85 www.womanthismonth.com September 2013 4 July 2013 Seattle, USA With the industrial smell, sooty air and wet weather; there’s a reason why this town became the birthplace of grunge. The distorted sound of the city made way into jam-pads and later blared out of speakers at local clubs. This amplified, angry noise characterised the music born here. In 1992, Rolling Stone magazine called it the ‘new Liverpool’ with misfit teenagers, spring-boarding to stardom with their adrenaline-charged performances. Those into grunge, alternative rock and indie rock know what the Seattle sound is all about. And to those still wondering why we suggest visiting it – Oh well, whatever, nevermind! Home to: Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Alice in Chains and Fleet Foxes. Not to miss: View authentic memorabilia from grunge legends such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana in Hard Rock Cafe Seattle. Put the London Bridge Studio on your itinerary. It’s where bands such as Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden, Blind Melon, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains recorded their albums. Visit the sculpture along Lake Washington that gave Soundgarden its name. Pioneer Square, contains lots of bars where old grunge bands, such as The Central Saloon, played Gothenburg, Sweden This tiny beach town is the most unlikely destination for a rock and roll lifestyle, but did it produce a sound that took the world by storm or what? Although the seeds of the Swedish death metal were sown in Stockholm, they germinated and flourished in Gothenburg. New age rock controlled the kids, who according to In Flames frontman Anders Fridén “just wanted to be part of a scene”. Today the town is the Mecca of the roaring metal mania and attracts millions of head bangers from around the world. Home to: In Flames, Dissection, Arch Enemy and At the Gates. Not to miss: It’s not the rock history sites that make Gothenburg a rock lover’s haven, but the vibe and thriving music scene across various venues. People descend goth-guised in the evenings and the darker alter ego of the town emerges. Some of the best places to witness this are Sticky Fingers and Rockbaren, a stand-alone pub with gigs all around the year. Club Centurion and the Brew House are other popular hubs. However, hardcore fans are confined within the bleak winter forests of outlying rural suburbs. For a closer encounter with the community, we suggest a visit to the woods outside Boras. The Rolling Stones Nirvana Pearl Jam REM
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