{{Short description|Music genre}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox music genre | name = Post-grunge | stylistic_origins = {{hlist|Grunge|hard rock|alternative rock}} | cultural_origins = Early to mid-1990s, United States | regional_scenes = | other_topics = {{hlist|Alternative metal|nu metal|soft grunge (music)|grungegaze}} }} '''Post-grunge''' is a musical offshoot of grunge that has a less abrasive or intense tone than traditional grunge. Originally, the term was used derisively and indicated mid-1990s alternative rock bands such as Bush, Candlebox, Collective Soul, Live, Foo Fighters, and Silverchair, that emulated the original sound of grunge.
In the late 1990s, post-grunge became a more clearly defined style that combined the sound and aesthetic of grunge with more commercially accessible songwriting, rising to prominence that lasted into the 2000s. Bands such as Foo Fighters, Creed, Matchbox Twenty, 3 Doors Down, Puddle of Mudd, Nickelback, Seether, and Staind achieved mainstream success in this second wave. Some bands in this wave also had crossover with the alternative metal<ref name=AllMusicPostGrunge>{{cite web|title=Post-Grunge |publisher=AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/style/post-grunge-ma0000005020/artists |access-date=12 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214150232/http://www.allmusic.com/style/post-grunge-ma0000005020/artists|archive-date=14 February 2017}}</ref> and nu metal<ref name="PopMatters">{{cite web|first= Andrew|last= Blackie|url= https://www.popmatters.com/nu-metals-not-dead-2496119772.html|title=Nu-Metal's Not Dead!|website=PopMatters|date=September 23, 2008|access-date=January 27, 2022}}</ref> genres.
==Characteristics== During the 1990s, a post-grunge sound emerged that emulated the attitudes and music of grunge, particularly its thick, distorted guitars, but with a less intense and less abrasive tone.<ref name="Grierson" /><ref name=AllMusicPostGrunge/> Unlike many early grunge bands, post-grunge bands often worked through major record labels.<ref name=AllMusicPostGrunge /> Post-grunge music tends to be in mid-tempo and is noted for having "a polished, radio-ready production",<ref name="AllMusicPostGrunge" /> oftentimes with pop song structures,<ref name=CoS>{{cite magazine |url=https://consequence.net/aux-out/in-defense-of-post-grunge-music/ |title=In Defense of Post-Grunge Music |magazine=Consequence of Sound |last=Geffen |first=Sasha |date=7 October 2013}}</ref><ref name=FourElevenMania>{{cite web |url=http://411mania.com/music/the-8-ball-top-8-post-grunge-bands/ |title=The 8 Ball: Top 8 Post-Grunge Bands |publisher=411MANIA |last=Thomas |first=Jeremy |date=15 November 2014 |access-date=25 March 2016 |archive-date=30 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530111047/http://411mania.com/music/the-8-ball-top-8-post-grunge-bands/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> and incorporated influences from other genres such as classic rock,<ref name=AllMusicPostGrunge /> pop rock,<ref name="jenkins">{{cite web |last1=Jenkins |first1=Chris |title=Foo Fighters are Classic Rock Now |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/07/foo-fighters-are-classic-rock-now.html |website=Vulture |access-date=March 5, 2022 |date=July 18, 2018 |quote=In 2018, the Foo Fighters are more than just a reliable pop-rock machine and an outlet for the lead singer’s creativity. |archive-date=March 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306024510/https://www.vulture.com/2018/07/foo-fighters-are-classic-rock-now.html |url-status=live }}</ref> alternative metal,<ref name=AllMusicPostGrunge /> and nu metal.<ref name="PopMatters"/> Tim Grierson of About.com wrote that musically, post-grunge bands "split the difference between plaintive ballads and aggressive rockers, resulting in songs that combine the two extremes into a sad-eyed, propulsive middle ground".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rock.about.com/od/rockmusic101/a/subgenres.htm |title=Rock Genres – A List of Rock Genres |website=About.com |last=Grierson |first=Tim |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006072234/http://rock.about.com/od/rockmusic101/a/subgenres.htm |archive-date=6 October 2011}}</ref> On some occasions, {{nowrap|post-grunge}} music features both an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar playing simultaneously.<ref name="CoS" /> Post-grunge tends to have production quality that is more polished than grunge.<ref name=WhatCulture>{{cite web |url=https://whatculture.com/music/10-laughable-post-grunge-bands-wont-believe-still-going.php |title=10 Laughable Post-Grunge Bands You Won't Believe Are Still Going (Puddle of Mudd) |publisher=WhatCulture |last=Marko |first=Aaron J. |date=20 March 2014}}</ref> Hence, Graham Hartmann of ''Metal Injection'' noted that the genre's second wave "had a vice grip on rock radio from the mid-to-late 2000s—arguably the last time a wave of rock experienced mainstream popularity."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hartmann |first=Graham |date=2025-04-29 |title=10 Butt Rock Anthems That Actually Kinda Rule |url=https://metalinjection.net/lists/10-butt-rock-anthems-that-actually-kinda-rule |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Nickelbackwembleyarena.