Alternative for the Masses

“Connect the dots between the American underground of the eighties to the mainstream of the nineties, and beyond.”

“A thorough chronicle of an incredibly creative period in popular music, when the old norms were being shattered and a new breed of artists was making classics on a regular basis. Alternative for the Masses is a terrific companion tome to Prato’s Grunge Is Dead.”

“Encyclopedic and exhaustive, populated by both familiar names and fresh voices, Alternative for the Masses will, like all of Mr. Prato’s books, prove invaluable to anyone interested in the history of modern popular music.”

“All too often, histories of ‘90s alt-rock start and end with Nirvana’s Nevermind. Greg Prato’s entertaining and comprehensive Alternative for the Masses reframes that narrative, skillfully weaving together the diverse voices of the artists, producers, and engineers who crafted the songs and the sound that defined an era.”

“Alternative for the Masses” presents a dazzling array of commentary from the leading lights of the underground music scene. A great reminder that “alternative rock” meant more than just bands from the Pacific Northwest.”

“If your definition of “alternative music” is Nirvana, the Smiths, and Radiohead, you’re missing out on perhaps a more profound and outrageous collection of talented outliers. Greg Prato’s oral history of alt-rock is an absorbing deep dive into an era when–for a short and wondrous time–freaks and geeks ruled the world.”

“Prolific author Greg Prato has delivered his masterpiece with Alternative Rock For The Masses, an oral history of the 90s alt-rock revolution, from its roots in the most intimate clubs to its major label ascent, and beyond. A literary love buzz indeed!”

Greg Prato is a Long Island, New York–based journalist who has written for Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Songfacts. He has written over 40 books, including such popular titles as Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music; The Yacht Rock Book: The Oral History of the Soft, Smooth Sounds of the 70s and 80s; and Primus, Over the Electric Grapevine: Insight into Primus and the World of Les Claypool, among many others.