What is the difference between Alternative and Rock?

Rock music emerged two decades before the alternative rock, which sprung out of the mainstream rock. Alternative rock is a sub-genre of mainstream rock music. Rock ‘n roll music became popular in the 1960s. It has roots in rhythm and blues, rock, and country music.

1980's alternative rock has its roots in punk rock, hardcore, new wave, and post-punk rock music. Rock is considered commercial, while the alternative rock is not. The king of rock ‘n roll is deemed to be Elvis Presley, while the king of alternative rock is considered to be Kurt Cobain. Early alternative rock is very closely linked with college rock.

Many people like to listen to music. Usually, people have a specific type of music that they like to listen too. Very few people like to listen to every single type of musical genre. There are lots of musical genres including country, folk, rap, alternative, and rock, to name a few. Rock music began first and was very popular in the 1950s and 1960s.

Elvis is the king of rock and he performed and sang many types of rock music. Alternative music did not become popular until later about the 1990s. The basis for rock began with country music and rhythm and blues compared to alternative music which resulted from rock and new wave and punk rock. Therefore, alternative music came from rock music.