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Post-grunge band Nickelback in 2008]] A "major rift" between grunge and {{nowrap|post-grunge}} is in the lyrical substance of the music; grunge often expressed emotion through loose metaphors or third-person narratives, while post-grunge was known for being direct and blunt.<ref name=CoS /> While describing lyrics that are common in {{nowrap|post-grunge}}, Sasha Geffen of ''Consequence of Sound'' wrote that {{nowrap|post-grunge}} "plunged directly into the {{nowrap|'I.'{{sp}}"<ref name=CoS />}} Geffen also wrote that most post-grunge songs that achieved mainstream success "call after a prospective or past companion in the first person".<ref name=CoS /> Post-grunge lyrics also tend to be about topics such as relationships, romance and drug addiction.<ref name=CoS /><ref name="Steininger" /> According to Geffen, "grunge's frontmen posed with their addictions; {{nowrap|post-grunge's}} songwriters sought redemption for them".<ref name=CoS /> Geffen then states that post-grunge songs "fit the mold of songs made for{{nbsp}}... teenage boys and girls" who were "longing for a distant someone".<ref name=CoS />
==Etymology== [[File:Bush grsATX.jpg|thumb|right|British band Bush (''pictured'') were described by Matt Diehl of ''Rolling Stone'' as "the most successful and shameless mimics of Nirvana's music".<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Matt |last=Diehl |title=Review: ''Bush – Razorblade Suitcase'' |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bush/albums/album/242869/review/5944129/razorblade_suitcase |date=13 November 1996 |access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216075712/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bush/albums/album/242869/review/5944129/razorblade_suitcase |archive-date=16 February 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>]] Originally, post-grunge was a label that was meant to be almost pejorative, suggesting that mid-1990s bands labelled as {{nowrap|post-grunge}} were simply musically derivative, or a cynical response to the "authentic" rock movement of grunge.<ref name=Grierson>{{cite web| first=Tim|last=Grierson|url=http://rock.about.com/od/rockmusic101/a/PostGrunge.htm|title=Post-Grunge. A History of Post-Grunge Rock |website=About.com|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514035717/http://rock.about.com/od/rockmusic101/a/PostGrunge.htm|archive-date=14 May 2011}}</ref> When grunge became a mainstream genre through bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam, record labels started signing bands with similar sonic identities, such as Bush, Candlebox and Collective Soul.<ref name="Grierson" /> In the late 1990s and early 2000s, post-grunge morphed via newer bands like Creed and Nickelback, becoming a more well-defined style that combined characteristics of grunge with a more commercially accessible sound. Grierson wrote that "bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam were beloved partly because of their perceived integrity in avoiding the mainstream," whereas "Post-grunge, by comparison, seemed to exist in order to court that very audience."<ref name="Grierson" />
=== "Butt rock" === In the 2010s, the derogatory term "butt rock", which was previously used to refer to 1980s glam metal and hard rock such as Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, and Poison,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corpos |first=Mike |date=September 23, 2002 |title=MTV needs butt rock, not Kid Rock |url=https://www.manoanow.org/mtv-needs-butt-rock-not-kid-rock/article_14a73484-d674-5baa-ac8f-10b916d6973c.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009013932/https://www.manoanow.org/mtv-needs-butt-rock-not-kid-rock/article_14a73484-d674-5baa-ac8f-10b916d6973c.html |archive-date=October 9, 2025 |access-date=October 8, 2025 |website=manoanow}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Isamu |date=April 1, 2005 |title=‘80s band stages flashy comeback |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/apr/01/80s-band-stages-flashy-comeback/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522091756/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/apr/01/80s-band-stages-flashy-comeback/ |archive-date=May 22, 2023 |access-date=October 8, 2025 |website=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hansen Orf |first=Chris |date=September 17, 2009 |title=Please Don't Call Chickenfoot a "Supergroup" |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/please-dont-call-chickenfoot-a-supergroup-6430947/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204003818/https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/please-dont-call-chickenfoot-a-supergroup-6430947/ |archive-date=December 4, 2021 |access-date=October 9, 2025 |website=Phoenix New Times |quote=But although delivering the expected makes Chickenfoot a success on a certain level, it's still '80s-style butt rock. And even in that sonorous genre, it's not even as good as the touring versions of Def Leppard and Poison who played their old hits at Cricket Wireless Pavilion last month.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Koester |first=Megan |date=December 24, 2013 |title=You Can Eat Brunch in Black Flag's Old Practice Space (If You’re Terrible) |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/you-can-eat-brunch-in-black-flags-old-practice-space-if-youre-terrible/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009032727/https://www.vice.com/en/article/you-can-eat-brunch-in-black-flags-old-practice-space-if-youre-terrible/ |archive-date=October 9, 2025 |access-date=October 9, 2025 |website=Vice |quote=80s Butt Rock songs like Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me" and Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" loudly blasted overhead...