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. 'Nevermind' sold over 30 million copies, a figure 50% higher than the average grunge release. 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.