Synopses & Reviews
A down-and-dirty chronicle of the birth and evolution of the Seattle grunge scene — from backyard skateboard ramps and underground hardcore clubs to worldwide phenomenon — as told by one of its founding fathers and lead guitarist of legendary alternative rock band, Mudhoney.
In the late 80s and early 90s, Steve Turner and his friends — Seattle skate punks, hardcore kids, and assorted misfits — started forming bands in each other's basements and accidentally created a unique sound that spread far beyond their once-sleepy city. Mud Ride offers an inside look at the tight-knit grunge scene, the musical influences and experiments that shaped the grunge sound, and the story of Turner's bands, Green River and Mudhoney, which went from underground flophouse shows to selling out stadiums with Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Including stories about the key moments, musicians, and albums from grunge's beginnings to its come-down from the highs of global success and stardom, this is the first account of the musical phenomenon that took over the world from someone who was there for it all.
Written by Steve Turner, lead guitarist of Mudhoney, a foundational grunge band that inspired musical icons from Kurt Cobain to Sonic Youth, Mud Ride features a foreword by Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and never-before-seen photographs and grunge memorabilia throughout. Take a seat and ride through the messy and muddy grunge scene that grew from the basements of the Northwest and went on to circle the globe.
MUST HAVE FOR FANS: For cult fans of Mudhoney and all things Seattle grunge, this is the perfect book to add to your collection. Turner helped put Sub Pop Records on the map, a label that launched bands like Soundgarden and more. Mudhoney was also one of the first American grunge bands to tour Europe and the UK, laying the groundwork for the worldwide explosion of grunge. Learn more about the ins and outs of the birth of grunge and immerse yourself in '80s and '90s Seattle.
A GREAT GIFT FOR MUSIC LOVERS: For the aspiring musician or anyone wanting to learn more about music history, this is an illuminating look into grunge and Seattle bands that have gone on to become world-famous.
AN ESSENTIAL ROCK HISTORY BOOK: An amazing gift for readers of Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain's Please Kill Me, John Doe and Tom DeSavia's Under the Big Black Sun, and Michael Azerrad's Our Band Could Be Your Life. Anyone wanting to learn more about the history of grunge will delight in this great tell-all read.
Perfect for:
• Music lovers, history buffs, and musicians
• Fans of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Hole, Green River, and more
• Anyone nostalgic for the '80s and '90s pop culture scene
• People obsessed with grunge, rock, musical movements, or Seattle history
• Readers of
Please Kill Me,
Under the Big Black Sun,
Our Band Could Be Your Life,
Grunge Is Dead, and
Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge
• Gen Z readers who have embraced all things '90s, from the decade's fashion to its music, and have sparked a resurgence in popularity of grunge bands like Nirvana
Review
"Mud Ride is an essential document — a history of the aesthetic, style, and language of what came to be known as grunge from one of its spiritual and intellectural founders."
Greg Vandy, KEXP Seattle host and author of 26 Songs in 30 Days
Review
"Mud Ride is a rollercoaster of a music memoir, at turns clear-eyed and madcap, quirky, surprising, and always propulsive. Turner offers us an insider's account of the genesis of the Seattle sound and ethos, full of humor, pathos, and the sort of historical nuggets music fans cherish."
Jonathan Evison, New York Times bestselling author of Small World
Review
"Honest, smart, wry, and filled with a deep musical detail and analysis you won't get from anyone else."
Charles R. Cross, New York Times bestselling author of Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain
About the Author
Steve Turner is the guitarist and cofounder of seminal Seattle grunge band Mudhoney. He lives in Portland, Oregon.