}}</ref> gained traction when applied to many second-wave post-grunge artists. Notably, the term would be used to refer to the likes of Nickelback, Creed, Puddle of Mudd, Shinedown, Flyleaf and Hinder.<ref name="buttland">{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Buttland |url=https://www.talkhouse.com/welcome-to-buttland/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=Talkhouse |language=en-US}}</ref> Graham Hartmann of ''Metal Injection'' stated that the term "usually refers to the second wave of post-grunge music, where bands like Bush and Candlebox ultimately turned into Nickelback and Seether."<ref name=":0"/> Angelica Leicht of ''Houston Press'' said: "Butt-rock is that musical stank on your shoe that you can’t get off. It’s one part aggro noise, one part self-indulgent and whiny singer, and somehow a whole lot of douche."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leicht |first=Angelica |date=2014-04-17 |title=Top 10 Butt-Rock Bands of All Time |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/top-10-butt-rock-bands-of-all-time-6519109/ |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=Houston Press |language=en-US}}</ref>
The origins of the term are debated, with some attributing it to the alleged radio slogan "Nothing ''but rock''".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Leicht |first=Angelica |date=2024-11-20 |title=Top 10 Butt-Rock Bands of All Time|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/top-10-butt-rock-bands-of-all-time-6519109 |access-date=2025-10-25 |publisher=Houston Press |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Melmag">{{cite web |url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/what-was-butt-rock |title=What *Was* Butt Rock? |publisher=Mel |first=Miles |last=Klee |date=21 October 2019 |accessdate=14 April 2021}}</ref> The term "butt rock" is usually used by individuals critical of what they perceive to be derivative musicianship, overly clichéd or angsty lyrics, and over-reliance on raspy vocals (often described as imitations of Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder).<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Melmag"/><ref name="CBC">{{Cite web |title=Behold the butt-rock renaissance: celebrate the genre's return in 5 songs {{!}} CBC Music |url=https://www.cbc.ca/music/butt-rock-renaissance-nickelback-three-days-grace-1.7434566 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121153023/https://www.cbc.ca/music/butt-rock-renaissance-nickelback-three-days-grace-1.7434566 |access-date=2025-08-04 |archive-date=2025-01-21}}</ref> Eva Zhu of CBC said butt rock is "a style of music that manages to be as popular as it is hated."<ref name="CBC"/> According to Erica Banas of WMMR, some consider butt rock to be rock music that is "watered down both musically and lyrically" in order to maximize radio airplay and mainstream success. She added: "Perhaps, Butt Rock is truly in the ear of the beholder. It might just be a derogatory term rock fans use on bands they don't like."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Banas |first=Erica |date=2024-11-20 |title=11 Butt Rock Songs that Actually Rule |url=https://wmmr.com/listicle/butt-rock-songs/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |publisher=93.3 WMMR |language=en}}</ref> Butt rock has also been referred to as a subgenre in itself, or a microgenre.<ref name="buttland" /> A related term for second-wave post-grunge is "divorced dad rock".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=10 Greatest Divorced Dad Rock Songs of All Time |url=https://metalinjection.net/lists/10-greatest-divorced-dad-rock-songs-of-all-time |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}</ref>
==History== ===1993–1997: First wave and rise in popularity=== Even at the height of their popularity, after the release of ''Nevermind'' (1991) brought grunge to international attention, Nirvana experienced increasing problems, partly caused by Kurt Cobain's drug addiction and growing dissatisfaction with commercial success.<ref>{{cite book |title=Grunge Is Dead. The Oral Herstory of Seattle Rock Music |first= Greg |last= Prato |chapter=CHAPTER 28 – Everything is not OK anymore |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eTg4whS9ClUC&q=%22Everything+is+not+OK+anymore%22 |publisher=ECW Press |location=Toronto |year=2009 | isbn=978-1-55022877-9}}</ref> In late 1992, Cobain was photographed in a T-shirt with 'Grunge is Dead' printed on its front<ref>{{cite news | date=1992 | url=http://www.livenirvana.com/pics/9210ss/index.html | title=Live Nirvana Photo Archive | first=Stephen | last=Sweet | newspaper=Melody Maker | access-date=22 August 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004214204/http://www.livenirvana.com/pics/9210ss/index.html |archive-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> at which point the genre's decline started to be widely discussed.