Not that long ago in our society, when someone mentioned "alternative rock" it evoked images of underground or unknown bands playing shows in their garages for their fellow teenagers. But what was once obscure and looked down upon has now become the most dominant form of rock music in America.

The first alternative music was created in the late 60's and was spearheaded by artists such as the velvet underground, the stooges, and mc5. This trend trudged on into the 70's with groups like television and the New York dolls... These bands fused their artistic expression with intellectual lyrics that clearly stated where they stood with things such as: politics, love, drugs, rebellion, and rock itself.

These groups would become the building blocks for "punk." (Essentially the root of all alternative rock) This "punk rock" was key to the development of the alternative scene... it took...