Nirvana

Nirvana's raw, cathartic grunge sound and Kurt Cobain's tortured songwriting toppled the hair metal establishment, defining the 1990s across just three studio albums. Their single 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' remains the fastest-spreading rock anthem of its era. This explosive impact, achieved in half the time of The Who's career, cements Nirvana as a transformative force whose cultural influence dwarfs that of the typical early-90s alternative band.