<ref>{{cite book |title=Grunge: Music and Memory |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qUhokID7qXIC |first=Catherine |last=Strong |chapter=Grunge is Dead|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qUhokID7qXIC&q=%22Grunge+is+Dead%22&pg=PA20 |publisher=Ashgate |location=Farnham|year=2011 | page=20|isbn=978-1-40942376-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=29 April 2009 |url=http://www.ugo.com/music/grunge-is-dead-an-interview-with-greg-prato |title='Grunge Is Dead' – An Interview with Greg Prato |publisher=UGO Entertainment |access-date=5 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701192945/http://www.ugo.com/music/grunge-is-dead-an-interview-with-greg-prato |archive-date=1 July 2011 }}</ref> Cobain's suicide in 1994, as well as Pearl Jam's touring problems, marked a decline for grunge that year.<ref name=AllMusicPostGrunge/> Problems of addiction for Layne Staley of Alice in Chains led to the band cancelling scheduled dates in 1995.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Robin|last=Rothman | date=22 April 2002 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/layne-staley-found-dead-20020422|title=Layne Staley Found Dead |magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|location=New York City|access-date=4 March 2012}}</ref> Addiction and legal problems for Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots led to the band having touring problems, causing the band to tour their album ''Purple'' for only four months, and their follow up album ''Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop'' for only 6 weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AHHhyIHlnyM| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211104/AHHhyIHlnyM| archive-date=2021-11-04 | url-status=live|title=Backspin: Stone Temple Pilots talk 'No. 4'|via=YouTube| date=3 November 2017|access-date=24 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
thumb|upright=1.0|Live, one of the first post-grunge bands, performing in 2013 As the original grunge movement began to fade, major record labels began signing and promoting bands emulating the genre in a more mainstream style, dubbed by some writers as "post-grunge".<ref name="Azerrad419">{{cite book|title=Our band could be your life. Scenes from the American indie underground 1981–1991 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o7CZRPZ27TQC | first= Michael | last= Azerrad | author-link=Michael Azerrad | pages=452–3 | publisher=Little, Brown|location=New York| year=2012 | orig-date=1st ed. 2001 | isbn=978-0-31678753-6}}</ref> Though bands such as Bush<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article11312237.html |title=Gavin Rossdale brings '90s grunge band Bush to Raleigh |newspaper=The News & Observer |last=Condran |first=Ed |date=26 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/514554/bush-to-play-us-club-gigs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331084027/http://www.mtv.com/news/514554/bush-to-play-us-club-gigs/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 March 2016 |title=Bush To Play U.S. Club Gigs |publisher=MTV |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=2 June 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |publisher=Visible Ink Press |last=Graff |first=Gary |year=1996 |isbn=9780787610371 |quote="Probably the most well-known grunge band to come out of England, Bush exploded onto the American music scene in 1994 with Sixteen Stone." |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/musichoundrockes0000unse }}</ref> and Candlebox<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/candlebox-mn0000543595/biography |title=Candlebox – Biography & Herstory |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> have been categorized as grunge, both bands have also been categorized as post-grunge.<ref name="AllMusicPostGrunge" /> Collective Soul<ref name="Grierson" /> and Live<ref name=Steininger>{{cite news |url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/the-10-worst-post-grunge-bands-4169278 |title=The 10 Worst Post-Grunge Bands |newspaper=LA Weekly |last=Steininger |first=Adam |date=23 August 2013}}</ref> are two other bands categorized as post-grunge that emerged along with Bush and Candlebox. Bush, Candlebox, Collective Soul and Live all achieved mainstream success; Candlebox's self-titled album (1993) was certified {{nowrap|4× platinum}} by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA){{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Candlebox|artist=Candlebox}} and, according to Nielsen SoundScan, sold at least 4,000,000 copies.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045636/candlebox-to-release-first-album-in-10-years |title=Candlebox To Release First Album in 10 Years |magazine=Billboard |last=Vrabel |first=Jeff |date=5 May 2008}}</ref> Its song "Far Behind" peaked at number 18 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/candlebox-mw0000099360/awards |title=Candlebox – Candlebox – Awards |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> Collective Soul's song "Shine" peaked at number 11 on the same chart<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/collective-soul-mn0000105129/awards |title=Collective Soul – Awards |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> and was certified gold by the RIAA in September 1994.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|title=Shine|artist=Collective Soul}} The band's album ''Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid'' (1993) was certified 2× platinum by the RIAA,{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid|artist=Collective Soul}} and their self-titled 1995 album was certified 3× platinum by the RIAA.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Collective Soul|artist=Collective Soul}}
