Which Grunge Icon Are You?

By: Teresa McGlothlin
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Which Grunge Icon Are You?
Image: Wiki Commons by Julie Kramer

About This Quiz

When grunge came along, the musical world was flipped upside down. Sugary pop music was squelched by the distorted roar of guitars and some of the most amazing frontmen ever to grace the stage. After you tell us about your '90s musical preferences and fashion choices, we'll be able to tell you which of the '90s grunge icons you are most like at heart. 

From Mother Love Bone's "Apple" to Nirvana's "Nevermind," grunge ushered in the appreciation of alternative music and lifestyles. Ripped jeans, flannel shirts and thrift store shopping became more popular than a Top 40 dance hit, and the world's angst seemed to be reflected in every note to come out of Alice in Chains' rhythm section. You may not have considered yourself as having anything in common with a grunge legend, but we think you'll enjoy finding out that you do. 

Throughout this quiz, we're going to make your ears ring with our questions. We'll then add up your answers and compare them to the traits of some of our favorite grunge frontmen. Once you're done, the icon you are most like will be revealed. Will you be the legend you think you are, or will you see yourself in a new way? 

6 Pearl Jam
Wiki Commons by Lrheath
What song would you consider Pearl Jam's best?
"Jeremy"
"Better Man"
"Even Flow"
"Black"
1 cringe shopping
Eddy Joaquim/Moment/Getty Images
Which one of these '90s bands would you cringe to hear while shopping?
Oasis
Ace of Base
The Smashing Pumpkins
Hole
10 jeans
DigiPub/Moment/Getty Images
Stonewashed jeans or acid-washed jeans? Which one is more your style?
Ripped stonewashed jeans
Classic blue jeans are more my vibe.
Acid-washed jeans
I try not to wear jeans.

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17 nirvana album
Wiki Commons by Nirvana
Which album do you think was Nirvana's best?
"Bleach"
"Nevermind"
"In Utero"
"MTV Unplugged"
2 Soundgarden
Wiki Commons by Ivo Kendra
Do you think Chris Cornell was better as a solo act or with Soundgarden?
He was great in both capacities.
I think he was a better solo artist.
Soundgarden was all Chris Cornell.
I honestly don't know much of his music.
4 The Melvins
Atlantic Records
Would you rather listen to The Melvins or Alice in Chains?
Soundgarden is more my style.
The Melvins are legends.
I would rather listen to Alice in Chains.
The Screaming Trees get my vote.

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11 doc martens
republica/E+/Getty Images
Do you still own a pair of Doc Martens?
I have my old ones from the '90s.
No, but they are back in style again.
No, but I have combat boots.
I have a pair or two in the closet.
5 Eddie Van Halen
Wiki Commons by Alan Light
In your opinion, which one of these guitar legends has the best chops?
Eric Clapton
Robert Johnson
Eddie Van Halen
Jimmy Page
12 metal bands
DaveLongMedia/E+/Getty Images
Some say that grunge destroyed pop metal. Are there any hair metal bands that you like?
Poison had some good songs.
Hair metal sounds like nails on a chalkboard to me.
I have always enjoyed Mötley Crüe.
Grunge was a lot better than metal at the time.

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15 flannel shirt
Richard Drury/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Do you button your flannel shirt up all the way to the top?
I don't wear flannel shirts.
All the way is the only way.
I tie it around my waist more.
I never button it.
23 rave
Carey Russell Photography/Moment/Getty Images
How many raves have you attended in your lifetime?
I have never been to a rave.
I went to one once.
I lost count after the first few.
I have been to many more concerts.
8 musical skills
RoBeDeRo/E+/Getty Images
Do you have any musical skills you would share with the world?
I can play a mean recorder.
I thump around on the guitar a little.
I share my singing with rush hour traffic all the time.
I play a few instruments.

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28 Seattle
wayfarerlife photography/Moment/Getty Images
If you spent the day in Seattle, what would you do?
I would go see the Space Needle.
Seeing a show would be my top priority.
I'm not sure, but it would involve coffee.
I would leave flowers at Kurt Cobain's house.
9 Daniel Johnston
Wiki Commons by Joshua Head
How many of Daniel Johnston's songs can you name off the top of your head?
I can name an entire album.
Who?
I can think of a couple.
I only know one.
3 Tamagotchi
Wiki Commons by Tomasz Sienicki
Could you manage to keep a Tamagotchi alive like they did in the '90s?
What's a Tamagotchi?
I was horrible at keeping them alive.
I'm sure I could manage.
My Tamagotchi from the '90s is still alive!

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7 Bikini Kill
Wiki Commons by jonathancharles
Which one of these female-fronted '90s bands do you like the most?
Bikini Kill
Hole
Babes in Toyland
L7
13 create art
Lisa Schaetzle/Moment/Getty Images
Do you write poetry or create art to express yourself?
I make a little art.
I write everything down.
I do a little of both.
I prefer to stick to my musical career.
14 karaoke
Francesco Carta fotografo/Moment/Getty Images
Which Mother Love Bone song would you try at karaoke?
I'm too cool for karaoke.
"Stargazer"
"Man of Golden Words"
"This is Shangri-La"

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16 shoegazer bands
Wiki Commons by Ferran
Did you ever listen to any of the '90s shoegazer bands?
I loved all of them!
They were too sugary for me.
Some of them were OK.
I haven't heard of the genre.
18 Stone Temple Pilots
Wiki Commons by Jeck M.
Using one word, how would you describe the Stone Temple Pilots?
Weird
Annoying
Catchy
Lame
19 fanny pack phone
RyanJLane/E+/Getty Images
Are you currently using a fanny pack to carry your phone?
That's a great idea. I should.
I would rather go everywhere naked.
I use my fanny pack to carry many things.
Fanny packs are a little too mainstream for me.

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20 Metallica
Wiki Commons by Florian Reischauer
What are your true feelings about the '90s version of Metallica?
I don't like any version of Metallica.
The '90s were better than now for them.
Metallica lost the plot during the '90s.
I have zero feelings about Metallica.
21 Patti Smith
Wiki Commons by Beni Köhler
What do you think of Patti Smith's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" cover?
It's brilliant!
I'll have to look it up.
She should have recorded it originally.
I'm not a fan of covers.
22 which instrument
vgajic/E+/Getty Images
If you joined a grunge band, which instrument would you play?
Bass
Lead guitar
Drums
I would be the singer.

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24 skateboard
Brad Gregory/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Can you skateboard like a '90s kid listening to grunge on their Walkman?
It's been a long time since I skated.
I sure can!
I'm not coordinated enough for that.
That sounds like a great way to spend a day.
25 peace and love
d3sign/Moment/Getty Images
Are you more peace and love or more angst and grit?
It depends on the day of the week.
I'm far more peace and love.
I am a whole lot of angst and grit.
The issues determine my stance.
26 Bob Dylan
Wiki Commons by Rowland Scherman
Grunge bands loved many singer/songwriters. Which one do you hold in the highest regard?
Carole King
Leonard Cohen
Bob Dylan
Woody Guthrie

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27 Francis Bean
ideabug/E+/Getty Images
Have you heard any of Frances Bean's music?
Does she make music? I'm going to check it out!
I can't wait until her album comes out.
She's a chip off the old block.
Who is Frances Bean?
29 see a show
Flashpop/DigitalVision/Getty Images
When you go to see a show, where do you usually go?
A local coffee shop
A stadium
A dive bar
A concert hall
30 Nevermind
Wiki Commons by Nirvana (Band)
How old were you when "Nevermind" was released?
I was still a small kid.
I wasn't born yet.
I was in high school.
I was at least 20.

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