kill hair metal?

The conventional story is that Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice In Chains arrived in the early '90s and suddenly made bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison, Warrant, and Ratt irrelevant. But was it really that simple?

We dig into the changing musical landscape of the early 1990s, including MTV's shifting priorities, record label decisions, oversaturation in the hair metal scene, and the rise of alternative rock. We also examine something that often gets overlooked in this conversation: the massive popularity of country artists like Garth Brooks and how changing mainstream tastes affected the entire music industry.

With Erika bringing her lifelong love of '80s metal to the discussion, Dave and MarQ challenge the accepted narrative and explore whether grunge was responsible for hair metal's decline or simply arrived at exactly the right moment.

Join the debate in the comments! Do you think grunge killed hair metal, or is that one of the biggest myths in rock history?

Subscribe to Against The 90s for more discussions about the music, artists, albums, and cultural shifts that defined the decade — without the tired narratives or nostalgia goggles.

First Video In My New Studio! // Unsane Live // NEW Playlist // Maximum MN

Thanks so much for checking out my latest video! This is the first video shot in my new "studio" on the upper floor of my house. For the last decade, all of my videos have been recorded in the basement; and I felt it was time for a change. I'll still be using the old space, but I like having options. What do you think?

Going along with my new space, I am bringing back my Dark Stuff playlists.

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/dark-stuff-the-return/pl.u-mJy8yeECLMpg7

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1DXvCcBFyfBFcpYfK2NFIv?si=YIjXrlxaRlKTXxlbL_Y2lw&utm_source=copy-link&pi=cLq6W-t7Szmr7

After brief update on my stray cats, I have a review of a recent show from 90s noise rockers, UNSANE. Also on the bill were Season To Risk and Violenteer.

If you're looking for a way to get some cool, new music and support a good cause, then check out the digital mixtape, Maximum MN. It's a new compilation featuring current Sub Pop recording artists covering music from artists from Minnesota. Money raised from the compilation will be sent to The International Institute of Minnesota, a non-profit organization that supports refugees and immigrants.

Lastly, I want to strongly recommend a new podcast I just recently discovered to anyone who is a fan of The Ramones. It is called ‪@CJSaysPodcast‬ and it features C.J. Ramone, who played bass and wrote songs in the Ramones from 1989-1997. His insights into the band are extremely interesting, and they have been doing deep dives into the records, as well. It's great.

Please like and share this video. Subscribe to The Dark Stuff if you haven't already.

UNSANE Live at Reverb Lounge, Omaha, NE 9/10/26

 

SEASON TO RISK live at Reverb Lounge, Omaha, NE 9/10/26

Steve Tulipana of Season To Risk 9/10/26 at Reverb, Omaha, NE

 

Rock of Aging's 80s Metal / Hard Rock Fantasy Football Draft

Football season has begun! Your friends here at Rock of Aging have come up with a great way to merge your love of 80s metal with your love of football. Today's episode is the first ever Rock of Aging Fantasy Football Draft!

Here's how it works...To be eligible for the draft, you must have had a studio album released in 1987. Erika and Dave each picked a drummer, bassist, singer, and two guitarists!

Who had the better team? Erika or Dave? Who would be on your team? Leave it all in the comments.

Just before the draft, we have Dave's (Not So) Deep Dive. For this episode, Dave reviews the newest release from KISS, Destroys Anaheim '76. In The Atmosphere Check,  Erika reveals her love of football, and what it takes to make her team in this year's draft.

NOTE: We post a new episode of Rock of Aging on the 10th and 25th of every month! 

Is KISS Destroys Anaheim '76 The Best KISS Live Album Ever?? (VIDEO)

I don't just like the new Kiss album, I LOVE the new Kiss album! I guess that's a spoiler. I'm back with my review of "Kiss Destroys Anaheim '76."

This new release has been recently unearthed from the archives. The recording is from August 20, 1976, when KISS headlined at Anaheim Stadium. It has been mixed by Eddie Kramer from the original, multi-track tapes. 

Where do you think 'Anaheim' ranks among the many Kiss live albums? Please leave a comment.

The Year Grunge Broke: Interview with Author Clive Barnes //90s Music

This video is for anyone who loves 90s Alternative Rock. I recently interviewed Clive Barnes, author of the book, The Year Grunge Broke. He also runs the popular social media pages of the same name.

The coffee table style book "chronicles the stories behind 50 essential grunge and alternative rock albums from the 1990s and beyond." The book is very well done, and even has a forward written by Dave Abbruzzese (former drummer of Pearl Jam). 

After discussing our mutual love of all things grunge, I asked Clive about five specific albums from the book. We had a great conversation, and we probably could have talked for hours.

For information on the book: https://theyeargrungebroke.com/ 

Find TYGB on the socials: https://www.facebook.com/theyeargrungebroke

https://www.instagram.com/theyeargrungebroke/

Three Albums. No Misses. The Best 3-Album Runs of ’80s Hard Rock & Metal

Some bands only make one good album. That's it. So, what happens after you make that stellar album? Can you follow it up with another? What about a third? Is it even possible?!

For some bands, creating an epic, three album run is simply unattainable. In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika offer up some of their absolute favorite 80s metal and hard rock three record streaks. Three Albums. No Misses.

The rules?! The only rules are: three consecutive studio albums from one artist, and that the albums were released in what is considered the "80s metal era." In other words...the 80s.

Before the episode begins, we have Dave's (Not So) Deep Dive. This time around, he's diving into the new album from The Rolling Stones, "Foreign Tongues." 

In The Atmosphere Check, Erika reconnects us back to our younger selves, and taps into the feelings we had for a band releasing its third great album in a row. The anticipation was epic.

What is your favorite three album run? Leave it in the comments!