Bush's debut studio album ''Sixteen Stone'' (1994) was certified {{nowrap|6× platinum}} by the RIAA{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Sixteen Stone|artist=Bush}} and the band's second studio album ''Razorblade Suitcase'' (1996), which peaked at number 1 on the ''Billboard'' 200,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/1486092/Bush/chart?f=305 |title=Bush – Chart herstory |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> was certified 3× platinum by the RIAA.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Razorblade Suitcase|artist=Bush}} Carl Williott of Stereogum called Bush's album ''Sixteen Stone'' "a harbinger of {{nowrap|post-grunge's}} pop dominance".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stereogum.com/1723034/sixteen-stone-turns-20/franchises/the-anniversary/ |title=''Sixteen Stone'' Turns 20 |website=Stereogum |last=Williott |first=Carl |date=5 December 2014}}</ref> Live's album ''Throwing Copper'' (1994) was certified 8× platinum by the RIAA,{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Throwing Copper|artist=Live}} and the band's album ''Secret Samadhi'' (1997) was certified 2× platinum by the RIAA.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Secret Samadhi|artist=Live}} Both ''Throwing Copper'' and ''Secret Samadhi'' peaked at number 1 on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/live-mn0000270667/awards |title=Live – Awards |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> ''Consequence of Sound''{{'}}s Paolo Ragusa credits ''Throwing Copper'' with starting post-grunge and shifting rock music to a new direction after the death of Kurt Cobain by combining some harder rock influences with clearer vocals, softer guitar melodies, and the production of Jerry Harrison to make a distinct sound.<ref name="cos2024">{{Cite web |language=en-US |url=https://consequence.net/2024/05/live-throwing-copper-review-post-grunge/ |title=Following Kurt Cobain's Death, Live's Throwing Copper Birthed the Post-Grunge Movement |department=Features > Anniversaries > Dust 'Em Off |first=Paolo |last=Ragusa |date=2024-05-22 |accessdate=2024-07-01}}</ref>
In 1995, former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl's newer band Foo Fighters released their self-titled debut album, becoming one of the most commercially successful rock bands in the United States, aided by considerable airplay on MTV.<ref>{{cite book | first1=V. | last1=Bogdanov | first2=C. | last2=Woodstra | first3=S. T. | last3=Erlewine | author-link1=Vladimir Bogdanov (editor) | author-link3=Stephen Thomas Erlewine | title=All Music Guide to Rock. The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-pH4i3jXvAC | location=Milwaukee | publisher=Backbeat Books | edition=3rd | year=2002 | isbn=0-87930653-X | page=423}}</ref> Like grunge bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains, the post-grunge band Candlebox was from Seattle, but post-grunge was marked by a broadening of its geographical base, with bands such as York, Pennsylvania's Live,<ref>{{cite web|last=Ankeny|first=Jason|title=Live {{!}} Music Biography, Credits and Discography|publisher=AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/live-mn0000270667|access-date=19 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212044344/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/live-mn0000270667|archive-date=12 February 2013}}</ref> Atlanta, Georgia's Collective Soul, Australia's Silverchair, and England's Bush.<ref name=AllMusicPostGrunge/><ref>Bogdanov, V.; Woodstra, C.; Erlewine, S. T. (2002). pp. 1344–7.</ref>
===1997–2010: Second wave and peak popularity=== thumb|right|upright=1.07|Post-grunge band Creed in 2002 The 1997 breakup of Soundgarden was seen by some as the end of the original grunge movement.<ref name="Strong, Catherine 2016. p.55">Strong, Catherine. ''Grunge: Music and Memory''. Routledge, 2016. p.55</ref> Post-grunge then morphed in the late 1990s and 2000s, gaining further popularity with newer acts such as Creed, Matchbox Twenty,<ref name=AllMusicPostGrunge/> Days of the New,<ref name="far out genres">{{cite web|first=Tim|last=Coffman|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-history-of-grunge-in-10-songs/|title=Smells Like Seattle: the history of grunge in 10 songs|work=Far Out Magazine|date=February 12, 2023|access-date=April 20, 2023}}</ref> Fuel, Oleander,<ref>[https://loudwire.com/90s-post-grunge-bands-should-have-been-bigger/ 10 '90s Post-Grunge Bands That Should Have Been Bigger], ''Loudwire''</ref> Godsmack,<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Bulmer|url=http://www.thephoenixnews.com/2014/09/godsmack-goes-back-in-time-with-1000hp/|title=Godsmack Goes Back in Time with 1000hp|newspaper=The Phoenix News|date=September 18, 2014|access-date=May 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317085047/http://www.thephoenixnews.com/2014/09/godsmack-goes-back-in-time-with-1000hp/|archive-date=March 17, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> 3 Doors Down, Puddle of Mudd, Staind,<ref>{{cite web | last=True | first=Chris | title=Staind {{!