Grunge was characterized by its departure from traditional 1980s "hair bands." Grunge bands blended elements of classic rock and punk to form a new sound. Many grunge artists heavily distorted their guitars and featured aggressive vocals. Emo music, as its name implies, feature emotional and passionate vocals and lyrics.
Grunge music became popular once Nirvana became well-known with their second album, "Nevermind," in 1991. Nirvana had been using a similar sound for years and was inspired by other early grunge bands such as Mudhoney. Emo music's roots extend back to the 1984 debut of the band Rites of Spring. The band made a name for themselves by making every song seem like a diary of personal thoughts.
Nirvana's emergence as a grunge titan led to several other bands reaching success. Seattle's Pearl Jam hit it big with their debut album, "Ten," by emphasizing a classic rock sound. Other successful grunge artists included Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots. Over the years, the grunge sound hardly changed, though it became less common after the 1990s. Emo began with a severe punk and hardcore sound from Rites of Spring and transformed with more traditional songwriting from bands like Weezer and the Get Up Kids.
The fans of both grunge and emo gained a reputation for their style and attitudes. Grunge fans were known for letting their hair grow out and their beards grow freely. They often wore flannel shirts and jeans. Emo fans are generally known for dying their hair black, wearing band T-shirts and wearing thick-framed glasses. Some emo fans also wear their hearts on their sleeves with personal tattoos or piercings.