Elvis Costello in the ’90s Was Better Than You Remember || Against The 90s

Elvis Costello entered the 1990s as an established legend—but he definitely didn’t spend the decade playing it safe.

In this episode of Against The 90s, Dave and MarQ take a deep dive into Elvis Costello’s fascinating, unpredictable run through the decade. From 'Mighty Like a Rose' and 'Brutal Youth' to 'All This Useless Beauty', reunions with The Attractions, and plenty of stylistic left turns, we look at an era of Costello’s career that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves.

Was 90s Elvis Costello overlooked? Which albums still hold up? And where does this decade rank compared to his celebrated late-70s and 80s work?

We’re revisiting the records, the songs, and the strange twists and turns of Elvis Costello in the 90s.

MAHA Festival 2026 Recap: WET LEG, Bright Eyes, Killer Mike, Blondshell, David Nance + More

Back again for my annual review of the MAHA Music Festival, held in downtown Omaha in Heartland of America Park on August 8, 2026. This year, the festival was headlined by UK phenoms, Wet Leg. The other artists featured were Bright Eyes, Killer Mike, Blondshell, Whitney, David Nance & Mowed Sound, and Carver Jones.

The one-day festival was a blast...except for all the rain and lightning. The event was stopped four times during the day due to lightning in the area. The park was cleared, and once the lightning went away, everyone could come back inside. There were tons of delays and changes in set times, but fortunately, everyone was able to play as the park's curfew was extended.

I was present for the entire festival and have photos and video of everyone involved.

Ratt ’N’ Roll 1983–1990: The Rise, the Hits & the End of an Era // RATT Deep Dive

This time on Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika are going deep into one of the defining bands of the 1980s hard rock scene: Ratt.

From the raw swagger of the 1983 Ratt EP through the massive breakthrough of Out of the Cellar, Ratt quickly went from the Sunset Strip to arenas, MTV, and multi-platinum success. But there’s a lot more to their original run than “Round and Round.”

We’re going album by album through Ratt’s classic era:

Ratt EP (1983)

Out of the Cellar (1984)

Invasion of Your Privacy (1985)

Dancing Undercover (1986)

Reach for the Sky (1988)

Detonator (1990)

We’ll talk about the songs, the videos, the albums that still hold up, the records that deserve another listen, and how Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini, Robbin Crosby, Juan Croucier and Bobby Blotzer created a sound that was unmistakably Ratt.

From “You Think You’re Tough,” “Round and Round” and “Back for More” to “Lay It Down,” “Dance,” “Body Talk,” “Way Cool Jr.” and “Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job,” we’re revisiting the hits, the deep cuts and the evolution of the band across one of the strongest album runs of the hair-metal era.

We’ll also get into the changing hard-rock landscape as the ’80s came to an end and why Detonator feels like the closing chapter of Ratt’s original glory years.

Six releases. Seven years. A whole lotta Ratt ’N’ Roll.

Where do you rank Ratt’s albums from 1983–1990? And what’s the one Ratt song that absolutely belongs on the ultimate playlist?

Before we begin with Ratt, we quickly recap seeing Riki Rachtman's One Foot in the Gutter tour in Lincoln, Nebraska. We got a little hang time with Riki after the show, and we ate some incredible chocolate cake.

Listen on Spotify.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

A Perfect Double Bill? Band of Horses & Dinosaur Jr. Live Review (Photos/Video)

If you're a fan of indie rock, this was one unforgettable night. In this episode of The Dark Stuff, I review an incredible co-headlining show featuring Band of Horses and Dinosaur Jr. From Band of Horses' soaring harmonies and emotionally charged set to Dinosaur Jr.'s legendary wall of fuzz, blistering guitar solos, and unmistakable volume, I'll break down what made this concert special.

I'll talk about the performances, standout songs, the atmosphere, and whether these veteran bands still deliver the live experience that has made them favorites for decades. If you were there, let me know what you thought—and if you missed it, here's what you missed. 

No Sophomore Slump: The Best Second Albums in 80s Metal // Rock of Aging

Everyone talks about the debut album... but what about the follow-up?

On this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika dive into the best second albums from some of our favorite 80s hard rock and metal bands. The sophomore release can make or break a band's career. Sometimes it's where a band perfects its sound, delivers its biggest hits, or proves the debut was no fluke.

We'll discuss albums that took bands to the next level, sophomore slumps that weren't really slumps at all, and a few records that might even be better than the debut.

Some of the bands we'll cover include:

Van Halen

Poison

W.A.S.P

Ratt

Warrant

L.A. Guns

R.I.P Jennifer Finch / Live Reviews: Local H, Toadies, L.A. Guns / CD & Vinyl Pickups (VIDEO)

Today is a bit of a catch all video with some announcements, some live concert reviews, some vinyl and CD pickups, and much more.

Obviously, I had to note the recent death of Jennifer Finch of L7. She died far too young. F$%k Cancer.

The 90s Alt-Country Revolution: The Music That Changed Americana // Against The 90s

Alternative rock may have dominated the headlines in the 1990s, but another musical revolution was quietly taking shape. Long before Americana became a Grammy category or artists like Jason Isbell and Tyler Childers became household names, a generation of musicians was blending country, folk, rock, punk, and roots music into something entirely new.

In this episode of Against The 90s, Dave and Marq explore the rise of Alt-Country and Americana—the artists who rejected Nashville conventions while embracing the storytelling traditions of classic American music. From influential pioneers to forgotten classics, they discuss the records that helped define one of the decade's most enduring musical movements.

Whether you discovered these records when they were new or you're hearing them for the first time, this episode celebrates a movement that proved some of the best music of the 1990s didn't come from Seattle—or Nashville.

What are your favorite alt-country or Americana albums from the '90s? Let us know in the comments!