}} Music Biography, Credits and Discography | publisher=AllMusic | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/staind-mn0000178799 | access-date=19 January 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121183021/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/staind-mn0000178799 | archive-date=21 January 2013 }}</ref> Nickelback, Seether,<ref name=Grierson/> Three Days Grace, Switchfoot,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/list/best-post-grunge-songs/|title=50 Best Post-Grunge Songs|last=Graves|first=Wren|website=Consequence|date=May 20, 2024|access-date=April 1, 2025}}</ref> 12 Stones,<ref name="rock">{{Cite web |last=Sharpe-Young |first=Garry |title=12 Stones |url=http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/united+states/louisiana/mandeville/12+stones |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005075722/http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/united+states/louisiana/mandeville/12+stones |archive-date=October 5, 2012 |access-date=July 18, 2011 |website=MusicMight |format=(Band bio)}}</ref> Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown, Stone Sour,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Climek |first=Joseph |title=Worth the Drive: Henry Rollins, Janeane Garofalo, Diana Ross, Meat Loaf and more |url=https://www.recordonline.com/story/entertainment/local/2007/04/06/worth-drive-henry-rollins-janeane/52926445007/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Times Herald-Record}}</ref> Hinder, Daughtry,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-11-16/entertainment/17910807_1_david-cook-nickelback-grunge | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730102238/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-11-16/entertainment/17910807_1_david-cook-nickelback-grunge | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 30, 2012 | work=New York Daily News|title=Nickleback and David Cook releases mark the death of grunge| date=November 16, 2008 | access-date=July 3, 2012 | first1=Jim | last1=Farber}}</ref> and Skillet.<ref name="rise-review-allmusic">{{Cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rise-mw0002541599 |title=Skillet - Rise |last=Christopher Monger, James |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=November 26, 2013}}</ref> This wave retained some of the angst and anger of the earlier artists<ref name="Melmag"/> but also had more conventional anthems, narratives, and romantic songs.<ref name="Grierson" /> Creed's albums ''My Own Prison'' (1997) and ''Weathered'' (2001) were both certified {{nowrap|6× platinum}} by the RIAA.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=My Own Prison|artist=Creed}}{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Weathered|artist=Creed}} ''Weathered'' sold at least 6,400,000 copies in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/music/bp/chart-watch-extra-following-monster-181546917.html |title=Chart Watch Extra: Following Up A Monster |publisher=Yahoo Music |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=16 May 2012}}</ref> Creed's album ''Human Clay'', released in 1999, was certified diamond by the RIAA{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Human Clay|artist=Creed}} and sold at least 11,690,000 copies in the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/adele-21-surpasses-11-million-sales/ |title=Adele's '21' Surpasses 11 Million in U.S. Sales |magazine=Billboard |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=10 October 2014}}</ref> ''Human Clay''{{'s}} song "With Arms Wide Open" peaked at number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/299751/creed/chart?sort=date&f=379 |title=Creed – Chart history |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Matchbox Twenty's 1996 debut album, ''Yourself or Someone Like You'', was a success in 1997 and 1998 on the strength of radio singles "Push"<ref>[https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Matchbox+Twenty&ti=Push&format=Single&type=#search_section American single certifications – Matchbox Twenty – Push]</ref> and "3AM";<ref>[https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Matchbox+Twenty&ti=3AM&format=Single&type=#search_section American single certifications – Matchbox Twenty – 3AM]</ref> it was certified 12× platinum by the RIAA.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Yourself or Someone Like You|artist=Matchbox Twenty}} The Foo Fighters' second album ''The Colour and the Shape'', which is considered a post-grunge album,<ref name="allmusicfoo">{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-colour-and-the-shape-mw0000088006|title=The Colour and the Shape – Foo Fighters|website=AllMusic|access-date=November 22, 2011|archive-date=June 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615204510/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-colour-and-the-shape-mw0000088006|url-status=live}}</ref> became a hit and was certified Platinum by the RIAA{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=The Colour and the Shape|artist=Foo Fighters}} having sold at least two million copies in the United States.<ref name=Billboard20>{{Cite book|url=http://blog.rock.inmusic.ca/2011/12/foo-fighters-surpass-10-million-mark-so-yeah-theyre-loaded-.html|first=Kim (November 3, 2011)|last=Hughes|title=Foo Fighters surpass 10 million sales mark (so yeah, they're loaded)|access-date=January 5, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121123242/http://blog.rock.inmusic.ca/2011/12/foo-fighters-surpass-10-million-mark-so-yeah-theyre-loaded-.html|archive-date=January 21, 2012}}</ref>
Nickelback broke into the mainstream in the early 2000s; their song "How You Remind Me" peaked at number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name=NickelbackAwards>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nickelback-mn0000868616/awards |title=Nickelback | Awards |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> The Nickelback album that featured the song, ''Silver Side Up'', was certified 6× platinum by the RIAA{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Silver Side Up|artist=Nickelback}} and sold at least 5,528,000 copies in the United States.<ref name=AprilThirteenYahoo>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424092413/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74351/week-ending-april-10-2011-albums-adele-is-everywhere/ |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74351/week-ending-april-10-2011-albums-adele-is-everywhere/ |title=Week Ending April 10, 2011. Albums: Adele Is Everywhere |publisher=Yahoo Music |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=13 April 2011 |archive-date=24 April 2011}}</ref> Nickelback's next album, ''The Long Road'', was certified 3× platinum by the RIAA{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=The Long Road|artist=Nickelback}} and sold at least 3,591,000 copies in the United States.<ref name=AprilThirteenYahoo /> The album's song "Someday" peaked at number 7 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 1 on both the Canadian Singles Chart and the Adult Top 40 chart.<ref name=NickelbackAwards /> Nickelback's album ''All the Right Reasons'' was certified 6× platinum by the RIAA fourteen months after being released. Four years after being released, the album was certified 8× platinum by the RIAA. In March 2017, ''All the Right Reasons'' was certified diamond by the RIAA.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=All the Right Reasons|artist=Nickelback}} Staind's album ''Break the Cycle'' peaked at number 1 on the ''Billboard'' 200<ref name=StaindAwards>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/staind-mn0000178799/awards |title=Staind | Awards |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> and sold at least 716,000 copies in its release week,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/staind-break-in-at-no-one-20010530 |title=Staind Break in at No. One |magazine=Rolling Stone |last=Dansby |first=Andrew |date=30 May 2001}}</ref> and, according to Nielsen SoundScan, sold at least 4,240,000 copies in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1451664/got-charts-linkin-park-shaggy-nsync-are-2001s-top-sellers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204081738/http://www.mtv.com/news/1451664/got-charts-linkin-park-shaggy-nsync-are-2001s-top-sellers/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 December 2014 |title=Got Charts? Linkin Park, Shaggy, 'NSYNC Are 2001's Top-Sellers |publisher=MTV |last=Basham |first=David |date=4 January 2002}}</ref> ''Break the Cycle''{{'s}} song "It's Been Awhile" peaked at number 5 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name=StaindAwards />
[[File:Wes Scantlin.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|alt=Man performing to an audience with both a guitar and a microphone|Puddle of Mudd vocalist Wes Scantlin in 2008]] 3 Doors Down's debut studio album ''The Better Life'' (2000) was certified 6× platinum by the RIAA{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=The Better Life|artist=3 Doors Down}} and sold at least 5,653,000 copies in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://music.yahoo.com/photos/top-new-acts-since-2000-1403561474-slideshow/160771226sc019-three-doors-photo-1403561221037.html |title=Top New Acts Since 2000 |publisher=Yahoo Music |last=Cohen |first=Stephen J. |date=23 June 2014}}</ref> ''The Better Life''{{'s}} song "Kryptonite" peaked at number 3 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/431895/3-doors-down/chart |title=3 Doors Down – Chart history (The Hot 100) |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> and number 1 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/431895/3-doors-down/chart?f=381 |title=3 Doors Down – Chart history (Pop Songs) |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> 3 Doors Down's second studio album ''Away from the Sun'' was certified {{nowrap|4× platinum}} by the RIAA{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Away from the Sun|artist=3 Doors Down}} and sold at least 3,863,000 copies in the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/ask-billboard-swifts-latest-fearless-feat/ |title=Ask Billboard: Swift's Latest 'Fearless' Feat |magazine=Billboard |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=6 November 2009}}</ref> Lifehouse achieved mainstream success in the early 2000s; their song "Hanging by a Moment", which peaked at number 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/307174/lifehouse/chart |magazine=Billboard |title=Lifehouse – Chart history}}</ref> was the most played song on the radio in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://top40.about.com/od/toppopsongsofsummer/ss/Top-10-Pop-Songs-Summer-2001.htm#step10 |title=Top 10 Pop Songs Summer 2001 |website=About.com |last=Lamb |first=Bill |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609184134/http://top40.about.com/od/toppopsongsofsummer/ss/Top-10-Pop-Songs-Summer-2001.htm |archive-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> Puddle of Mudd broke into the mainstream in the early 2000s; their album ''Come Clean'' was certified {{nowrap|3× platinum}} by the RIAA{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Come Clean|artist=Puddle of Mudd}} and the album's songs "Blurry" and "She Hates Me" both reached very high positions on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. "Blurry" peaked at number 5 on the ''Billboard Hot 100'' and "She Hates Me" peaked at number 13 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name=PuddleofMuddAwards>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/puddle-of-mudd-mn0000307102/awards |title=Puddle of Mudd {{!}} Awards |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> "She Hates Me" also peaked at number 7 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart.<ref name=PuddleofMuddAwards /> The band Default became popular with their song "Wasting My Time". It peaked at number 13 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/300692/default/chart |title=Default – Chart history |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
The post-grunge band Cold's song "Stupid Girl" peaked at number 87 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cold-mn0000105638/awards |title=Cold {{!}} Awards |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> {{nowrap|Post-grunge}} band Crossfade's song "Cold" peaked at number 81 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number 23 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart, number 39 on the Pop 100 chart, number 28 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart, and number 57 on the Hot Digital Songs chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/crossfade-mn0000129551/awards |title=Crossfade {{!}} Awards |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> It was certified gold by the RIAA in December 2006.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|title=Cold|artist=Crossfade}} Crossfade's {{nowrap|self-titled album}} was certified platinum by the RIAA in August 2005.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Crossfade|artist=Crossfade}} Three Days Grace broke into the mainstream with their 2003 self-titled album; their song "I Hate Everything About You" peaked at number 55 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 28 on the Pop Songs chart.<ref name=ThreeDaysGraceAwards /> Another single from the album, "Just Like You", peaked at number 55 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 1 on both the Mainstream Rock chart and the Modern Rock Tracks chart.<ref name=ThreeDaysGraceAwards>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/three-days-grace-mn0000490860/awards |title=Three Days Grace {{!}} Awards |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref>
thumb|right|upright=1.03|Three Days Grace in 2006 In 2006, Three Days Grace released their album ''One-X'', which was certified 3× platinum by the RIAA.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=One-X|artist=Three Days Grace}} The album's song "Pain" peaked at number 44 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number 47 on the Pop 100 chart and number 35 on the Hot Digital Songs chart.<ref name=ThreeDaysGraceAwards /> ''One-X''{{'s}} song "Never Too Late" peaked at: number 71 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number 12 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart, number 19 on the Pop 100 chart, number 17 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart, number 30 on the Hot Digital Songs chart, number 18 on the Hot Canadian Digital Singles chart, number 13 on the Adult Top 40 chart and number 1 on the Hot Adult Top 40 Recurrents chart.<ref name=ThreeDaysGraceAwards /> Daughtry broke into the mainstream in 2006 with the release of their self-titled debut album. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic noted the {{nowrap|post-grunge}} sound of the album.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/daughtry-mw0000775040 |title=Daughtry – Daughtry |publisher=AllMusic |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas}}</ref> It sold at least 5,040,000 copies in the United States.<ref name=Adele>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/adele-25-5-million-sold/ |title=Adele's '25' Hits 5 Million Sold in U.S. |magazine=Billboard |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=10 December 2015}}</ref> The band Flyleaf's song "All Around Me" peaked at: number 40 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number 12 on the Top 40 Mainstream, number 17 on the Pop 100, number 15 on the Pop 100 Airplay, number 38 on the Hot Digital Songs and number 23 on the Adult Top 40.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/flyleaf-mn0000533503/awards |title=Flyleaf {{!}} Awards |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> Flyleaf's self-titled album was certified platinum by the RIAA.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Flyleaf|artist=Flyleaf}}
== See also == * List of post-grunge bands
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Alternative rock}} {{Pop rock}}
Category:Post-grunge Category:1990s in music Category:2000s in music Category:1990s fads and trends Category:2000s fads and trends Category:Grunge Category:20th-century music genres Category:21st-century music genres Category:Rock music genres